Propaganda Discussion - LEAP 1

Everything in our reality is propaganda. Whether it be something we see on TV, hear on the streets, or learn from our parents. Propaganda is seen as "bad" because they relate propaganda to historical events such as the Holocaust.

1. Advertising: Burger King

I ran across the advertisement on the left while in another communications class. As it shows, Burger King is advertising a new sandwich, called the BK Super Seven Incher. The name of the sandwich itself makes an adult think of a penis. Sex is used in a lot of advertisements, whether they be visual or auditory. In the Burger King advertisement a lady is seen with her mouth open, looking at the sandwich, shocked. Some people may also look at this advertisement and think she's ready to give the sandwich a blowjob. I was shocked purely for the fact that even a sandwich can be turned into a sex act. Also, as a female I am appalled that women are continually sexualized in order for products to appeal more to men. The sandwich Burger King is trying to sell is more of a man's sandwich and yet they use a women blowing the sandwich to appeal to men.

2. Entertainment: Superhero Movies

Every superhero movie, except the recently released Suicide Squad, has had main male roles who save the day and the lady all the time. Batman, Superman, Captain America, Hulk, etc. are all male. While watching these types of movies, people don't necessarily see the propaganda that is being used. But with all, violence in prominent in all and in turn is letting men know that violence is okay.

3. Government/Politics: Donald Trump

Donald Trump has been in the media since the day he announced he was running for President of the United States. Many have compared him to Hitler because of the propaganda he's used against immigrants and those in the Middle East, just like Hitler who used propaganda to He has used vulgar language to attack his opponents. But most of all, he has appealed to the American public for his raw, unfiltered choice of words.

4. Journalism/Public Relations: Fox News vs. CNN

If you are from America, you know that Fox News is conservative and CNN is more liberal. Now, if you are more conservative or more liberal depends on what you will plan on watching. People tend to listen and learn to what blends with their lifestyle and beliefs.

5. Advocacy: Gun Reform

A form of propaganda that is close to my heart is that of gun reform. Being from Newtown, CT and having a personal tie to a massacre, I fully believe that the United States needs gun reform. Every since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 12, 2012, the state of Connecticut has become the state with the strictest gun laws. Families of victims have not stopped pledging to fix gun reform and I currently follow organizations such as Moms Demand Action. I decided to find an ad by Moms Demand Action and found one that stated facts. When the viewer has read the text of the ad, some would be astounded that a Kinder chocolate is banned in the US but an AK-47 isn't. Gun reform was never on my mind until I was personally hit with gun violence. But that's the same with propaganda, you have no idea it's all around you.

6. Education: Common Core

A lot of teachers have complained about common core because of how uneducational and uncreative it is. Common core is where students all over the country learn the exact same thing. Having every child learn the same thing is a form of propaganda because if one doesn't learn about anything else, the government is doing it's job.