Library:Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes
| Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jacques Ellul |
| First published | 1962 |
| ISBN | 978-0-394-71874-3 unverified |
| Role | Analysis |
| Domains | Politics & Elections Technology & Media Culture, Religion & Society |
| Tactics | Propaganda Technique |
Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes is a 1962 book by Jacques Ellul.
Summary
Jacques Ellul, a French sociologist and theologian, published Propagandes in 1962; the English translation appeared in 1965. It remains one of the most influential theoretical studies of the subject.
Propaganda as a condition of modern life
Ellul argues that propaganda is not an occasional trick used by dictators but a permanent feature of technological societies. Mass media, large organizations and the isolation of individuals in mass society make it both possible and, from the point of view of governments, necessary.
Kinds of propaganda
He distinguishes agitation propaganda, which stirs people to action, from integration propaganda, which makes them conform. He also describes "sociological propaganda," the diffuse spread of a society's values through advertising, education and entertainment, which works precisely because it does not feel like propaganda.
Who is most vulnerable
One of Ellul's best-known arguments is that educated people are often more susceptible, not less, because they absorb large amounts of second-hand information and feel they must hold opinions on everything.
Relevance to Bullshitopedia
Ellul's framework explains why propaganda can thrive in open societies as well as closed ones, a theme that runs through many Bullshitopedia entries on modern information campaigns.