Lots of propaganda will incorporate political figures, especially revolutionary political figures, like Che Guevara. *Do you know what Che Guevara stands for? In some places it is highly respected, while in others it is marginalized.

Persuasive techniques will often involve references to popular culture, like this one making reference to the Nike swoosh symbol and the saying, "Just Do It." *An example of Transfer.

This example of persuasion is referring to technology while calling on past military and political images often used in war propaganda. The use of the color red (a red apple) symbolizes power and strength, thus showing the dominance of Mac products. *An example of Bandwagon.

What are the types of persuasive techniques:

Appeals to Association

Bandwagon Appeal: taps into people's desire to belong

Snob Appeal: taps into people's needs to feel superior to others

Testimonial: relies on the backing of a celebrity, an expert, or a satisfied customer

Transfer: connects a product, a candidate, or a cause with a positive image or idea

Appeal to Values

Ethical Appeal: tries to gain moral support for a claim by linking the claim to a widely accepted value

Either/or fallacy: This technique is also called "black-and-white thinking" because only two choices are given. You are either for something or against it; there is no middle ground or shades of gray. It is used to polarize issues, and negates all attempts to find a common ground.

Emotional Appeals

Appeal to Fear: makes people feel as if their safety, security, or health is in danger

Appeal to Pity: taps into people's compassion for others

Word Choice

Loaded Language: uses words with strongly positive or negative connotations (meanings) to stir people's emotions

Glittering Generalities: This technique uses important-sounding "glad words" that have little or no real meaning. These words are used in general statements that cannot be proved or disproved. Words like "good," "honest," "fair," and "best" are examples of "glad" words.

Card Stacking: This term comes from stacking a deck of cards in your favor. Card stacking is used to slant a message. Key words or unfavorable statistics may be omitted in an ad or commercial, leading to a series of half-truths. Keep in mind that an advertiser is under no obligation "to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

OTHERS

Name Calling: This techniques consists of attaching a negative label to a person or a thing. People engage in this type of behavior when they are trying to avoid supporting their own opinion with facts. Rather than explain what they believe in, they prefer to try to tear their opponent down.

False Analogy: In this technique, two things that may or may not really be similar are portrayed as being similar. When examining the comparison, you must ask yourself how similar the items are. In most false analogies, there is simply not enough evidence available to support the comparison.

 

What is Propaganda?

Propaganda is a method and approach used to spread ideas that further a cause - a political, commercial, religious, or civil cause.

Propaganda is used to manipulate the readers' or viewers' reason and emotions; to persuade them to believe in something or someone, buy an item, or vote a certain way.