Introduction
Propaganda involves purposeful skewing of words to manipulate the opinion of the public on issues; outsiders or observers must view it as objectionable on the premise of religion, sexism, and racism. Rhetoric dictates that propaganda is a product of myths that are critical to sustenance and integration in society; destruction of this myth would mean the destruction of society. For instance, it is a myth that the constitution of the United States provides for the “right to bear arms.” Whereas the constitution does not guarantee for the right, gun control debates have been surrounded by these myths intimating that history and myths are elided. Judicious manufacture or choice of symbolic strategies and symbols form an integral part of the work of a propagandist. By and large, the Nazi used symbols to resurrect, simplify, embroider, or express myths. Political, social, and group propaganda are very tangible and real; based on the ambivalent nature of public opinion, the individual with the best propaganda emerges victorious. In election campaigns in the United States, propaganda was manifest in negative advertising where opponents would talk ill of each other and policies fronted to gain political mileage. Internationally, the Iraq/Afghanistan wars were structured and inspired by propaganda. Bin Laden communicated to his allies in a language aimed at terrorizing and recruiting; the 9/11 was the act that unified the United States towards a common enemy. In Iraq, journalists, radio stations, and battlefield leaflets created propaganda that made the US resolve into removing Saddam Hussein and eventually taking control. Politicians often speak to sell their program or cause; salesmanship and politics works this way. On the other hand, strategic communications, public relations, advertising, and marketing work on the basis of an idea, product, or program is. Propaganda exposure is rampant in contemporary American society; what one treats as the ultimate truth may be treated as propaganda by another. There is a need to differentiate between government information and propaganda. For instance, where the president expresses partisan opinions; disagreeing cannot amount to propaganda.
The 20th century marked the growth of transport and mass media that ultimately meant improved mass audiences increasing effectiveness and use of propaganda. The television, radio, movies, and print formed the basis for new propaganda techniques. Cultural imperialism and international propaganda were on the rise with the invention of the television and the radio respectively. Globally, modern society has been dominated by advertising as the most rampant of all forms of propaganda.
Mass audience
The 20th century saw a dramatic increase in propaganda that was widely accepted and practiced as part of contemporary society. Mass audience was the new historical perspective created and now able to disseminate information to heterogeneous and large groups of persons on short notice. Previously, newspapers were only sold through annual or monthly subscriptions, but with the growing working and middle-class readers, there was a willingness from the audience to pay for the newspaper daily. Earlier on, the press did not focus much on daily occurrences; however, the penny press realized the need to cultivate the interests of the audience in everyday occurrences and local events. This new approach of dissemination of information meant that the reader accessed more than just economic and political information. It created awareness among the readers of the world in general through their reactions after sharing in the information. The experiences shared promoted propaganda since its success thrives on channeling of messages towards specific groups.
Mass society
During this period, mass media ventured into manipulating human behavior and emotions. The opinion of the public was treated as the discussion on enlightenment rather than the rise of the masses and concern for intellectuals from Europe. The potent and widespread use of propaganda soon after the First World War was evident in the manipulation of ideologies; it provided a basis for competition among interest groups and private institutions after the war. Critics of the progressive propaganda used the government, education, entertainment, religion, and news to address the numerous concerns perpetuated by “partisan ideological diffusion.” Further, all forms of entertainment and communication were criticized as potential drivers of propaganda. The new media informed how propaganda was disseminated and criticized.
Film
Initially, there were fears that propaganda would benefit much from film; being one of the greatest forms of entertainment, film failed to achieve its promise as propagandist channel and educator. Films have the greatest potential to evoke emotions thus explaining its ability to stir propaganda. Historically, these values have been able to shape and reflect norms in society. For example, in Motion v Ohio, motion pictures were subjected to censorship in the wake of calls for it to be regarded as part of public opinion organ that was perpetrating evil.
Radio
Radio made physical presence irrelevant in communicating propaganda over long distances and across borders. Ideologies in politics are disseminated over the radio though some are supported or funded by the state. Moreover, a group of religiously or politically active citizens may use improvements in technology through radio to spread propaganda. In Iraq, Pentagon used the radio to spread messages that were anti-Saddam to the military and his supporters.
Conclusion
Politics and propaganda cannot be differentiated since they both share common definition traits. Mass audience created during this period reflected the role played by increased sharing of information in perpetuating propaganda. Internationally, the mass society could now interact through film and radio to exchange propaganda.