COMS 361 - Lecture 1, Part 2 Transcript

Introduction to Propaganda

  • Overview of key theorists in the field.

    • Randal Marlin

    • Jacques Ellul

    • George Orwell

    • Aldous Huxley

Propaganda Definitions

  • Randal Marlin's Definition:

    • "The organized attempt through communication to affect belief or action or inculcate attitudes in a large audience in ways that circumvent or suppress an individual’s adequately informed rational, reflective judgment."

  • Jacques Ellul's Definition:

    • "A set of methods employed by an organized group that wants to bring about the active or passive participation in its actions of a mass of individuals, psychologically unified through psychological manipulations and incorporated in an organization."

Jacques Ellul

  • Author of Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes (1965).

    • Recognized as one of the most influential books on propaganda.

    • Critical of technology used for mind control and institutions of power.

    • Advocated for the education of people to combat negative propaganda.

  • Key Concepts Discussed:

    • Characteristics of propaganda:

      • External/Internal categories: political/sociological, agitation/integration, vertical/horizontal, rational/irrational.

    • Sociological conditions necessary for propaganda.

    • Necessity of propaganda by the state/individuals.

    • Psychological effects:

      • Crystallization, alienation, dissociation, sensibilization.

    • Sociopolitical effects: changing ideology and public opinion in democracies.

Randal Marlin

  • Introduces critical reflection on contemporary and future propaganda.

  • Media control influences human thought and action.

    • Not all media controllers are propagandists, yet information can have similar effects as propaganda.

  • Aims to address ethical issues surrounding propaganda use.

    • Discussion of possible "well-intentioned propaganda."

  • Summary of Ellul's Propaganda:

    • Complements Ellul's four complementary categories:

      • Political/Sociological

      • Agitation/Integration

      • Vertical/Horizontal

      • Irrational/Rational

George Orwell

  • Renowned works: Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949).

    • Examines enslaving language of propaganda as a control mechanism by governments for populations.

    • Focus on truth vs. alternative facts.

    • Discusses "useful lies" vs. "harmful truths." in highlighting the ruthless media strategies used by authoritarian regimes.

Aldous Huxley

  • Author of Brave New World (1931).

    • Depicts a future where people rely on diversions and drugs for control by authorities.

  • Brave New World Revisited (1953):

    • Explores developments in the twenty years following the original publication.

Propaganda in a Democratic Society

  • Huxley's view:

    • Propaganda can be either rational or irrational.

    • There are two types of propaganda: true or false.

    • Defines irrational propaganda as "action dictated by impulses."

    • Proposes a third type: the propaganda of the unreal and irrelevant, suggesting propaganda based on impression rather than fact.

    • Reflects the nature of propaganda in contemporary democracies.


Two Fundamental Constants in Propaganda

No matter what definition one adopts for propaganda, there are two fundamental constants in propaganda.


The First Constant - propaganda always seeks to elicit a “yes” from the targeted audience.

  • “Yes, this is me.”

  • “Yes, this is what I believe.”

  • “Yes, I identify with that message.”

  • “Yes, this speaks to my values.”


The Second Constant - propaganda always necessitates some type of action for it to be effective.

In this course, we will constantly relate intent and effect: the intent of the propagandist and the effect on his or her audience. In general terms, unless the intended end result is made actual, propaganda in its fundamental form cannot exist. For it to constitute propaganda, it must transcend the intent of the propagandist. If we examine propaganda solely according to the messages disseminated, the campaigns devised and the media used in dissemination, we limit our understanding of propaganda to something conceived by a propagandist but which provides no guarantee of success.