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Modern Propoganda


            Ever since the advertising boom of the 1950's, America has given way to propaganda at every turn in everyday life. According to Garth S. Jowett and Victoria O'Donnell in Propaganda & Persuasion, Propaganda is "the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist ". This long, uninteresting definition only scratches the surface of the true nature and practical application of propaganda in American society today. Propaganda is simply using images, languages, and most importantly the emotions of everyday people to convince them to conform to whatever message the source of the propaganda desires. Most people think the word "propaganda " as a connotation to messages or statements from the government that feed its citizens lies and half-truths. Propaganda does not come only from a government, but from corporations, interest groups, and individuals seeking to draw support from the population whether it be financially, physically, or emotionally.
             Today we open ourselves up most to propaganda simply by watching television. According to the New York Daily News, the average American over the age of 2 watches 34 hours of television a week. 34 hours of programming opens the viewer up to not only a great deal of entertainment, but also a great deal of propaganda chiefly from advertisements. Advertisements can range from telling men to buy Axe Body Spray because the scent is attractive to women, or save money on a television this memorial day. Many consumer ads try to instill a feeling that they are trying to help the viewer have a better life if they buy their product. To quote Brad Pitt's character from the film Fight Club, "Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need ". This illustrates just how far television has come into becoming propaganda because companies always try to illicit an emotional response and compel the viewer to participate.


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