Detecting Political Propaganda In the 1930s essay, “How to Detect Political Propaganda,” the founder of the Institute for Propaganda Analysis, Clyde R. Miller, explains citizens should be able to uncover the truth behind propaganda to voice their own opinions on the issue. The author explains that propaganda is meant to appeal to our emotions and reinforce “fewer options and actions.” Miller describes how there are seven common propaganda devices that we should recognize such as The Name Calling Device, The Glittering Generalities Device, The Transfer Device, The Testimonial Device, The Plain Folk Device, The Card Stacking Device, and The Band Wagon Device.
The 1930s essay portrays how these devices were used for propaganda during …show more content…
In the essay, the author describes the testimonial device as using someone to advertise the candidate as a good or positive option. We see this device being used in the ad during Obama’s speech. President Barack Obama is a figure we all respect because he has stood by the United States and defended it throughout the past 8 years of his presidency. He is a man of his word, so when he states in this ad that he knows Hillary Clinton will make a good president, people will trust in his word and vote for Clinton. Not only does the president say she will be a good leader, but he continues to state the qualities she possesses which make her fit for the job. By stating that she has “the courage, the compassion, and the heart to get the job done,” it further convinces the audience of what a good candidate Clinton …show more content…
The author, in his essay, explains that the name calling device is governed by anger, fear, and hate, which identify with our emotions causing the audience to think negatively of the subject (person, place, thing, or idea). In this ad, Clinton is identified as a liar. Trump uses footage where Clinton is called on for being contradicting on her proposition standing, which is enough to sway the audience towards voting for him. Such statements only prove to the audience that Clinton is just another politician, another promising, untrustworthy, corrupt liar, which coincides with the stereotype of politicians This form of propaganda being used is meant to attack the other candidate to make them look bad, which is shown clearly in the anti-Clinton ad. The reassuring statement towards the end of the ad, “Will you say anything to get elected?,” only makes the public see what was just shown to them; however, they don’t take in mind, at least not at the moment, the downsides to the candidate who created the
The 1930s essay portrays how these devices were used for propaganda during …show more content…
In the essay, the author describes the testimonial device as using someone to advertise the candidate as a good or positive option. We see this device being used in the ad during Obama’s speech. President Barack Obama is a figure we all respect because he has stood by the United States and defended it throughout the past 8 years of his presidency. He is a man of his word, so when he states in this ad that he knows Hillary Clinton will make a good president, people will trust in his word and vote for Clinton. Not only does the president say she will be a good leader, but he continues to state the qualities she possesses which make her fit for the job. By stating that she has “the courage, the compassion, and the heart to get the job done,” it further convinces the audience of what a good candidate Clinton …show more content…
The author, in his essay, explains that the name calling device is governed by anger, fear, and hate, which identify with our emotions causing the audience to think negatively of the subject (person, place, thing, or idea). In this ad, Clinton is identified as a liar. Trump uses footage where Clinton is called on for being contradicting on her proposition standing, which is enough to sway the audience towards voting for him. Such statements only prove to the audience that Clinton is just another politician, another promising, untrustworthy, corrupt liar, which coincides with the stereotype of politicians This form of propaganda being used is meant to attack the other candidate to make them look bad, which is shown clearly in the anti-Clinton ad. The reassuring statement towards the end of the ad, “Will you say anything to get elected?,” only makes the public see what was just shown to them; however, they don’t take in mind, at least not at the moment, the downsides to the candidate who created the