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Show Volume XXIX Issue XIII The Ogden Valley News Page 7 May 15, 2022 Analyzing and Recognizing Propaganda UDOT Road Report Sometimes propaganda is integrative. In this case, the propagandist is trying to “dumb down” the target audience, or get them to become “passive, accepting, and nonchallenging” to behaviors that aren’t traditionally acceptable. Propaganda can also be described as white, gray, or black. White propaganda does not endeavor to conceal its source because the information is close to the truth. While the information being portrayed may be accurate or correct, or reasonably so, “it is presented in a manner that attempts to convince the audience that the sender is the ‘good guy’ with the best ideas and political ideology. White propaganda attempts to build credibility with the audience, for this could have usefulness at some point in the future.” On the other end of the spectrum is black propaganda, which conveys to conceal where the information is coming from. The source is hidden all together or credited as coming from a false source. The effort is to spread lies, fabrications, and deception. Information can be disseminated as an outright “big lie,” or untruth by more deceitful means. The authors reference Hitler’s propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels who claimed that “outrageous charges evoke more belief than milder statements that merely twist the truth slightly.” History has certainly borne this truth out. For instance, Czar Nicholas II’s secret police came up with The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which portrayed Jews as demonic schemers vying for world dominance. While the information was clearly fabricated, it was spread widely throughout the Russian empire to incite anti-Semitism and was later citied in Mein Kompf, permeating Nazi propaganda, and eventually leading many to buy into the extremely cruel torture, abuse, and extermination of millions upon millions of men, women, and children. While the genocide of the Jewish people in our time may be the most commonly referenced example of the detrimental impact of propaganda, there is a plethora of other tragic examples. As referenced earlier, the authors reiterate that “propaganda includes the reinforcing of cultural myths and stereotypes that are so deeply embedded in a culture that recognizing a message as propaganda is often difficult; thus, they outline a ten-step plan of analysis that includes the major elements and divisions of propaganda. By noting the below elements and using them to analyze new political trends and pushes in the news, one can begin to analyze then defuse the information to find its underlying purpose instead of being emotionally carried away by it. Also, in doing so, one can begin to find trends and motives behind media efforts to help distill truth from fiction, then placing information in a more legitimate context. The divisions are as follows: 1. The ideology and purpose of the propaganda campaign. Why is it being promoted and who are the winners and losers. What verbal and visual representations and cultural symbols and ideologies are being used and what emotions do they evoke? 2. The context in which the propaganda occurs. What’s going on in the country? Successful propaganda relates to the prevailing mood of the times; therefore, it is essential to understand the climate of the times. Propagandists will try to interpret events and the emotions they evoke to serve their purposes. 3. Identification of the propagandist. Is it the government, a special interest group, business, or organization? Once identified, what do they have to gain by reaching their goal? 4. The structure of the propaganda organization. Usually a strong, centralized, decisionmaking authority endeavoring to produce a The Monte Cristo Highway, also known as State Route 39, is set to open no later than May 30, 2022 between milepost 37, just east of Huntsville near Ant Flat Road, and milepost 56 near Woodruff in Rich County. The Big Mountain Highway, or S.R. 65, opened May 5 between milepost 3, north of the Emigration Canyon turn-off in eastern Salt Lake County, and milepost 13, which is about 2 miles south of East Canyon State Park in Morgan County. Due to their high elevations, these two routes can be hit with extreme snowfall in a matter of hours. When UDOT closes the two highways in late fall, they typically remain out of service until at least spring. Winter maintenance on the roads is expensive and because of the chances of a swift, incoming heavy snowstorm, motorist safety is a concern during the winter months. The roads typically close from late November through May, but sometimes heavy snow forces closures to last longer. It’s also important to note that closing and opening dates for these two highways are always a moving target. UDOT tries to strike a balance between maintaining access on these two roads and ensuring the safety of the traveling public. Due to their high elevations, these two routes can be hit with extreme snowfall in a matter of hours. By Shanna Francis Having completed extensive undergraduate and graduate work in Political Science and Russian and Soviet studies, I’m well acquainted with the term and many forms of what we call propaganda. A longstanding idea in America is that political propaganda is something that only characterizes “other” countries—primarily countries ran by dictators and authoritarian regimes. While it’s probably safe to say that almost everyone knows what propaganda is, it’s also relatively safe to say that when you are being personally influenced by propaganda, it’s almost impossible to detect. How can this be? Garth S. Jowett and Victoria O’Donnell define the term in their seventh edition text Propaganda and Persuasion (2019). In simplest terms, it is “to disseminate or promote particular ideas.” The term comes from the Latin word “to propagate” or “to sow.” More specifically, the authors define it as “the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist.” The authors also provide synonyms for its meaning today, which hold a negative connotation: “lies, distortion, deceit, manipulation, mind control, psychological warfare, brainwashing, palaver, and fake news.” Pratkanis and Turner define propaganda as “attempts to move a recipient to a predetermined point of view by using simple images and slogans that truncate thought by playing on prejudices and emotions.” Today, “fake news” has become a buzz word for propaganda. It implies news that has been “laundered” or deliberately altered, “spun,” exaggerated, or distorted in a way that can be considered as “organized persuasion.” It is deemed “unethical, harmful, and tactically unfair.” As noted by the authors, propaganda is a tool of control, “and is regarded as a deliberate attempt to alter or maintain a balance of power that is advantageous to the propagandist. Deliberate attempt is usually linked with a clear institutional ideology and objective. The purpose of propaganda is to convey an ideology to an audience with a related objective. Whether it is a government agency attempting… to instill a massive wave of patriotism in a national audience to support a war effort, a terrorist network enlisting followers in a jihad, a military leader trying to frighten the enemy by exaggerating the strength of its army, a corporation pursing a credible brand to maintain its legitimacy among its clientele, or a company seeking to malign a rival to deter competition for its product, a careful and predetermined plan of prefabricated symbol manipulation is used to communicate an objective to an audience. That objective endeavors to reinforce or modify the attitudes, the behavior, or both of an audience.” Propaganda can take many forms but, almost always, is based in some form of ideology. This is why whenever you see a new mass movement afoot, you can pretty much recognize it as a propagandist’s attempt to alter the status quo in favor of a desired outcome by restructuring this status quo based on a concerted ideological attempt. Young people and others without a rich or deep stake in the current cultural ideological tradition are especially susceptible to propaganda, as they are usually more readily influenced. The authors note that sometimes propaganda is agitative, attempting to upend current cultural norms; thus, extreme efforts are orchestrated to bring significant cultural change—usually in an effort to shift the balance of power between current economic and political winners and losers. consistent message that will benefit them. Why and how? 5. The target audience. Why are they being targeted? 6. Media utilization techniques. Remember, whoever owns the media exercises control over the communication of messages. Today media also includes film, the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, e-mail, videos, cartoons, direct mailers, posters, rallies, billboards, street names, monuments, coins and stamps, books, plays, comic strips, music, museum displays, sporting events, cultural events, libraries, cultural events, sitcoms, etc. 7. Special techniques to maximize effect. This can include getting people to donate, join groups, participate in rallies and marches, and even kill. Techniques to move people towards action include creating resonance with current ideologies such as “fairness” or “equality”; coming across as a credible source, credible opinion leaders such as high-profile athletes, or actors or pop stars, etc.; face-to-face contact; group norms; rewards and punishments, a monopoly of communication sources; visual symbols of power; language usage; popular music; and/or arousal of emotions, etc. 8. Audience reaction to various techniques. What’s working and why? 9. Counter propaganda, if present. Take note and compare. 10. Effects and evaluation. In sum, the authors note, “If the analyst can answer the many questions contained within these ten categories, a thorough picture and understanding of propaganda will emerge. It is not always possible, however, to find all the information one needs to make a complete analysis.” Sometimes, it just takes time to fill in the missing links, as was the case with Hitler after his rise to power and eventual demise. Finally, the authors provide seven takeaways: 1. Propaganda creates and is created by strange and powerful bedfellows. 2. Propaganda serves an informative function in that it tells people what to think about, believe, and how to behave. Because people turn to the media for help in understanding events and for finding out what to do about them, they unwittingly expose themselves to propaganda and may become willing or naïve supporters of an invisible institution and ideology. 3. Even when it is obvious that a message is propaganda, people will respond favorably to it. Knowledge that communication is propagandistic does not necessarily neutralize people’s reaction to it, especially when a message produces resonance in an audience. 4. People tend to divide into opposing camps in response to propaganda, and public “communities” are formed that create powerful “armies” to fight for and support a cause. The media can instantly transmit information, and the community responds with instantaneous reactions—often very destructive. 5. New technologies are powerful allies of propagandists…. New forms of market research, such as monitoring online purchases or online sites visited, now make it possible to devise ‘target’… messages tailored specifically to an individual’s social and cultural predispositions, aesthetic tastes, or political ideology. Algorithms are used for this. 6. External propaganda may be created for internal consumption. For instance, displays of aggression toward an enemy—political or physical—may not faze the enemy, but they can bolster morale at home. 7. Propaganda is not necessarily evil. It can only be evaluated within its own context according to the players, the played upon, and its purpose. Thoughts for Life: The Power of Great Associations By Shanna Francis Several years ago, I had the opportunity to join a team of medical volunteers serving a humanitarian mission across the globe. The beautiful goodness of the people I met and worked with made such a positive impact that after returning home, I gained an earnest desire to continue associating, throughout my life, with individuals of high character with strong noble spirits, and with the meek and humble—as those with whom we worked. I came to realize that I can do this daily, at will, by searching the scriptures, listening to great talks and addresses, and learning from amazing individuals all around me. Everyone has something to offer, something that all can learn from if they but slow down and see. Too, by reaching back through time and history, one can associate with some of the most outstanding noble spirits who ever lived by reading their biographies and learning how they made a difference for good in the world by the choices they made and the lives they lived. They awe and amazed. I am inspired to strive a little harder, reach a little higher, dig a little deeper, and give a little more... to pattern my life on all the good they emanate and then forsake that of lesser value or of lesser importance. From the book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy we read of German pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s words found in a letter he wrote: “You know— perhaps partly still unconsciously...—what treasures a good family life, good parents, right and truth, humanity [the state of being good and kind to people and animals] and education, and tradition [cultural and moral acts and beliefs that sustain healthy civilizations] are.”1 If you have been blessed with these, it is not your due, but a great “gift” that must be used judiciously to love and assist others, a gift not to be wasted. This is the essence of why we are here on earth—to use wisely and soberly our gifts and talents for the betterment of family, friends, neighbors, and the broader community. Each can rub shoulders with great spirits and learn, grow, and be inspired by the great good in all, and in return, gain greater light to share with others, too. Make it an inspired day through the gift of great associations. |