Propaganda- Another Word for Control

Propaganda is just a ‘word’, but what a powerful word it is! It is the representation and embodiment of all that has been going in human affairs since man’s existence began; how to control the thoughts, actions and resultant behaviors of the human race. When I read all the statistics and data as presented by Mr. Chomsky in “Manufacturing Consent: A Propaganda Model”, (Chomsky, 2009) I am the more convinced that the billions of dollars spent in the media, to ‘skew’ or do we call that ‘Spin’ today, stories labeled ‘News’, is all for the control of the thoughts and minds of the populace at large.
I realize that sounds profound, and un-cited to boot. Nevertheless, Messer’s Chomsky and Romano have gone to great lengths to help us understand and see the profundity of the above statement.
The press indeed holds great sway over the American mind, and seems to earns the Chomsky moniker of ‘stupid American’. However, I have to say that Media Propaganda is not a one-size-fits all phenomenon. It is not relegated to Americans alone. I have spent hours in front of French television at two of my French cousin’s homes. One lives in Montpellier, and the other in Paris. Except for the language, the format and the struggle for the French mind are the same as the American media. A fundamentally ‘universal’ approach, by men, to either soothe, or incite the populace. As Chomsky cites the results of the ‘emerging radical press’ in England that “working class papers” served to “inflame passions and awaken their selfishness” (Chomsky, pg.3).


The Deception about Facts
I am impressed with the lengths that Romano goes to help us understand the vagueness of the word ‘News’ itself, and I read with bated interest his logic regarding the “absence of standards for journalistic concepts” (Romano, Grisly Truth about Bare Facts, pg.39). In early journalism classes, we are taught that the word ‘News’ came from something not as esoteric as a strong definition of News, but more that it was an acronym for the cardinal points of a map, or weather vane. (i.e., North, East, West and South = N.E.W.S.) I couldn’t confirm, nor refute that point, however, that ambiguity alone leaves the door open for ‘News’ rooms to draw on stories that come from all over the map – but will only print, or air, the ones determined to be of local interest.
This should take many of us, current or aspiring journalists, back to Journalism 101, where we learned purpose. We learned that the goal, the ‘purpose’ of the media were to serve as the ‘watchdogs’ of Governmental affairs. Simply put, we learned that historically the media was to report on what the Government was doing, therefore, offering the populace at large the opportunity to challenge the Governments actions, and to thwart actions which could be detrimental to society.
As Romano states, “(two different) newspapers run scores of different stories each day…are they missing more news than they report?” ( Romano, pg.40)
A Devilish Propaganda Model
Chomsky's 'A Propaganda Model' is excellent reading, and an informative piece at that. I just don't think he goes back far enough in history!
It should come as no surprise that a Propaganda Model – or shall I more refer to it as a ‘Machine’ or, better yet, a ‘Tool’ – has been around since, oh let’s say, the book of Genesis! For you Bible scholars, you’ll remember the scene in Genesis 3:1 – 6, where Eve and the ‘subtle’ serpent exchange a dialogue wherein the serpent [played by Satan] speaks those infamous, and Propagandist words that changed the course of humankind forever: “Ye shall not surely die.” [Zodhiates, 1991, Gen. 1:4 KJV]. A grand lie to be sure. You could stop right there and say – there’s no propaganda, but purely lying! A grand lie, playing on the naiveté humans.
This whole scene, whether a playwright or poet had written it, is still a subtle seduction, a courtship, even a clever dance, with propaganda. Move to verse 5 and see how the Propaganda Model pushes even further to justify the lie. ‘For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil’. [Zodhiates, 1991, Gen.1:5]
Eve was convinced, through her rationalizations around the serpents challenge, that the tree would provide her with three benefits; Food for nourishment, Attractive (pleasant to the eyes) Wisdom for anyone who asks, three qualities that humans desire. I can’t find fault in any one of those benefits. So where’s the catch you ask? What was the only thing wrong? Rationalized disobedience, because God had said ‘No’. The serpent played on their weaknesses and launched a propaganda campaign that would serve to remand what God had ordered, and lead to their disobedience.
Granted, this entire story has more depth to it, and this is not the place for a full on Bible Study, however, I believe it does play a part in our understanding of our human frailty, or gullibility, towards believing everything we hear!

Can Reports on Propaganda be Propaganda Themselves?
However, one must address the ‘Reports on Propaganda’. Are they propaganda in and of themselves? What if we are being told truth, but cleverly, someone comes along and plants a seed of doubt that challenges the truth as perhaps non-truth? As a result, I look at everything I’m told with a raised eye-brow, and challenge, with veracity, what I am told.
Is FOX wrong? Are they misleading their viewers? Is CNN so right, pure as the driven news? Doesn’t anybody, and everybody, for that matter, have an axe to grind, a dog in the fight, and all the other vernaculars that you can think of to justify their angles?
Remember when ‘Dewey Wins’ was the headline that was wrong, and Dewey lovers were so excited – until the truth came out! Even Mark Twain gets a piece of that action when a paper stated that he had died, and he exclaimed that they had ‘greatly exaggerated’ his demise.
Ultimately Base Human Nature
Ultimately, it boils down to the ‘Base Human Nature’ of man that desires to manipulate others to gain an ideological, political, or even religious upper hand. Satan tried it, and won, in the Garden of Eden. Man has tried it, and frequently wins, in his far-reaching goal of Control. The proactive approach of getting others to do what you want them to do, by controlling their thoughts, actions, and subsequently their behaviors, is the ‘Propaganda Model’.



References:
Zodhiates, S. (1991). The Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible (KJV). Chattanooga: AMG Publishers
Chomsky, N. (2009). Manufacturing Consent: A Propaganda Model. 1, 1-35.
Romano, C. (2009). The Grisly Truth about Bare Facts. 38-78.