Propaganda is often given a negative connotation due to its history of power and control; as in the Hitler’s regime. However, the simple definition is information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular cause or point of view. A big part of it is to manipulate other people’s beliefs, attitudes, or actions by means of symbols. These symbols can include, words, gestures, banners, monuments, music, clothing, and much more.
Propaganda is often associated with material prepared by governments; however, activist groups, companies, religious organizations, the media, and individuals can also create propaganda.
Do They Have a Main Goal?
Propagandists have a defined goal or set of goals. To accomplish these, they intentionally select facts, arguments, and displays of symbols and present them in ways they think will have the most effect.
History of Propaganda:
It was the Catholic Church that both formalized the practice of propaganda and provided us the word itself. Pope Urban II used propaganda to create support for the Crusades. Later, propaganda would become a powerful tool for both Catholics and Protestants throughout the Reformation. By the nineteenth century, propaganda had ultimately emerged in the form we think of it today. Because most people were literate and had more than passing interest in government affairs, politicians found it essential to influence public opinion. They shifted to propaganda to get the job done.
When is Propaganda Bad?
It is bad when used to influence some level of negativity or harmfulness, which cannot be changed or modified in any form. It is lying to the public in an effort to make some sort of profit. It influences the individual to indulge in acts that are not acceptable and may be dangerous to them.
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When is Propaganda Good?
Twists words and phrases to generate an illusion that something might be best for you when it actually is. An example of this would be promoting a product that can reduce kidney disease. Propagandists might make use of technology to create images of kidney disease and the implications of it. This will influence people to stay healthy and steer clear of things that can risk the harm of kidney disease.
EX:
As a system for spreading and relaying information and messages to the public, mass media plays a role in amusing, entertaining, and notifying individuals with rules and values that establish them in a social structure. Therefore, propaganda generates conflicts among society's differing classes
Propaganda in Social Media:
Propaganda is effective on social media because it can reach many people with little effort and users can filter the content to remove content they do not want while retaining what they would like to see. Propaganda, in forms of a video uploaded to YouTube, a post on Facebook or Twitter, or even a comment, has far-reaching effectiveness to advertise specific values and beliefs.
LINKS:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/propaganda
https://www.quora.com/Is-propaganda-bad-or-good
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_through_media
https://ilab.org/articles/brief-history-propaganda
