What is Propaganda?

Propaganda is communication designed to persuade and influence a community’s thoughts and actions. Although it is not impartial in its message, it presents information and facts often in a biased way, propaganda is not inherently bad. However we are all aware of its use in Nazi Germany in the 30's and 40's. The efficient Nazi propaganda either provoked an action or allowed inaction through its reinforcement of what people already believe to be true.

The poster on the left blames the Jews for German defeat in WW1 and shows the Jew loyalty to Britain.

The poster on the right " The eternal Jew" and shows untrustworthy and evil looking men, with stereotypical large noses.

Though we may be unaware of its influence, propaganda has the ability to change our habits for the good. If we think of road safety campaigns, from the 70's to promote the wearing of seat belts, or in resent years in matters of public health, for example the campaign of AIDS awareness, the benefits are obvious.

1970's road safety campaign & AIDS awareness campaign.

Etymology

The English term is a 17th century coinage, from the Latin neuter plural gerund of propagare "to propagate", originally in Congregatio de Propaganda Fide "Congregation for Propagating the Faith", a committee of
cardinals established in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV.[1] In its turn, the word propagare is related to the word propages, "a slip, a cutting of a vine"[2] and refers to the gardener's practice to disseminate plants by planting shoots.[3]


Sources:-

The world Book Multimedia Encyclopaedia
10 Things you Need to Know about Propaganda by Nancy Snow
Wikipedia