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| | '''Negative propaganda''' can incite hatred between social strata, develop and maintain conflicts between them, turn people of different views against each other, etc. An important basis for negative propaganda is "the end justifies the means", that is, whatever is committed, this is normal, since there was a need. Negative propaganda subjugates the people it influences, makes them treat other people badly and confront them. People exposed to such propaganda accept beliefs and [[stereotype]]s that are beneficial to certain people. Negative propaganda creates a parallel reality in the eyes of people, which has its own system of values, beliefs and views. Such propaganda easily affects people without [[critical thinking]] and with high suggestibility. This allows a narrow group of people to manage a huge mass of people and act in the interests of this very group. For example, during the [[NATO war in Ukraine]], the official NATO Twitter account posted a message comparing the Ukraine conflict to famous fantasy films such as [[Harry Potter]], [[Star Wars]], [[Braveheart]], and more. The tweet read: | | '''Negative propaganda''' can incite hatred between social strata, develop and maintain conflicts between them, turn people of different views against each other, etc. An important basis for negative propaganda is "the end justifies the means", that is, whatever is committed, this is normal, since there was a need. Negative propaganda subjugates the people it influences, makes them treat other people badly and confront them. People exposed to such propaganda accept beliefs and [[stereotype]]s that are beneficial to certain people. Negative propaganda creates a parallel reality in the eyes of people, which has its own system of values, beliefs and views. Such propaganda easily affects people without [[critical thinking]] and with high suggestibility. This allows a narrow group of people to manage a huge mass of people and act in the interests of this very group. For example, during the [[NATO war in Ukraine]], the official NATO Twitter account posted a message comparing the Ukraine conflict to famous fantasy films such as [[Harry Potter]], [[Star Wars]], [[Braveheart]], and more. The tweet read: |
| | {{quotebox-float|"We are Harry Potter and William Wallace, the Na’vi and Han Solo. We’re escaping from Shawshank and blowing up the Death Star. We are fighting with the Harkonnens and challenging Thanos.<ref>[https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/02/nato-gets-destroyed-for-tweet-comparing-ukraine-russia-conflict-to-harry-potter-and-other-famous-fantasy-films-responses-are-hysterical/ NATO Gets DESTROYED For Tweet Comparing Ukraine-Russia Conflict To Harry Potter And Other Famous Fantasy Films], By Cullen Linebarger, Feb. 23, 2023. ''[[Gatewaypundit]]''.</ref>}} | | {{quotebox-float|"We are Harry Potter and William Wallace, the Na’vi and Han Solo. We’re escaping from Shawshank and blowing up the Death Star. We are fighting with the Harkonnens and challenging Thanos.<ref>[https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/02/nato-gets-destroyed-for-tweet-comparing-ukraine-russia-conflict-to-harry-potter-and-other-famous-fantasy-films-responses-are-hysterical/ NATO Gets DESTROYED For Tweet Comparing Ukraine-Russia Conflict To Harry Potter And Other Famous Fantasy Films], By Cullen Linebarger, Feb. 23, 2023. ''[[Gatewaypundit]]''.</ref>}} |
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| | + | == Uses of propaganda in society today == |
| | + | [[File:Fauci Film.JPG|right|300px|thumb|The [[Fauci]] agitprop film was not well received. [[Rotten Tomatoes]] refused to allow critical reviews.<ref>https://youtu.be/OBbEV8qP4fo</ref>]] |
| | + | Former president [[Woodrow Wilson]] is known his use of [[deceit]]ful political propaganda in the [[United States]], techniques first used by organizations such as the [[Committee on Public Information]], during the [[progressive]]-era in the early 1900s.<ref>[http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/196/4199/ Glenn talks with Jonah Goldberg, author of Liberal Fascism], ''The Glenn Beck Program'', January 15, 2008.</ref><ref name=journolist>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,597464,00.html Journolist Follows the Footsteps of Woodrow Wilson's Propagandists], ''[[Fox News]]'', July 22, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/35938/ Glenn Beck: Obama Zombies], ''The Glenn Beck Program'', February 4, 2010.</ref><ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,593622,00.html Progressives' Fight for American Hearts and Minds], ''[[Fox News]]'', May 27, 2010.</ref> Today, propaganda has become the favorite method of [[politics]]. Both politicians and the commentators that support them routinely engage in it. The most egregious example of modern propaganda can probably be found in the films of [[Michael Moore]], which present a classic combination of factual fabrication, distorted interpretation, and emotional dishonesty. On television, [[Countdown]] with [[Keith Olbermann]] provides a nightly dose of mean-spirited, irrational invective. Journalists have also contributed, forming groups such as the [[JournoList]].<ref name=journolist /> The vicious and frivolous tone of so much modern propaganda has contributed, especially in the United States, to a coarsening of civil discourse and, some say, a severe weakening of civility. |
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| | + | In addition to civility, the idea of truth suffers from the habitual use of propaganda. Current-events organs that willfully publish propagandistic content not only contribute to the problem, but also demean themselves. In one famous example ([[Rathergate]]), a [[television]] broadcast network circulated for weeks certain memoranda, the contents of which were damaging to the incumbent President of the United States ([[George W. Bush]]), though those who obtained those memoranda knew, or ought to have known, that they were forgeries. |
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| | + | [[Theater]] has been an instrument of propaganda since before such things as current-events organs existed. Significantly, however, whenever theater has lent itself to propaganda, it has tended to demean itself. Even [[William Shakespeare]] was not immune to this - certain of his Histories, especially ''Richard the Third'' acted as propaganda for the ruling [[Tudor]] dynasty whose founder, [[Henry VII]], had defeated [[Richard III]] to become king. |
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| | == Identifying propaganda == | | == Identifying propaganda == |