Eric Kluitenberg on Mon, 26 Apr 1999 17:27:29 +0100 |
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Syndicate: The Ultimate Propaganda Machin |
Dear Syndicalists, What follows here is a short and simple "manual" for constructing the ultimate propaganda machine. I used this idea for some seminars on the relationship between war, media and machines. Let me be clear as it may be too much out of context otherwise: This is NOT meant to glorify the propaganda method - it is rather a condensed analysis, made by some sociologist (the source is mentioned at the end), of a famous forebearer and it should be read as a ironic and sick statement, which has a sad truth to it. Awareness of the principles that this short "manual" outlines may help to recognise propaganda strategies, and perhaps neutralise them to some extent. I have been asked by many people to post this poisonous text, and reluctantly I will do it. Please do not re-distribute this without this short introduction. May your machine be with you. e. -------------------------- The Ultimate Propaganda Machine To construct the ultimate propaganda machine we need to know the basic principles of effective propaganda and then apply them to our communication and information media, in order to propagate our ideologies to the best of our abilities. Principle 1: Propagandists must have access to intelligence concerning events and public opinion. Principle 2: Propaganda must be planned and executed by only one authority. Principle 3: The propaganda consequences of an action must be considered in planning that action. Principle 4: Propaganda must affect the enemy's policy and action. Principle 5: Declassified, operational information must be available to implement a propaganda campaign. Principle 6: To be perceived, propaganda must evoke the interest of an audience and must be transmitted through as attention-getting communications medium. Principle 7: Credibility alone must determine whether propaganda output should be true or false. Principle 8: The purpose, content, and effectiveness of enemy propaganda; the strengths and effects of an exposé; and the nature of current propaganda campaigns determine whether enemy propaganda should be ignored or refuted. Principle 9: Credibility, intelligence, and the possible effects of communicating determine whether propaganda materials should be censored. Principle 10: Material from enemy propaganda may be utilized in operations when it helps diminish that enemy's prestige or lends support to the propagandist's own objective. Principle 11: Black rather than white propaganda must be employed when the latter is less credible or produces undesirable affects. Principle 12: Propaganda may be facilitated by leaders with prestige. Principle 13: Propaganda must be carefully timed. Principle 14: Propaganda must label events and people with distinctive phrases or slogans Principle 15: Propaganda to the home front must prevent the raising of false hopes which can be blasted by future events. Principle 16: Propaganda to the home front must create an optimum anxiety level. Principle 17: Propaganda to the home front must diminish the impact of frustration. Principle 18: Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred. Principle 19: Propaganda cannot immediately affect strong counter-tendencies; instead it must offer some form of action or diversion, or both. (1) And never forget: "May the shining flame of our enthusiasm never be extinguished. This flame alone gives light and warmth to the creative art of modern political propaganda. Rising from the depths of the people, this art must always descend back to it and find its power there. Power based on guns may be a good thing; it is however, better and more gratifying to win the heart of a people and to keep it." (2) Notes: (1) From: Leonard W. Doob, Goebbels' Principles of Propaganda, in: Robert Jackall (ed.), Propaganda, Macmillan Press, London, 1995. (2) Goebbels always appealed to the heart - in the interest of totalitarian propaganda. At the Nürenberg Party Convention of 1934 he praised the 'art' of propaganda in these words. ------Syndicate mailinglist-------------------- Syndicate network for media culture and media art information and archive: http://www.v2.nl/east/ to unsubscribe, write to <syndicate-request@aec.at> in the body of the msg: unsubscribe your@email.adress