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The True Purpose of Propaganda (2022)
- 082349872349872 3y agoI prefer the def'n in Linebarger: > Propaganda consists of the planned use of any form of communication designed to affect the minds, emotions, and action of a given group for a specific purpose. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/48612/48612-h/48612-h.htm#Page_39 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/48612/48612-h/48612-h.htm#Pa... What Henderson is talking about isn't a good example of propaganda (Linebarger notes the best propaganda is true, albeit selectively so) but it is a good example of intimidation, as Sartre noted in connection with antisemitism: > “Never believe that anti-Semites are completely unaware of the absurdity of their replies. They know that their remarks are frivolous, open to challenge. But they are amusing themselves, for it is their adversary who is obliged to use words responsibly, since he believes in words. The anti-Semites have the right to play. They even like to play with discourse for, by giving ridiculous reasons, they discredit the seriousness of their interlocutors. They delight in acting in bad faith, since they seek not to persuade by sound argument but to intimidate and disconcert. If you press them too closely, they will abruptly fall silent, loftily indicating by some phrase that the time for argument is past.”