"Propaganda does not deceive people; it merely helps them to deceive themselves." |
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WHAT IS PROPAGANDA?Propaganda is the use of language and images to advance a particular point of view. It has been used ruthlessly by politicians in the history, including the Soviet Union after the Russian Revolution. (Britannica, 2013) The aim is to reassure people with false information through the manipulation of language. In addition, propaganda influences the masses by making the audience initiate certain acts.
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Propaganda and the soviet unionIn Russian History, the Bolsheviks and Stalin himself relied greatly upon visual and oral propaganda to communicate their message to the masses, due to the high illiteracy rate in the nation. Government departments in the Soviet Union monitored over the content of all official information, political education in schools and all forms of mass communication. (Means, 2005)
Agitatsiya Propaganda was one of the favored propaganda type of the Soviet Government. It applies the techniques of agitation and propaganda to influence and mobilize public opinion. (Britannica, 2010) |
Examples of visual propaganda created by the Soviet Government to glorify Stalin and Lenin
THE COMPARiSON AND ANALYSIS
THE BEASTS OF ENGLAND - MOTIF OFTHE NOVEL
Orwell successfully uses propaganda in Animal Farm to display how language can be manipulated as a tool of authority. He describes the gleeful atmosphere to remarkably emphasize the power of propaganda and its profound effect. Where even the “stupidest" (pg 13) of them had the “entire song in their hearts in a few minutes” (pg 13). However this scene is seen to demonstrate the positive values of propaganda. As the falsely optimistic goals, and descriptions in the song give the animals something to live for. (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008)
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listen to the Original version of 'the internationale' |
listen to the song 'beasts of england' |
critiques and comments on his writing
Orwell has illustrated Napoleon and Squealer’s propaganda in a straightforward manner, he has also advocated the consequences of Napoleon’s actions. By writing in third person narrative, Orwell made emphasis on the fact that many intelligent people under the manipulation of propaganda still refuses or fails to see the truth.
The idea of narrating through a third person point of view reassembles the moral from the fairy tale “Emperor’s New Clothes”, by placing the readers in the “child’s” position of this classic tale. Not only is this viewpoint completely transparent, it also establishes an ironic distance, where the reader is able to recognize and understand the plots of the pig, which the animals miss. |
Through the deliberate presentation of propaganda, Orwell successfully conveys the message that the truth about communism and propaganda is so simple that perhaps only a child can see.
Furthermore, Orwell uses his impersonal and simple narrative style to reflect the naive perception of the poor animals. Hence, they are easily deceived in the same way as people are easily deceived. |