Propaganda and Rhetoric
What are propaganda and rhetoric?
Propaganda is the use of information that is biased (exaggerated and sometimes false), to influence peoples’ opinions and persuade them to support a cause. It comes from the Latin stem propaganda, which means “what should be spread.” It was first used to spread Catholicism. Rhetoric is the art of persuasion through conversations or speeches using carefully chosen words to motivate people to support a cause and take action. It was first used in Ancient Greece by philosophers and scholars such as Aristotle.
Propaganda is the use of information that is biased (exaggerated and sometimes false), to influence peoples’ opinions and persuade them to support a cause. It comes from the Latin stem propaganda, which means “what should be spread.” It was first used to spread Catholicism. Rhetoric is the art of persuasion through conversations or speeches using carefully chosen words to motivate people to support a cause and take action. It was first used in Ancient Greece by philosophers and scholars such as Aristotle.
How were these tactics used during World War II?
Propaganda and rhetoric were used as weapons of war by both the Allies and the Axis Powers during World War II, especially by the U.S. and Nazi Germany. Both sides delivered their messages through various forms of media, such as movies and cartoons, posters, comics, and radio.
Propaganda and rhetoric were used as weapons of war by both the Allies and the Axis Powers during World War II, especially by the U.S. and Nazi Germany. Both sides delivered their messages through various forms of media, such as movies and cartoons, posters, comics, and radio.
Movies and Cartoons
During WWII, Hollywood used propaganda and rhetoric to encourage people to support the war. However, before the war, as fascist dictators were coming into power, the major studios wanted to appeal to the isolationist sentiments of most Americans, so they continued to show the same type of performances that were popular. These included musicals, comedies, melodramas or westerns. After President Franklin D. Roosevelt expressed concern about America's foreign policies. Hollywood began to report on fascism on screen. Then, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Hollywood studios fully supported the Allied cause by producing movies that had a background of war, even if the story completely fiction. In addition, before the movie started, many theaters played a series called “Why We Fight,” which was commissioned by the U.S. government to persuade Americans to support the war effort. Hollywood made huge profits off rhetoric and propaganda, while changing the political opinions of many Americans and serving as a voice for the U.S. government. |
Posters
The Nazis used posters to repeatedly remind people of the strength of Germany. The U.S. and its allies used posters to convince people to help with war efforts including conservation, production of war goods, recruitment of soldiers, and to maintain secrecy. Posters were also used to convince housewives to grow gardens, recycle plastic and metals, and to work in factories. The U.S used the more posters than any other country. The posters were in public areas like post offices, railroad stations, schools, restaurants and retail stores. Smaller posters were posted in the windows of private homes and apartment buildings. |
Comics Comics such as Little Orphan Annie, and Terry and the Pirates began using war themes in their stories. Superheroes were often shown fighting Axis spies in America and military forces in Europe. A comic book depicting Superman attacking the German defensive wall in France sparked a counter attack from the SS weekly newspaper, Das Schwarze Korps. |
Radio
The Radio was widely used for propaganda in America, and was the most common way people would have gotten news about the war and the war efforts. President Roosevelt's fireside chats on the radio are an excellent example of the use of rhetoric during the war. Because radio programs were usually broadcast “live,” there were restrictions on what could be said. Broadcasters could not cut to a commercial by saying, "and now for some good news." When describing bombing missions, they had to be careful to not reveal too much information. Radio stations often used audience participation by talking to people on the city streets. These programs were popular, however, broadcasters realized they couldn’t prevent accidentally selecting enemy agents, and so these shows were discontinued
The Radio was widely used for propaganda in America, and was the most common way people would have gotten news about the war and the war efforts. President Roosevelt's fireside chats on the radio are an excellent example of the use of rhetoric during the war. Because radio programs were usually broadcast “live,” there were restrictions on what could be said. Broadcasters could not cut to a commercial by saying, "and now for some good news." When describing bombing missions, they had to be careful to not reveal too much information. Radio stations often used audience participation by talking to people on the city streets. These programs were popular, however, broadcasters realized they couldn’t prevent accidentally selecting enemy agents, and so these shows were discontinued
Cites
http://world-war-2.info/propaganda/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_propaganda_during_World_War_II
http://www.history.com/topics/fireside-chats
http://radioworldwar2nhd.weebly.com/fireside-chats.html
http://radioworldwar2nhd.weebly.com/hitler-and-goebbels.html
http://www.auschwitz.dk/Docu/Faq.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust#Institutional_collaboration
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_We_Fight
http://world-war-2.info/propaganda/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_propaganda_during_World_War_II
http://www.history.com/topics/fireside-chats
http://radioworldwar2nhd.weebly.com/fireside-chats.html
http://radioworldwar2nhd.weebly.com/hitler-and-goebbels.html
http://www.auschwitz.dk/Docu/Faq.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust#Institutional_collaboration
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_We_Fight