Propaganda - what is it? Why is it used?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

Do you often think comprehensively about the information that enters the brain from all available sources? Ask: "Why?" After all, information is the strongest weapon of our time! Think about how you come to a particular decision. To accept it, facts are needed that grow into convictions, which, of course, everyone has. But did you form them yourself, or did propaganda try? This is an important question. The answer to it depends on whose interests the decision is ultimately made. And it all starts with the presentation of information about the facts, arranged in the right way.

Is there propaganda?

It just seems that nowadays any educated person has the opportunity to independently understand almost any topic. You can read articles, listen to experts, unearth primary sources. Rethink all the information received, based on life experience, and everything will be in order, we'll figure it out! There is an error in this chain, even several. It does notthe ways of presenting the facts and the intentions of those who are involved in this case are taken into account. After all, any person decorates a story about events not only with his impressions, but also with life experience. It happens naturally. You tasted something exotic for the first time. Durian, for example. But you got stale, but a little stale. What will you tell your friends? Durian is an excellent muck. If they haven’t tried the fruit, they will take their loved one’s word for it. But will it be true? And what will a relative think of you, who will have the opportunity to taste the fresh fruit? Q.

Definition

Propaganda is suggestion, dissemination of views or ideas for a specific purpose. The term comes from the Latin word propagare. It was used in the conventional sense by Vatican prelates in the eighteenth century. They tried to inspire people with respect and trust in faith. Then, in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, this information technology was adopted by the revolutionaries of the socialist and communist persuasion. In their impact on the population, agitation and propaganda were used. It was a kind of information "double blow". Campaigning was carried out with the aim of clarifying their views, persuading opponents. And for propaganda, slogans were used, short statements that did not arouse the desire of the population to analyze them, to critically comprehend them. The idea, by the way, is widely demanded in our time. The scope of its application has grown to enormous proportions.

Political propaganda

What is the most important thing for parties and movements?That's right, the number of supporters. The more of them, the more influential the political force. For the "recruitment" of followers and adherents of the parties of various kinds use a variety of methods. One of the key places among them is political propaganda. This is a way to show your views and intentions in the most favorable light. Preparing a political propaganda message is a rather laborious task. For this, special studies are being carried out. You may have heard how a famous satirist criticizes the slogans of the Soviet period? For example, "Pioneer - take care of your motherland, your mother!" This message has a fairly transparent and patriotic meaning.

Only not honed, like cut down with an axe. This is not allowed now. The political struggle in the modern world has become sharp and tense. There are battles for the mind of each person. Therefore, propaganda has become thinner. Any message, idea is considered from different angles. They explore how it relates to the dreams and beliefs of various strata and groups of the population, how representatives of various faiths or cultural movements will react to it. Propaganda can affect both small groups and the whole of humanity.

Where else is propaganda used

In today's world, not only politicians need faithful adherents. They were greatly overtaken by large corporations and manufacturers. They also use propaganda in their work. To increase sales, it is necessary to inspire potential buyers with the idea that their product is the best (promising, environmentally friendly, and so on). Simpleadvertising is clearly not enough. The competition in the market is great. So manufacturers use short ideas and statements that enter through frequent repetition directly into the subconscious. They do not cause rejection or criticism, they are taken for granted, the natural course of things.

You don't have to look far for examples. You can turn on the TV and listen to a few announcements. The ideal propaganda is advertising. She is honed, balanced, light and pleasant.

Is there any propaganda that is not harmful to humans?

It all depends on the purpose of using the dissemination methods. If the one who works with this wants to manipulate people, then it is better to avoid such a "source" as, for example, advertising. But this very effective method can be used for other purposes. It really can be called unsurpassed in terms of performance. Only so far there are not so many who want to spend money on creating propaganda materials that are obviously not profitable. Public organizations can act as such a source, which is extremely rare. Philanthropists died out in the last century. Or it can sometimes be a state that cares about its citizens. An example of this is legal propaganda. These are methods of conveying to citizens, by and large, their legal rights and freedoms.