There are two kinds of people, those who can see propaganda around them, and those that have already fallen for it.
- Eddy Barnaeis
Propaganda 101 is an introductory level course into the world of propaganda. We will explore the rich history of propaganda, and it’s uses in various historical conflicts, and as an apparatus of control. We will then begin forming critical analysis of historical and contemporary political propaganda. From there we will begin to look at corporate propaganda in the forms of modern advertisement and public relations. Finally we will look at the most modern techniques used in corporate propaganda, and the effect that psychology has had on the field.
Lies don’t wither in the light. Not when the public finds it easier to let them sneak into the crevices of their mind. Truth, however, only flourishes when we seek it’s fruits.
- Noir Eiyael
Prerequisites
There are no defined prerequisites for the course
Required readings
- Propaganda: A history of the language of control - Jorn Gouerbals
- Corporate Propaganda: The evolution of an age old practice - Eddy Barnaeis
- Psycho-corporate propaganda: The psychology of habit formation in modern products - Noir Eiyael
- Engineering perception: How to effectively use propaganda in the modern age - Eddy Barnaeis
Outline
The course is split up into 5 units. We will be completing the first two units rather quickly, and spending the bulk of our time on the last 3.
Unit 1; What is Propaganda?
In this section we will look at what propaganda is, and various methods to examine propaganda. By the end of this section students should be able to:
- Identify and explain the various models of propaganda
- Use techniques described to break down a piece of media according to The Kliever Tests
- Identify some common places you might find propaganda in your daily life
Unit 2; Historical Propaganda
In this section we will look at how propaganda was used throughout history as a tool of political control. By the end of this section students should be able to:
- Identify prominent historical propagandists
- Identify and analyze famous examples of propaganda, and propaganda campaigns.
- Identify and analyze opposition to prominent propaganda, and provide a critical analysis of the concerns of both sides
Unit 3; Introduction to corporate propaganda
In this section we will look at how propaganda has changed in the modern world, and is used in corporate environments. By the end of this section students should be able to:
- Identify common techniques in corporate propaganda for advertising, apology/wrongdoing statements, data collection etc.
- Identify and describe common tactics between corporate and political propaganda
- Identify and describe mistakes and/or improvements that could be made to propaganda
- Identify and describe why and how particular pieces of information are included vs not in a piece of propaganda
Unit 4; Practical Analysis of Contemporary Propaganda
In this section we will analyze contemporary forms of political and corporate propaganda, while developing techniques and “short-cuts” for analysis. By the end of this section students should be able to:
- Quickly dissect and analyze various forms of contemporary propaganda
- Identify modern propaganda techniques, and identify the historical techniques the modern variants come from
- Classify and categorize propaganda from a variety of sources
- Use predictive analysis to determine likely actions a corporation or group would take given a set of circumstances
Unit 5; The Development of Propaganda
In this section we will work to develop corporate and political propaganda. By the end of this section students should be able to:
- Create individual pieces of corporate or political propaganda
- Create multi-media propaganda campaigns
- Iterate and improve the effectiveness of existing propaganda campaigns
- Identify possible research scenarios to help improve propaganda development
Deliverables
| Name | Description | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis Assignments (x10) | You will be asked to take a piece of propaganda, or a propaganda campaign and analyze it according to various models | %30 (%3 each) |
| Critical Essay (x2) | Taking a propaganda campaign you will be asked to provide a critical analysis in which you will analyze and critique the techniques used, as well as the underlying concepts present in the propaganda | %15 (%7.5 each) |
| Midterm 1 (Units 1 & 2) | A multiple choice and written exam on the specified units | %10 |
| Midterm 2 (Units 3 & 4) | A multiple choice and written exam on the specified units | %10 |
| Propoganda Campaigns (x2) | You will be asked to develop 2 propaganda campaigns. One will be political propaganda for a theoretical political movement, and the other will be corporate propaganda for a theoretical product launch. | %35 (%17.5 each) |