Critical Thinking, Ambiguity, and Loaded LanguageAfter watching and reading both President Bush’s speeches and the Democratic Party’s responses earlier this week, I realized that our media is laced with propaganda. It is subtle, but when a politician’s speech is analyzed or a news clip is explored deeper, it is fairly easy to discern what messages within the text are written to provoke an intended response. While initially I was offended by the governments attempt to influence my mindset without my knowledge, after consideration it seems as though this has been a practice of governments for hundreds of years. Can I blame them for using such an established and effective practice? No, I can not. It is the people who are to blame for providing the fuel for this partly unethical system. As a collective, Americans are highly receptive to forms of perception shifting methods put forth by companies and our government, and it is this national gullibility that provides the motive for said groups.
Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist. (wikipedia.com) As a nation we must read through the propaganda and find the reality behind it. If it is in fact spreading lies we must not allow ourselves to succumb to the weak spirited acceptance of everything we hear. We must fight for truth.
Question: How was propaganda created and developed?
No comments:
Post a Comment