| "Every day we are
bombarded with one persuasive communication after another. These
appeals persuade not through the give-and-take of argument and debate
but through the manipulation of symbols and of our most basic human
emotions. For better or worse, ours is an age of propaganda." Pratkanis
and Aronson: The Age of Propaganda "Our abilities will be blunted if we are constantly protected from error. We should actively engage in the process of filtering truth from error and should not rely on someone else do do it for us" John Milton (qtd. in Marlin 207). Persuasion has traditionally been associated with winning an argument using emotional or logical reasoning. Responsible rhetoric endorses the use of persuasion when the rhetor provides accurate and truthful information that contributes to an informed decision by its intended audience. Propaganda, on the other hand, is a persuasive form of rhetoric that attempts to influence human behavior without consideration for the needs of its audience. While both attempt to persuade our behavior, opinion, and attitude propagandists do so to only satisfy the needs of the propagandist. In contrast, responsible persuasion takes into consideration the mutual benefit of both the rhetor and the audience being persuaded. More on responsible rhetoric can be found in Jennifer Rahm's, Rebecca Greenberg's, and Rebecca Saxer's essays. Our purpose in this discussion is to explain, analyze, and review the impact propaganda has had on society over time. Our aim is to inform the readers by pointing out different propaganda techniques they might encounter in the various media and suggest ways to guard against its influence in their lives. |