Satire and Propaganda

Propaganda:

Using the media to control the way we think.

WHAT IS PROPAGANDA?
Propaganda refers to any technique that tries to influence the opinions,
emotions, attitudes and behaviour of a group of people. It is subjective,
emotive and biased. Its viewpoint is often one sided.
It sacrifices the truth and reality.

When is it used?
o Propaganda is generally used by politicians to gain support from
a large mass of people.
o It is a way to control their citizens.
o Today, propaganda is used through the media.
o Propaganda also appears in advertisements, flyers, leaflets,
stickers, posters, slogans, billboards and among other forms of
marketing.
o War and politics provide the most material for propaganda.
Propaganda Techniques
o Emotive words: Using specific words which an evoke a desired
emotion/feeling within the reader/viewer.
o Exaggeration: overstatement and magnification of the situation.
o Generalisation: making broad statements that seem to be true.
o Repetition: something constantly repeated is generally believed.
o Lies and distortions: minimises unpleasant realities
o Rhetorical questions: questions that do not require an answer,
but proves an obvious point.
o Identification of the enemy: naming the enemy helps to focus
hatred and aggression.
o Frequent use of the pronouns “us”, “we”, “our”- strengthens the
group identify by making everyone feel involved.

Examples:
Take note of the way propaganda techniques are used in the
excerpt of a speech given by Winston Churchill during WWII:

“Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If
we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world
move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole
world, including the US, including all that we have known and cared for,
will sink into the abyss of a New Dark Age made more sinister and
perhaps more protracted by the lights of perverted science. Let us
therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that, if the
British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will
still say, “This was their finest hour.”

Satire
• “The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticise
people’s stupidity or vices.”
• It’s an extremely broad category.
• The “or” in the definition is key – most satires are humorous, ironic, and
exaggerated, but they only have to be one of these things to count as satire.
Purposes:
Create Awareness and Call to Action in Reader
• A large purpose is to convey social commentary and/or criticism,
this allows a writer to create awareness of issues and disparities
in society.
• Calls attention to these issues and can make readers aware of
something they had not previously considered or understood.
• This awareness can then engender a call to action in a reader to
condemn, attempt to set right, or even think more critically about
societal flaws.
Establish Empathy and Reflection for Reader
• A literary device that allows them to hold up a metaphorical
mirror to their reader.
• Reader experiences empathy for the disadvantaged in satirical
works, as well as an opportunity to reflect on their behaviour
and/or viewpoint.
• If the satire in literature applies to the reader’s behaviour or
outlook, then they can reflect on their complicity.

Examples
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (William Shakespeare)
“Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth"
• This statement by Lysander in the play reflects Shakespeare’s
clever use of satire as a literary device.
• In fact, the basis of this comedic play is a satire about the way
humans foolishly perceive and idealise the concept of romantic
love.
• Lysander’s character reflects this irony by indicating that he has
never heard of or read a love story that was not troublesome.
• Therefore, the idea that the characters in the play are consumed
with the romantic notion of love is irrational considering there is
no foundational example of successful or “smooth” passionate
love on which to base their idealisation.
• Shakespeare satirises this type of love by poking fun at the foolish
behaviour exhibited by humans in the name of romance and Passion.