1/16/2017 Propaganda VS Rhetoric Propaganda and rhetoric are methods often used during times of war. These are methods used by high powers with big voices, and used by persuading the minds of everyday people into a biased perspective of whatever idea the author would like to convey. It is used to sway their audience to become biased toward a specific side, and against their desired target. German, Japanese, American, and other country’s propaganda depicted different ideas, but all were brought up in a manipulative way. Propaganda is seen in just about all countries during times of war. Though these countries are similar with the fact they manipulate the minds of their people, America, Germany, Japan, and Great Britain all used propaganda and rhetoric to convey different cunning ideas.
During World War II, American propaganda often portrayed the pathos appeal. This awakened nationalistic feelings and associated war with honor and patriotism. American propagandists instigated hatred for the enemy and support for America and its allies. The central theme of advertising throughout the war became patriotism, as campaigns were launched to sell war bonds, maintain civilian morale, and promote efficiency in factories. Posters were frequently used for dehumanizing the Japanese and scaring Americans. They included cultural hatred among races. It can easily be said that the United States had more effective propaganda because they won the war. But, the bottom line is that war is won on the battlefield. The United States won because they swiftly and relentlessly bombed Tokyo and because they had the resources and means to do so. The United States manipulated American’s depiction of Japanese, and dehumanized them, presenting them as monkeys and gorillas. They shied away from any animal or demonic portrayal of their European rivals partly because a lot of American’s were of European descent. If they were to dehumanize Europeans, it would be like dehumanizing themselves. British propaganda manipulated their people through national honor. They produced guilt among those that didn’t volunteer to serve in the war. The British also opposed the German Propaganda by using radio broadcasts of their own. Britain wanted all men and women to help win the war. The government used posters, leaflets, film, and radio broadcasts to get their message to the public. Britain was for influencing its people toward the support of the war effort. In World War II, the British thought boosting morale on the Home Front would be a good way to support the armed services overseas. People on the Home Front played a big role in the production of military equipment, so it was necessary to maintain both their morale and their faith that they would win the war. To increase public morale, they organized local war effort campaigns. By doing this, it gave people the opportunity to play a part in the war effort by contributing. By the other propaganda Great Britain used to manipulate the minds of their people into the idea that it was honorable to supply to the war effort. Axis powers, Germany, and Japan both used propaganda and rhetoric during World War II. Japanese propaganda was used to assist the Japanese government. Japanese propaganda used the art of persuasion to manipulate the minds of their people, which is a valuable tool when controlled and mastered. It could turn the collective minds of an entire people for or against a single concept. It is more so how the idea is presented rather than what the idea is portraying. The number of war bonds sold depend on how many people saw the advertisements, and how well they were developed. It depends on who saw them, and whether they were wealthy. Lower or middle class citizens might not be able to afford to invest in bonds but looked to perhaps gamble and cash in on the booming economy of the time. It depends on how attractive the armed forces were made to look and what kind of benefits and rewards were to be gained. Japanese propaganda often used the racial card. Japan took no exception to whom they directed their racial slurs, but they painted a demonic image of the Allies much more than they did their Asian opposition. Nazi Germany’s propaganda consisted of Hitler hired Josef Goebbels as his Minister of Propaganda. Josef developed successful campaigns using simple images and slogans repeated over and over to win the public support for the party. The Nazis spend large sums of money on newspapers, leaflets, and poster campaigns. Nazi propaganda reminded Germans of the struggle against foreign enemies and Jewish subversion. During periods preceding executive measures against Jews, propaganda campaigns created an atmosphere that was tolerant of violence against Jews. This was particularly in 1935 and in 1938. Propaganda also encouraged acceptance of the executive measures against Jews as these appeared to depict the Nazi government as restoring order. Goebbels developed the Nazi’s use of propaganda to a greater extent. He arranged large political military rallies to build support. These were organized events with banners and marching bands. Using his own skills of oratory Hitler appealed to the patriotism of the German people. Control of the mass media was the heart of Goebbels plan as he developed the cult of personality around Hitler. The rallies and Hitler’s speeches were broadcast on the radio, purchased very cheaply as the state produced them. |
Works Cited
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