Mass media are the methods we use to communicate with large numbers of people at one time. We live in the age of mass media, whether that’s social media, the Internet, television or even advertising. Propaganda is misinformation that is intentionally circulated through mass media with a political agenda. In the past, governments in many different parts of the world, often during times of war, have used everything from newspaper articles to movie previews to disperse propaganda. Propaganda has been used to encourage soldiers to fight under the worst conditions, to instruct civilians to ration their food during wartime, and to convince citizens to hate the enemy. This misinformation has taken form in political cartoons that depict a wartime enemy as animal-like, and in ads or posters that exaggerate the success of a war effort. The authors of propaganda try to convey their political agenda through the messages embedded in their slogans, writing, or art. Propaganda is like a political advertisement with a shaky relationship to the truth.
Nazi Germany showcased the unbelievable power of propaganda. Hitler was a huge proponent of the use of propaganda; writing in Mein Kampf in 1926 that, “Propaganda tries to force a doctrine on the whole people... Propaganda works on the general public from the standpoint of an idea and makes them ripe for the victory of this idea.” After the Nazis seized power in 1933, Hitler quickly established a Reich Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda, headed by Joseph Goebbels. The Ministry’s mission was to ensure that Nazi ideas of racism, anti-Semitism, and anti-Bolshevism became popular in Germany. The Nazi message was communicated through art, music, theater, films, books, radio, educational materials, and the press. Through every medium of culture, the German people were assaulted by the message that non-Jewish German people represented a better race, that the Germans had suffered unfairly after World War I, and that this suffering was the fault of “inferior” races. Films portrayed Jews as rat-like creatures that infiltrated societies. Newspapers ran editorials and comics that supported this view. Later, as the Germans began to lose World War II, the Nazis used propaganda to convince ordinary Germans that they were actually still winning and that citizens should continue their support for the war effort.
Nazis used propaganda extensively, but most governments use some form of propaganda. In both World War I and World War II, governments on both sides of the war ran propaganda campaigns to convince citizens to enlist. These campaigns misled citizens by downplaying the horror of war conditions, especially in WWI, and by emphasizing the evils and inhumanity of the enemy. In the decades following World War II, during what was known as the Cold War, both the Soviet Union and the United States ran extensive propaganda campaigns. Both countries sought to convince its citizens of the evil and hypocrisy of the other side. Both governments also sought to convince citizens that measures taken during the Cold War, such as the build-up of nuclear weapons, were worth it.
The battle for people’s minds is as old as history itself. Greek writers often complained of the lies told by their political rivals. In the late 1500s, after England defeated the Spanish Armada, Spain spread word of the exact opposite — that they had achieved a decisive victory over England. Propaganda has been a part of war for as long as humans have been able to spread information, but propaganda is not just a part of history books.
Modern nations like North Korea use propaganda extensively. When the country suffered from extensive famine in the 1990s, the government produced posters that encouraged people to eat only two meals a day for its health benefits. Still, museums in North Korea teach visitors about American atrocities that never occurred. North Koreans are told that their leaders are revered around the world, and that they live in the second happiest country in the world. In North Korea, access to the Internet is restricted to ensure it is more difficult for citizens to access non-government media sources. Because of propaganda, a North Korean’s understanding of history and the world today is radically different than a South Korean’s understanding of those same things.
While governments have historically been responsible for most propaganda, sometimes corporations run campaigns that are similar to propaganda. Non-profit organizations and political campaigns utilize techniques that are similar to propaganda, especially now that mass media has made it possible for them to reach huge numbers of people. This non-governmental propaganda can be anything making a photo go viral to using a blog to spread rumors about opposing political candidates. Anyone who intentionally spreads misinformation for political purposes is disseminating propaganda. New methods of mass communication make it possible for anyone to spread propaganda.
The rise of the Internet has made the creation and sharing of propaganda easier than ever. Publishers who want to generate revenue from advertisements placed on their webpages can run “news” articles with provocative headlines and misleading or incorrect information. Open internet access and social media sharing can help this information spread quickly. Some of these websites are solely motivated by profit; others are interested in spreading false information for ideological reasons. This phenomenon is often referred to as “fake news.” The placement of "fake news" on the internet can be haphazard or unplanned, while propaganda is typically part of a larger strategy by its creator. It is a planned approach to convince citizens of something specific.
Leaders have always and will always battle for the minds of their citizens, or the minds of other people’s citizens. The difference between propaganda and persuasion is that propaganda often doesn’t fight fair in that battle. Although propaganda has historically been a neutral term, it has become more associated with manipulation in the twentieth century. And while the propaganda of one hundred years ago might have taken the form of cartoons, posters, pamphlets, and radio shows, propaganda messages are now conveyed through an increasingly wide range of media as new technologies have been invented.
According to the text, how has the use of propaganda changed over time? Use evidence from the text to support your response.
1 answer
The use of propaganda has evolved significantly over time, particularly in its methods, reach, and the context in which it operates.
Historical Context and Mediums of Propaganda: In the past, such as during the World Wars, governments relied on traditional media forms like newspapers, posters, films, and radio to disseminate propaganda. The text highlights how Nazi Germany used a deeply integrated cultural approach, utilizing "art, music, theater, films, books, radio, educational materials, and the press" to communicate its ideological messages, which focused on racism and anti-Semitism. This use of diverse media was consistent with the propaganda techniques of that era, where visual and printed materials were the primary means of outreach.
Political and Ideological Goals: Propaganda has historically served political objectives, as seen in Nazi Germany's attempts to unify public opinion and maintain morale during WWII despite military losses. The text states that during later phases of the war, the Nazis used propaganda to convince citizens that Germany was still winning, emphasizing a persistent manipulation of reality for maintaining support.
Shift in Medium with Technological Advancements: The rise of the Internet and social media marks a dramatic shift in how propaganda is created and disseminated. The text notes that modern technology has made "the creation and sharing of propaganda easier than ever" by enabling rapid dissemination through platforms that allow for wide reach. Today, any individual or organization can spread information, whether true or false, which contrasts with previous eras where propaganda was primarily government-led.
Emergence of "Fake News": The concept of "fake news" has emerged as a specific manifestation of propaganda in the digital age, distinguishing it from traditional forms. The text explains that while "fake news" can be unplanned or haphazard, propaganda is part of a larger strategy. This indicates that modern propaganda often involves deliberate and calculated messaging intended to sway public opinion, much like past efforts but executed through fast-paced and sometimes deceptive digital platforms.
Broader Reach and Accessibility: Finally, the text emphasizes the accessibility of publishing in the current era, noting that “Publishers who want to generate revenue from advertisements placed on their webpages can run 'news' articles with provocative headlines and misleading or incorrect information." This highlights a significant change: the democratization of propaganda creation and dissemination, whereby not just governments but also individuals, corporations, and non-profits can now engage in propaganda campaigns.
In summary, the evolution of propaganda from traditional, government-driven media to a more decentralized, technology-fueled approach illustrates a significant shift in its methods, accessibility, and the motivations behind its use.
