I'm surprised you left out Bernays. It was him who really pushed propaganda forward in the 20th century. He created the model. You don't sell a product. You sell a feeling the product gives you. That has shaped all American propaganda since. They're still all following his model. But great article Jessica.
I wouldn't call it leaving someone out. I chose to focus on one theorist who provides the substance necessary for the article. I appreciate the Bernays reference, and I might write about him in the future. Thanks for reading.
I agree with all of this, but I go farther. I believe that virtually all TV-type entertainment is propaganda. I've been away from it so long I don't even know what's out there now, but - every sitcom, all the rich high-class people, the nasty put-downs, all taught America how to act, how to live. It's why I walked away from TV 58 years ago now. It's all billionaires teaching America how to Want More Stuff, and it worked.
My father was a passionate student of philosophy and he taught me the same. It's important to look at popular media and to see what they represent as virtuous ideals and what they choose to criticise and make fun of. Invert this logic and you come close to the truth.
Terrific article, Jessica! Now you’ve got me really thinking about some of things I’ve been told over the years and took for granted. I remember hearing a broadcast during the “shock and awe” war where the allies were described as “running sorties” but the bad guys were “ striking, bombing, terrorizing” - you name it. Differences in language like that really highlight that you can be told how to view certain events without even being aware of it.
You're always on point. Thanks for sharing. I have been thinking a lot about motivated reasoning lately. I think it's the most powerful force on Earth. Perhaps the supposed Einstein quote needs revising "compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe"...
Looked it up. Probably apocryphal, and also, definitely propaganda. 😉
Perhaps it could be argued virtually everything is propaganda, stories told that either glue or divide societies. Every culture is dependent on selective story telling to define itself.
The biggest, overarching propaganda is the one that's going to kill us, that there are no limits to growth that is destroying an inhabitable planet with blinding speed. How many cumulative lies across diverse cultures has that taken?
Human "civilization" has been built on propaganda.
Thanks for this excellent post concluding with the bombshell: "Propaganda works best on people who are scared to admit they were wrong. It gives them the license to cling to beliefs they know aren’t true."
I’m getting “deification of Caesar” vibes from all this, a call back to the ancients. Even then, the deification of Caesar was so taboo because across ancient cultures, the deification of a human being was verboten in all ancient cultures—they understood humility, so when the Roman elites did it, to was shocking. But who was going to stop them? No one.
In related news, this all looks so extra bizarre from the outside. It really is so overt, the only modern comparison I can think of is the Kim dynasty in North Korea.
I'm calling them news since si far they've told me more about what's going on (along with foreign news media) than anyone here in the US. Besides these songs are bangers 🎶🎶🎶
Fantastic article! Propaganda in all its forms has been on my mind lately. No matter where or who it comes from. I appreciate the fact that we need to acknowledge that we might be wrong and learn to listen better. I’m definitely admitting I may have been wrong once or twice… or more! Thank you.
I'm surprised you left out Bernays. It was him who really pushed propaganda forward in the 20th century. He created the model. You don't sell a product. You sell a feeling the product gives you. That has shaped all American propaganda since. They're still all following his model. But great article Jessica.
I wouldn't call it leaving someone out. I chose to focus on one theorist who provides the substance necessary for the article. I appreciate the Bernays reference, and I might write about him in the future. Thanks for reading.
My absolute least favorite critique is when someone criticizes my writing for what I didn’t write.
I agree with all of this, but I go farther. I believe that virtually all TV-type entertainment is propaganda. I've been away from it so long I don't even know what's out there now, but - every sitcom, all the rich high-class people, the nasty put-downs, all taught America how to act, how to live. It's why I walked away from TV 58 years ago now. It's all billionaires teaching America how to Want More Stuff, and it worked.
There is also a ton of subtle and not so subtle glorification of veterans and enlisted folks.
My father was a passionate student of philosophy and he taught me the same. It's important to look at popular media and to see what they represent as virtuous ideals and what they choose to criticise and make fun of. Invert this logic and you come close to the truth.
Terrific article, Jessica! Now you’ve got me really thinking about some of things I’ve been told over the years and took for granted. I remember hearing a broadcast during the “shock and awe” war where the allies were described as “running sorties” but the bad guys were “ striking, bombing, terrorizing” - you name it. Differences in language like that really highlight that you can be told how to view certain events without even being aware of it.
You're always on point. Thanks for sharing. I have been thinking a lot about motivated reasoning lately. I think it's the most powerful force on Earth. Perhaps the supposed Einstein quote needs revising "compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe"...
Looked it up. Probably apocryphal, and also, definitely propaganda. 😉
Perhaps it could be argued virtually everything is propaganda, stories told that either glue or divide societies. Every culture is dependent on selective story telling to define itself.
The biggest, overarching propaganda is the one that's going to kill us, that there are no limits to growth that is destroying an inhabitable planet with blinding speed. How many cumulative lies across diverse cultures has that taken?
Human "civilization" has been built on propaganda.
Amazing post, Jessica! Support sent, and your efforts are greatly appreciated…
Thanks for this excellent post concluding with the bombshell: "Propaganda works best on people who are scared to admit they were wrong. It gives them the license to cling to beliefs they know aren’t true."
Great rundown, reminds me of this book: https://www.michael-parenti.org/book-make-believe-media
I’m getting “deification of Caesar” vibes from all this, a call back to the ancients. Even then, the deification of Caesar was so taboo because across ancient cultures, the deification of a human being was verboten in all ancient cultures—they understood humility, so when the Roman elites did it, to was shocking. But who was going to stop them? No one.
In related news, this all looks so extra bizarre from the outside. It really is so overt, the only modern comparison I can think of is the Kim dynasty in North Korea.
I'm calling them news since si far they've told me more about what's going on (along with foreign news media) than anyone here in the US. Besides these songs are bangers 🎶🎶🎶
Fantastic article! Propaganda in all its forms has been on my mind lately. No matter where or who it comes from. I appreciate the fact that we need to acknowledge that we might be wrong and learn to listen better. I’m definitely admitting I may have been wrong once or twice… or more! Thank you.
The Iranian propaganda is excellent tho ;)