Propaganda

Essay by Anonymous UserHigh School, 12th gradeA+, January 1997

download word file, 2 pages 1.7

Have you ever seen a TV commercial portraying a disastrous automobile accident,

and then you reminds you to wear your seatbealts?!?! Believe it or not, that's using a

technique in propaganda called the fear appeal.

        Propaganda is more widespread than people picture. Propaganda is being used for

everything from the baby food you feed your child to the TV commercial you laughed at

yesterday night.

        There are many techniques that a propagandist can use to seduce you. Some of the

best known styles in propaganda are Plain Folk, Fear, Name Calling, and Glittering

Generality,

        In this year's elections, propaganda has played an important role in who was

elected. This year's presidential candidates were all millionaires, but they have gone to

great lengths to present themselves as ordinary citizens. Bill Clinton eats at Mc Donald's

and read a variety of spy novels. Bob Dole presents himself as the 'all American boy'

from the Heartland.

In this two examples the plain folk device is at work.

        When either presidential candidates agitates the public's fear of immigration, taxes,

or crime and voting for him will reduce the threat he is using the Fear Appeal. By playing

on the public's deep-seated fears, practitioners of this technique hopes to redirect the

merits of a proposal and towards steps that can be taken to reduce the fear.

        Propaganda has had a tremendously powerful role in the history of the world and in

our own development. It has stirred both men and women to unprecedented feats and

ruined reputations.

        What comes to mind when you think of a racist person? I imagine an angry white

male with a Ku Kux Klan costume. I rarely think of the other racists, the

African-Americans, the Latino-Americans, the Asian-Americans and the rest of whom

believe they are the superior race. Why...