Propaganda History

1
Propaganda History

• Major Trends and Characteristics

2
Major Trends

• 1. Increasing struggle for peoples minds, in
  part related to evolution of democratic systems.
• 2. Increasing sophistication of the means of
  communication available to deliver propaganda
  messages.
• 3. Increasing understanding of the psychology of
  propaganda.

3
Dominant Forms through History

• 1. THINGS (flags, buildings, dress, other
  symbols).
• 2. CONTROL (MANIPULATION, DISTORTION etc.) OF
  INFORMATION, WITH VIEW TO CHANGING ATTITUDE,
  BELIEF etc.
• 3. ART, LITERATURE OR SCHOLARSHIP DESIGNED TO
  APPEAL TO HEART OR MIND, OR BOTH.
• 4. CLAIM TO, OR ASSERTION OF, AUTHORITY
  (including deification).
• 5. SYMBOLIC ACTS (e.g. destruction of Bastille).
• 6. MAKING NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE ASSOCIATION WITH
  OTHER IMAGES, PERSONAGES, LANGUAGES, TEXTS, MEDIA
  etc. (SOMETIMES via ABSORPTION).
• 7. THREATS AND INCENTIVES.
• 8. INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF PROPAGATION (e.g.
  CELLULAR PROSLYTIZING)