Propaganda is material that aims to push a particular political point of view or agenda, often by using biased or misleading information. Political groups will spread propaganda to influence people and serve their interests.
There are many forms of propaganda, including posters, videos, text, and images. Propaganda is most often used in times of conflict. Governments will use propaganda to spread misinformation about their enemy and make the public aware of the rules and regulations in place.
Why is Propaganda used?
Political groups or activists often use propaganda to convince people to adopt their points of view. Usually, propaganda contains loaded language designed to provoke an emotional response in the reader rather than a rational response.
Historically, propaganda was seen in a neutral light and was used as a tool by both sides in the First World War. However, during the 20th century, propaganda came to be viewed negatively, to the extent that the word ‘propaganda’ is often used to imply that a piece of information contains deliberate lies about a particular subject.
Second World War Propaganda
The political posters used during the Second World War are some of the most famous examples of propaganda. These posters were designed to encourage men to join the army and women to take jobs in factories. The wartime propaganda posters were designed to be eye-catching and convey a particular message.
These propaganda posters often contain a short, catchy slogan written in large, bold letters. They would also have a particularly memorable image or one that is designed to make people scared. During the Second World War, propaganda was important for stopping panic and rumors from breaking out. However, these posters have been criticized in the modern era for using scare tactics and guilt trips to keep people under control.
What is negative propaganda?
Negative propaganda is used to demean or slander a particular group, be it a country, a culture, a business, or a social group. In addition, negative propaganda has been used to turn people against each other. For example, one of the most important reasons why Adolf Hitler took power in Germany was due to a negative propaganda campaign that sought to turn the majority of the German population against the Jewish people living in Germany at the time.
Adolf Hitler and his allies spread misinformation about the Jewish people and created negative propaganda to convince people that Germany’s problems after the First World War were the fault of the Jewish people. Even though there was no evidence to support this, many people believed the propaganda. As a result, it contributed to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power and, eventually, the Second World War outbreak.
What is positive propaganda?
Positive propaganda is a type of propaganda that is used to inform people or encourage them to do things to help benefit society. Unlike negative propaganda, which mostly relies on lies and misinformation, positive propaganda typically highlights alternate ways of thinking, typically presented using facts.
An example is the propaganda campaign that encouraged women to work during the Second World War. These posters contained messages such as ‘We Can Do It, ‘ aimed to convince women that they were just as capable of working in munitions factories as men.
Another example of positive propaganda can be seen in modern times from groups seeking to spread climate change awareness. This propaganda will highlight facts about how human behavior changes our planet to encourage people to adapt their lifestyles to become more sustainable and eco-friendly.
If you are teaching a lesson about propaganda, you can encourage your students to think about the topic and answer these questions:
- What kinds of groups use negative propaganda?
- Why do these groups use negative propaganda?
- Should negative propaganda be against the law?
- What types of groups use positive propaganda?
- Why is positive propaganda better than negative propaganda?
Types of propaganda
- Bandwagon – this aims to encourage people to do something simply because many others are doing it.
- Testimonial – this relies on experts and respected sources to promote a particular idea.
- Transfer – this associates the traits of a well-known person with a product to promote or demote it. Linking an item to a respected person is a positive transfer. Creating an analogy between a disliked person and a product is a negative transfer.
- Repetition – repeating a message helps it stick in the audience’s mind.
- Emotive language gives a message an emotional weight and appeals to the audience.
