Thursday, February 6, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2008
A Response to My Exam Question
How does propaganda utilize the appeal to the Ethos, Pathos, and Logos? Give an example an example of how each of these could be used in a work of propagand.
Effective propaganda usually appeals to one or more of these human facets. It appeals to the Ethos (ethics or moral reasoning), Pathos (the emotions), or the Logos (logic).
A work appealing to the ethos might show injustice in some way, and use that to convince the viewer to donate money or effort becuase their moral reasoning compels them to fight against the injustice.
A work appealing to the pathos might conjure up the viewers emotions, such as showing somebody in pain or suffering. This type of propaganda would most defenitily utilize music if it can that is sad or in a minor key to tug at the viewers emotions.
A work appealing to the logos would probably reinforce the dependability or the trustworthyness of the creater of the work in order to get the viewers to believe the work because of their trust in its creator.
Effective propaganda usually appeals to one or more of these human facets. It appeals to the Ethos (ethics or moral reasoning), Pathos (the emotions), or the Logos (logic).
A work appealing to the ethos might show injustice in some way, and use that to convince the viewer to donate money or effort becuase their moral reasoning compels them to fight against the injustice.
A work appealing to the pathos might conjure up the viewers emotions, such as showing somebody in pain or suffering. This type of propaganda would most defenitily utilize music if it can that is sad or in a minor key to tug at the viewers emotions.
A work appealing to the logos would probably reinforce the dependability or the trustworthyness of the creater of the work in order to get the viewers to believe the work because of their trust in its creator.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The Resurrection of John McCain - TIME
James Carney, in his article The Resurrection of John McCain, describes the Presidential Candidate’s journey back into the public’s favor. He begins by describing the moment in which after feeling defeated, McCain hears the announcement that he has won South Carolina. Carney then briefly describes how McCain fell out and then back into favor. The rest of the article concerns itself mostly with describing McCain’s attributes and states reasons why he is back in public favor and furthermore why he deserves to be. This article is targeted to subscribers of Time Magazine, regarded as a credible news and information source, which can be assumed to be those interested in issues such as these. As it is a subscription it is also most likely that readers are not passive, but instead actively reading the magazine’s articles. Though active reading might not mean very in depth reading, it does differ from the experience of watching a commercial in which little thought it put into what the senses are taking in.
Though the article is an uplifting look at a presidential candidate, in many ways it is political propaganda. It can be argued that it is almost impossible for political reporting to not be considered propaganda because even the slightest word or adjective seems to represent the author’s opinion on the subject. Political races are full of ideas, emotions, and opinions that are extremely hard to avoid when reporting on happenings within it. However, in this article there seems to be no effort to avoid such ideas, emotions, and opinions. This would make sense were the article designated as a story about McCain, but the magazine doesn’t designate it as such.
The article appeals especially to the pathos, or the emotions. It describes McCain’s experiences throughout his political career by saying “He's been shot out of the sky and held captive, hung from ropes by his two broken arms and beaten senseless. This is his second run for President; he lost before, has nearly lost again and has been all but disowned by his party” (Carney 1). It is understandable to describe McCain’s experiences as difficult, but using such superfluous adjectives such as hung and broken are meant to gain the reader’s sympathy. This use of adjectives gives McCain the stereotypical “underdog” status, which though it may not triumph, is highly favored. The article might describe his ways as “refreshing and vaguely masochistic” (Carney 2), which doesn’t seem very favorable, but will then go on to say that “even when he knows it's in his short-term political interest to dodge a question or adjust his message, he often just won't — or can't — do it” (Carney 2). This quality is probably not something that the average American wouldn’t like in this day of skepticism and the intense desire for truth.
The article would do well, in my opinion, to lose the adjectives and let McCain’s actions speak for him. The article presents a thorough examination of McCain’s political experiences and describes his platforms, but doesn’t simply present these things. It instead extensively uses adjectives and phrases to describe these things in such a way that in the end the reader cannot help but appreciate if not support the presidential candidate. Though I don’t think an article can be condemned simply because it quickly changes someone’s mind but can be condemned if it employs superfluous adjectives and an appeal to emotions to do so. This article can clearly be put in the latter category and as such can clearly be called political propaganda.
The Resurrection of John McCain - TIME
Though the article is an uplifting look at a presidential candidate, in many ways it is political propaganda. It can be argued that it is almost impossible for political reporting to not be considered propaganda because even the slightest word or adjective seems to represent the author’s opinion on the subject. Political races are full of ideas, emotions, and opinions that are extremely hard to avoid when reporting on happenings within it. However, in this article there seems to be no effort to avoid such ideas, emotions, and opinions. This would make sense were the article designated as a story about McCain, but the magazine doesn’t designate it as such.
The article appeals especially to the pathos, or the emotions. It describes McCain’s experiences throughout his political career by saying “He's been shot out of the sky and held captive, hung from ropes by his two broken arms and beaten senseless. This is his second run for President; he lost before, has nearly lost again and has been all but disowned by his party” (Carney 1). It is understandable to describe McCain’s experiences as difficult, but using such superfluous adjectives such as hung and broken are meant to gain the reader’s sympathy. This use of adjectives gives McCain the stereotypical “underdog” status, which though it may not triumph, is highly favored. The article might describe his ways as “refreshing and vaguely masochistic” (Carney 2), which doesn’t seem very favorable, but will then go on to say that “even when he knows it's in his short-term political interest to dodge a question or adjust his message, he often just won't — or can't — do it” (Carney 2). This quality is probably not something that the average American wouldn’t like in this day of skepticism and the intense desire for truth.
The article would do well, in my opinion, to lose the adjectives and let McCain’s actions speak for him. The article presents a thorough examination of McCain’s political experiences and describes his platforms, but doesn’t simply present these things. It instead extensively uses adjectives and phrases to describe these things in such a way that in the end the reader cannot help but appreciate if not support the presidential candidate. Though I don’t think an article can be condemned simply because it quickly changes someone’s mind but can be condemned if it employs superfluous adjectives and an appeal to emotions to do so. This article can clearly be put in the latter category and as such can clearly be called political propaganda.
The Resurrection of John McCain - TIME
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
To Start Things Off
As a requirement for a rather interesting class I am taking this semester I am starting this blog to produce a rolling commentary on the topic if propaganda. Like most of the classes I take, I entered this class with little to no understanding of the topic save what I picked up in random conversations. After my first class I decided to simply google the word propaganda to see if I could gain a general understanding of what my semester would look like. Though it is not part of the assignment I would like this blog to grow in its knowledge of this topic as I grow. Though I hate being the one with little to no knowledge of a subject I understand that I am not alone in my lack of understanding and so would like to start out by giving a defenition of propaganda:
prop·a·gan·da /[prop-uh-gan-duh]–noun
1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.
2. the deliberate spreading of such information, rumors, etc.
3. the particular doctrines or principles propagated by an organization or
movement.
This is the dictionary defenition of propaganda. However, I would like to discuss the word in more specific terms. My recently found understanding of propaganda is that it is a decided set of messages produced in and by any sort of medium that is aimed at influencing the opions and actions of a large group of people. Propaganda is not neccessarially telling a lie to the masses but instead selectively presenting facts in order to influence them. It also is the use of certain words, phrases, or images that are garunteed to produce an emotion that will most likely produce a desired action. Propaganda's main use is to change how consumers feel about a certain product, person, or event in order to get them in act accordingly.
- Both of these commercials are examples of propaganda in the advertising industry
Here is a vintage Pepsi commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWQkf0w5JR4
Here is a current Apple Macintosh commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiWTcVHdSFo
prop·a·gan·da /[prop-uh-gan-duh]–noun
1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.
2. the deliberate spreading of such information, rumors, etc.
3. the particular doctrines or principles propagated by an organization or
movement.
This is the dictionary defenition of propaganda. However, I would like to discuss the word in more specific terms. My recently found understanding of propaganda is that it is a decided set of messages produced in and by any sort of medium that is aimed at influencing the opions and actions of a large group of people. Propaganda is not neccessarially telling a lie to the masses but instead selectively presenting facts in order to influence them. It also is the use of certain words, phrases, or images that are garunteed to produce an emotion that will most likely produce a desired action. Propaganda's main use is to change how consumers feel about a certain product, person, or event in order to get them in act accordingly.
- Both of these commercials are examples of propaganda in the advertising industry
Here is a vintage Pepsi commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWQkf0w5JR4
Here is a current Apple Macintosh commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiWTcVHdSFo
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