Propaganda
Propaganda refers to a type of message aimed at influencing opinions and the behavior of people. Many governments used propaganda effectively during WWII. Here are some examples of common types of propaganda. See if you can identify them in these posters.
Emotional appeal (such as fear): Appealing to the emotions of your audience. For example, warning that disaster will result if they do not follow a particular course of action.
Glittering generalities: seeks to make us approve and accept without examining the evidence; Glittering generalities include phrases such as “We believe in”, “fight for”, and “live by virtue”.
Testimonials: Famous people or figures who will appear trustworthy speak to the audience.
Bandwagon: “everyone else is doing it, and so should you.”
Plain-folks: By using the plain-folks technique, speakers attempt to convince their audience that they, and their ideas, are “of the people.”
Scientific approach: Using scientific jargon to convince the viewer.
Snob appeal: Giving the impression that people of wealth and prestige are on board.
Card stacking: Only presenting one side of the issue/situation.
Name-calling: The name-calling technique links a person, or idea, to a negative symbol. The propagandist who uses this technique hopes that the audience will reject the person or the idea on the basis of the negative symbol, instead of looking at the available evidence.
Euphemisms: The propagandist attempts to pacify the audience in order to make an unpleasant reality more palatable. For example, in the 1940’s, America changed the name of the War Department to the Department of Defense.
"Decoding World War II Propaganda" Accessed on 1/5/2018 at http://civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/05/DecodingWWIIPropaganda11.pdf