Do you often think comprehensively about the information that enters the brain from all available sources? Ask: “Why?” So information is the strongest weapon of our time! Think about how you come to this or that decision. For its adoption, facts are needed that grow into beliefs, which, of course, everyone has. But did you form them yourself, or did propaganda try? This is an important issue. It depends on the answer to whose interests the decision is ultimately made. And it all starts with the presentation of information about the facts, framed in the right way.
Is there propaganda?
It just seems that now any educated person has the opportunity to independently understand almost any topic. You can read articles, listen to experts, dig up the sources. To rethink all the information received, based on life experience, and everything will be in order, we will figure it out! There is a mistake in this chain, even a few. It does not take into account the ways of presenting the facts and the intentions of those who are involved in this business. After all, any person decorates a story about events not only with his impressions, but also with his life experience. It happens naturally. This is the first time you have tasted something exotic. Durian, for example. But you came across stale, but a little lying down. What do you say to your friends? Durian is an excellent muck. If they have not tried the fruit, then they will take a word to their loved one. But will it be true? And what will a relative think of you who will have the opportunity to taste a fresh fruit? Question.
Definition
Propaganda is the suggestion, dissemination of views or ideas for a specific purpose. The term comes from the Latin word propagare. The Vatican prelates in the eighteenth century began to use it in the generally accepted sense. They tried to inspire respect and faith in people. Then, in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, this information technology was adopted by socialist and communist revolutionaries. In their impact on the population, agitation and propaganda were used. It was a kind of informational “double blow”. Campaigning was carried out in order to clarify their views, to convince opponents. And for propaganda slogans were used, short statements that did not cause the population to desire to analyze them, to critically comprehend them. The idea, by the way, is widely in demand in our time. The scope of its application has grown to enormous proportions.
Political propaganda
What is most important for parties and movements? That's right, the number of supporters. The more of them, the more influential the political force. For the “recruitment" of followers and adherents, parties of various kinds use various methods. One of the key places among them is political propaganda. This is a way to show your views, intentions in the most favorable light. To prepare a political propaganda message is a rather laborious affair. For this, special studies are carried out. You may have listened to a well-known satirist criticizing the slogans of the Soviet period? For example, “Pioneer - take care of your Motherland, your mother!” This message has a fairly transparent and patriotic meaning.
Just not honed, like chopped down with an ax. This is not allowed now. The political struggle in the modern world has become acute, tense. There are battles for the mind of every person. Therefore, propaganda has become thinner. Any message, the idea is considered from different angles. They study how it relates to the dreams and beliefs of various layers and groups of the population, how representatives of various faiths or cultural movements will react to it. Advocacy can influence both small groups and the whole of humanity.
Where else is propaganda used?
In today's world, not only politicians need faithful adherents. They were greatly overtaken by large corporations and manufacturers. They also use propaganda in their work. To increase sales, it is necessary to inspire potential buyers with the idea that their product is the best (promising, environmentally friendly, and so on). Simple advertising is clearly not enough. The competition in the market is great. So manufacturers use short ideas and statements that enter through frequent repetition directly into the subconscious. They do not cause rejection or criticism, are perceived as given, a natural course of things.
It’s not necessary to go far for examples. You can turn on the TV and listen to several ads. Ideal propaganda is advertising. She is honed, verified, easy and pleasant.
Is propaganda harmful to humans?
It all depends on the purpose of the application of information dissemination methods. If the one who works with this wants to manipulate people, then it is better to shun such a "source" as, for example, advertising. But this very effective method can be used for other purposes. It really can be called unsurpassed in terms of effectiveness. Only so far there are not many who want to spend money on creating propaganda materials that are obviously not profitable. Public organizations can act as such a source, which is extremely rare. Philanthropists became extinct in the last century. Or it can sometimes become a state that cares about its citizens. An example of this is legal propaganda. These are methods of conveying to citizens by and large their legal rights and freedoms.