Examples Of Propaganda In 1984

Propaganda generally is thought of in a bad light, as a means of manipulation and deception by people in power, but it is used by organizations who do great work as well, like the Women’s March, as a technique to garner support and empower people. Glittering generalities is a type of propaganda that uses an emotionally appealing phrase that is so closely related to highly valued concepts that it convinces people to believe it without evidence or reason. George Orwell’s 1984 follows Winston Smith, who lives in a totalitarian dystopia where all action is heavily monitored and the population is fed massive amounts of propaganda to keep them in line with the government and prevent rebellion. He begins to question the validity of the Party’s statements,
Some of the earliest and most iconic pieces of propaganda that are introduced in the first chapter are the 3 mottos of the Party, “WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” that are engraved in the glittering surface of the pyramidal structure of the Ministry of Truth, which regulates news, entertainment, education, and fine arts. (4) These set the stage for Winston’s explanations of all the different Ministries and how their work contradicts their names (The Ministry of Love was large and frightening, the Ministry of Peace deals with war, etc.) as well as preparing us to understand the idea of doublethink, which means holding two contradictory ideas in your head at the same time (7). These are great examples of glittering generalities because they are emotionally appealing phrases that appeal to highly valued concepts (peace, freedom, and strength) so much that they convince people to believe it without reason (even if it clearly makes no sense). It’s a method the Party uses to rally support for themselves, increase loyalty, and maintain their stronghold on the people’s minds. These ideas obviously are complete opposites, but the ideas of peace, freedom, and strength are so
The whole website is filled with words like “action” and “resist” which give the reader a sense of strength and hope, like they can change the world. Even “march” gives off the sense of strength and unity, like soldiers marching into battle. (oh look, “in the din of battle” and “march” hmm) However, the word “reflect” is interesting because it seems much softer and contrasts the power behind the other words and the colors of the whole site. “Reflect” sounds like quiet, peaceful contemplation compared to the strong moral conviction related to “resist,” yet they are still put together. They almost contradict themselves, but it’s clear that they are intended to be together and that we are meant to draw that they cannot exist without one another in order to be effective. The linking together of the two contradictory ideas here is similar to the slogans of the Party; they are asking the audience to believe what they say is true even if it doesn’t make immediate sense. (The Women’s March does explain why they are related ideas, unlike the Party who expects people to believe blindly.) Additionally, the Women’s March appeals to people in times of turmoil. Like how the Party uses the motto to feed off of the strong emotions of the crowd after the Two-Minutes Hate, the Women’s March uses people's