The “Unpredictable Past”: How Can We Explain the Efficiency of Old Propaganda?

An interesting fact emphasized by the contemporary propaganda studies concerns the surprising efficiency of old propaganda that is reactivated and used in new social and political contexts. There are many examples of this phenomenon, but in my paper I will focus on illustrating the way in which...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Tutui Viorel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AXIS Academic Foundation Press 2019-07-01
Series:Argumentum: Journal of the Seminar of Discursive Logic, Argumentation Theory and Rhetoric
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.fssp.uaic.ro/argumentum/Numarul%2017%20issue%202/09_Tutui_tehno.pdf
_version_ 1818715263869124608
author Tutui Viorel
author_facet Tutui Viorel
author_sort Tutui Viorel
collection DOAJ
description An interesting fact emphasized by the contemporary propaganda studies concerns the surprising efficiency of old propaganda that is reactivated and used in new social and political contexts. There are many examples of this phenomenon, but in my paper I will focus on illustrating the way in which Communist propaganda themes are used in Central and East European countries. My main objective is to try to explain why old propaganda still works. I will argue that the propagandist should not be conceived as an allpowerful manipulator. He is more of an ingenious communicator who is able to reactivate and use pre-existing propaganda themes and legitimating narratives in accordance to his interest, exploiting, in the same time, the basic need for social identity. In trying to answer why old propaganda still has the potential to be an efficient instrument for political communication, I will use Jason Stanley’s theory according to which propaganda “involves repeated association between words and social meanings” that are presented as a part of the conventional meaning or the “not-at-issue content” of our language. These meanings are perceived as not negotiable and have the potential to reinforce people’s beliefs that are resistant to available evidence.
first_indexed 2024-12-17T19:00:35Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f452003441e440839df0b2935fb1432f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1583-2767
2069-573X
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-17T19:00:35Z
publishDate 2019-07-01
publisher AXIS Academic Foundation Press
record_format Article
series Argumentum: Journal of the Seminar of Discursive Logic, Argumentation Theory and Rhetoric
spelling doaj.art-f452003441e440839df0b2935fb1432f2022-12-21T21:36:07ZengAXIS Academic Foundation PressArgumentum: Journal of the Seminar of Discursive Logic, Argumentation Theory and Rhetoric1583-27672069-573X2019-07-01172169194The “Unpredictable Past”: How Can We Explain the Efficiency of Old Propaganda?Tutui Viorel0Al.I. Cuza University of Iasi, RomaniaAn interesting fact emphasized by the contemporary propaganda studies concerns the surprising efficiency of old propaganda that is reactivated and used in new social and political contexts. There are many examples of this phenomenon, but in my paper I will focus on illustrating the way in which Communist propaganda themes are used in Central and East European countries. My main objective is to try to explain why old propaganda still works. I will argue that the propagandist should not be conceived as an allpowerful manipulator. He is more of an ingenious communicator who is able to reactivate and use pre-existing propaganda themes and legitimating narratives in accordance to his interest, exploiting, in the same time, the basic need for social identity. In trying to answer why old propaganda still has the potential to be an efficient instrument for political communication, I will use Jason Stanley’s theory according to which propaganda “involves repeated association between words and social meanings” that are presented as a part of the conventional meaning or the “not-at-issue content” of our language. These meanings are perceived as not negotiable and have the potential to reinforce people’s beliefs that are resistant to available evidence.https://www.fssp.uaic.ro/argumentum/Numarul%2017%20issue%202/09_Tutui_tehno.pdfpropagandalegitimating narrativessocial identitynot-at issue content
spellingShingle Tutui Viorel
The “Unpredictable Past”: How Can We Explain the Efficiency of Old Propaganda?
Argumentum: Journal of the Seminar of Discursive Logic, Argumentation Theory and Rhetoric
propaganda
legitimating narratives
social identity
not-at issue content
title The “Unpredictable Past”: How Can We Explain the Efficiency of Old Propaganda?
title_full The “Unpredictable Past”: How Can We Explain the Efficiency of Old Propaganda?
title_fullStr The “Unpredictable Past”: How Can We Explain the Efficiency of Old Propaganda?
title_full_unstemmed The “Unpredictable Past”: How Can We Explain the Efficiency of Old Propaganda?
title_short The “Unpredictable Past”: How Can We Explain the Efficiency of Old Propaganda?
title_sort unpredictable past how can we explain the efficiency of old propaganda
topic propaganda
legitimating narratives
social identity
not-at issue content
url https://www.fssp.uaic.ro/argumentum/Numarul%2017%20issue%202/09_Tutui_tehno.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT tutuiviorel theunpredictablepasthowcanweexplaintheefficiencyofoldpropaganda
AT tutuiviorel unpredictablepasthowcanweexplaintheefficiencyofoldpropaganda