Written Words Used as Propaganda

Written Word Used as Propaganda The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave is an account of Frederick Douglass’ life written in a very detached and objective tone. One might find this normal for a historical account of the events of someone’s life if not for the fact that the narrative was written by Frederick Douglass himself. Frederick Douglass used this tone purposefully in an attempt to use his narrative as propaganda to convince others to join in the abolitionist’s movement. According to Donna Woolfolk Cross in â€Å"Propaganda: How not to be Bamboozled,† propaganda is â€Å"simply a means of persuasion† (149). She further notes that we are subjected daily to propaganda in one form or another as advertisers, politicians, and even our friends attempt to persuade us to use their product, vote for them, or adopt their point of view. Propaganda is usually considered in a negative sense. However, when viewing propaganda as just persuasion, one can readily appreciate that it is neither good nor evil; the good/evil effect is the direct result of the purpose for which it is used. Politicians and leaders have used propaganda to further their goals; Hitler’s use of propaganda as a means of controlling the population of Germany is the most recognizable example of propaganda used for evil. Martin Luther King’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech, in which he urges non-violent resistance in the cause of racial equality, portrays persuasion used with good intentions. Although speeches are highly effective at delivering ideas, the written word can be even more influential. In the early days of America, literature was used extensively as a means of persuasion. As early as 1589 Richard Hakluyt published stories in a book he wrote for the sole purpose of persuading people to sail to America and settle land. These stories which were told to Hakluyt by captains and sailors appeared to be straightforward and narrative, however Hakluyt edited each piece so that he was able to successfully persuade the people who read his stories to sail to America and settle the land thus securing critical natural resources for England. Such was the goal with the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Douglass’ objective was to appeal to the middle-class people of that time and persuade them to join in the movement. Although the Narrative was ostensibly written to prove that Douglass had actually been a slave, Douglass, working for the abolitionist group headed by William Lloyd Garrison, wrote for a specific audience: white Puritan Christians whom the abolitionists hoped to convert to their way of thinking. Thus, what began as a telling of his life experiences evolved into a tool of persuasion. As with all propaganda, Douglass’ Narrative contains certain elements that appeal to the emotions of the reader. Douglass’ writing style was descriptive as well as convincing. This emotional hold allows the writer to sway the opinion of the reader. His horrific details of the time, helped him grasp the attention of the women who he hoped in turn would convince their husbands to help, by donating money and eventually ending slavery. He used his words effectively in convincing the readers that the slave owners were inhuman and showed how they had no feelings for other human beings as evident when he wrote: ‘The louder she screamed the harder he whipped; and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped longest† (Douglass25). Although a self-taught writer and orator, Douglass makes use of sophisticated elements of persuasive writing. Simultaneously, he chooses these events for how they will affect the Northern audience’s opinion of Southern slaveholders. Considering the fact that this was written during the height of the abolition movement the novel had to be effective in order to advance the success of the movement. The distant tone was effective because if Douglass had written with an impassioned tone, readers would have noticed it and simply wrote it off as a biased work, unable to see the issue from both sides. Through personal anecdotes, Douglass draws an accurate picture of slave life. Douglass also shows that slavery was not a constant source of pain and suffering: â€Å"I was not old enough to work in the fields, and there being little else than field work to do, I had a great deal of leisure time,† (Douglass 71). This is effective in proving his point because it allows him to show the whole of slavery and not be biased in his views. Douglass uses family relationships, starting with his own birth, to gain the compassion of his target audience. â€Å"Frequently, before the child has reached its twelfth month, its mother is taken from it, and hired out on some farm a considerable distance off, and the child is placed under the care of an old woman, too old for field labor† (749). Douglass mentions this particular anecdote to specifically capture the compassion of his targeted audience; white women. In Douglass’ autobiography however, the elements alone do not prove his intent to write for any reason other than to prove his background as a slave and defend his credibility against the critics of the abolitionists that charge that Douglass could never have been born a slave as he claimed (McKivigan 18). The most convincing argument for the contention that this was written as propaganda is the manner in which the persuasive elements are used. The body of the narrative is written in a simple and straightforward manner; the story is told quite matter-of-factly, even the horrific scenes of the cruel beatings and killings of slaves. This lack of histrionics is true even when the targets of the overseers’ whips are Douglass’ own family members. Yet, when Douglass speaks of Southern Christianity defending slavery, he works himself into a fury of emotion and uses the more obvious elements of propaganda. When he writes of the religious practices and hypocrisy of the same slaveholders, he again reverts to persuasive rhetoric. Some chapters are genuine throughout, while others contain much propaganda. One segment in particular, that having to do with the fate of his grandmother, is written in a style that is not consistent with the rest of the book. Rather, extremely histrionic, in which the believable, factual Douglass disappears, and is replaced by someone writing solely for effect â€Å"My dear old grandmother, whom you turned out like an old horse to die in the woods-is she still alive?.. Send me my grandmother! † (Preston 167). It appears that Frederick Douglass did begin his autobiography with the intention of writing his story in a realistic manner; the basic narrative bears that out. But in the course of writing his intent strayed, and he became aware of the power that could be unleashed by inflaming the emotions of readers. Undoubtedly encouraged in his use persuasive rhetoric on an oratory level, he eventually created a masterpiece of propaganda. Works Cited Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. New York: Signet, 1968. Douglass, Frederick. A Slaves Family Life†. Thinking and Writing About Literature. A Text and Anthology. Ed. Michael Meyer. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2001. 749. Cross, Donna Woolfolk. â€Å"Propaganda: How not to be Bamboozled. † Language Awareness. Ed. Paul Escholz, et al. New York: St Martins Press, 1994. 149. McKivigan, John R. , ed. Frederick Douglass. People Who Made History. Michigan: Greenhaven Press/Thomas Gale, 2004. Preston, Dickson J. Young Fredrick Douglass The Maryland Years. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1980.

Short Analysis of Film Review essays

Short Analysis of Film Review essays To give structure to a film review, writers rely on a number of criteria to pass their judgment. The range of criteria used is vast and includes broad elements that apply to most films and specific criteria that apply only to specific films. Solitary Stas used four criteria in his overall positive review of Rear Window. The four criteria used were of a broad nature and could be further applied to the judgment of many other films such as The Wizard of Oz. One criteria used by the writer to pass a positive judgment was intensity of effect. This is a broad factor that measures the impact a film has on its audience and many aspects of a film contribute to its intensity of effect. Solitary Stas states that this film touches on many issues of humanity and society and to this reviewer, the ability of a film to relate to its audience intensifies its effect. The reviewer also states that Hitchcocks subjective point of view and the films amusing and humorous dialogues further increase the intensity of effect by drawing the audience into the murder investigation and amusing the audience. The reviewer also believed that a film must be aesthetically coherent and tell a story in a logical order and stated that all elements of this film are perfect and come together very well. Thus the criterion of aesthetic coherence was another standard used to pass positive judgment of Rear Window by this reviewer. The reviewer also thought that a film must ha ve some originality to receive a positive review and Rear Window met this requirement, particularly with its unusual usage of music. Thus the criterion of originality was used by Solitary Stas to further cast a positive judgment on Rear Window. The reviewer however disapproved on certain aspects of Rear Window based on the criterion of adherence to formula which involves following a general schemata for a film of a part ...

Beliefs in Society essays

Beliefs in Society essays And any creature that shall seem to be human, but is not formed thus is not human. It is neither man nor woman. It is a blasphemy against the true Image of God, and hateful in the sight of God. (pg.13) A society is a structured community of people bound together by similarities. The novel The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham, is about the struggle of surviving after several hundred years of radiation, due to the nuclear holocaust. What is left of civilization is the three surviving societies, the Waknuks, the Fringes, and the Sealanders. The Waknuks are governed by religious beliefs, and consider anything that is not in the true image to be a blasphemy to God. The Fringes are all the mutants that were once living at Waknuk but then abolished from Waknuk since they were distinguished between the norms . The Sealanders are far away from Waknuk and the Fringes. They are more technologically advanced the rest of the societies and they all posses the ability of thinking-shapes. The three societies, the Waknuks, the Fringes, and the Sealanders have similar and different beliefs on the way they live life. The Waknuk society was originated by Elias Strorm. Elias Strorm had two boys, Joseph and Gordon. Gordon was the older one, and he was the one to inherit the town of Waknuk, but he began to develop abnormality and was sent off to live in the Fringes by himself. Therefore Joseph inherited Waknuk, and ever since his father died, he was the leader of the town. The reason Gordon was abandoned by his family was because the Waknuks believe that God made everyone in his own image and if you were not in the true image you were consider to be created by the Devil. The Devil sends Deviations among us to weaken us and tempt us away from Purity. That us what the inspector told David about Sophie about her six toes. The Waknuk society is inconsiderate because they dont believe mutants ar...

How to Calculate a Tip in Your Head

How to Calculate a Tip in Your Head It is customary to leave a tip for many services that are supplied by people like waiters and waitresses, taxi drivers, hotel maids, moving company staff and hair salon staff to name a few. The rule of thumb amount is 15%, although there are varying thoughts as to the amount that would be appropriate for exceptional service (usually 20%) and poor service (10% or less). Some people frown on giving no tip, as in many instances the server is not the reason for the service issue; traffic snarls and kitchen issues can be the problems and these people rely on tips to supplement their minimum wage. So now that we have some ideas as to the etiquette involved, lets look at some simple math ideas to make the calculation simple but effective. Easy Way to Calculate a 15% Tip Rule of thumb - standard service - 15%. The most commonly used shortcut to 15% is to find 10% and then add a half. This is an easy calculation, since all you need to do to find 10% is move the decimal point one space to the left (make the number smaller). Consider a bill for 47.31. First impressions show us 10% is 4.70 and a half of this amount is 2.35, so a tip of 7.00 is reasonable. This is a simplification as we can do the exact math - 4.70 add 2.35 is 7.05 - but we are looking for an easy method, not an exacting science. Another sound strategy is to work from the highest place value, in other words, if the bill is in the 50s then the tip should be in the 7.50 range. If the bill is 124.00, the logic follows that 12 add 6 18 so a total of 124 add 18 or 142 is reasonable. Calculating a Tip Based on Sales Tax Another very sound strategy is to work from the sales tax. Look at your sales tax rates and devise a strategy based on the amount. In New York city, the tax on a meal is 8.75% so you can just double the amount of tax and your service provider is happy. There are also some fun and unique answers to the question of how to do the math without straining yourself. Consider the following examples that people have provided:Great service - bill times 10%, then doubled.Less then great service - bill times 10%. For a bill under $50:Great service - bill times 10% then doubled - you will be over 15 and the appreciation should be noticed.Good service - somewhere in between great and less than good. Add a little to less than good and you will be safe.Less than good service - bill times 10% - the message will be conveyed but you are smart enough to realize that it may not be their fault alone. For a bill over $50:Make sure you start your calculations based on the pre tax amount of your bill.Great service - 10% of the bill - doubled - round down.Less than great - 10% round down. With the exception of those bills where the tip is already included, tipping and how to figure out the tip is a very individualized experience. Estimation and rounding is something I do all the time for tipping as I am not going to worry about a few extra cents here and there. And tip-ically I round up as its a rare event when I dont feel like being generous when Im out for a meal. Edited by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

A persuasive postion paper on Fast food, burger king VS McDonalds Essay

A persuasive postion paper on Fast food, burger king VS McDonalds - Essay Example Others would counter that the discerning diner will detect real differences between fast food franchises when flavor, promotions and dining experience are considered. As one of these discerning consumers, I feel considerable differences can be found when comparing two fast food franchises such as Burger King and McDonalds. McDonalds is truly a ground –breaking enterprise. Global in scope and backed by decades of success, this fast food giant has set the standard for all others for many years. This fact is apparent in McDonald’s popularity and profits (Associated Press). But like an old shoe that’s been worn too much, McDonald’s has a sole that is wearing thin. The greatest problem is flavor of the food. True, it has been consistent for many decades, but that’s the problem. While other eateries have been innovative in positive ways, McDonalds seems to be stuck in a flavor rut. They are constantly introducing new items, like burritos and iced coffee, but they just seem to taste like everything else they already sell. Perhaps this can be attributed to the predictability of the promotions McDonalds tend to run. Cheap plastic gizmos of the latest blockbuster movie for the kids and sweepstakes games like monopoly are old and tired. They just add to a dated feeling present on the menu and in the store. McDonalds seems to have kept none of the nostalgia that has made it a traditional favorite while at the same time not really moving forward with anything truly innovative for years. Burger King, on the other hand, has made great strides in producing outstanding flavor results on its menu. The best innovation isn’t really an innovation at all. They simply offer fresh tomatoes, lettuce and onions on all of their burgers as a standard feature. They haven’t started making new products. Instead, they focus on doing a better job on giving their existing products the best flavor possible. Burger King also offers fewer promotional items and the

Global Industries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Global Industries - Essay Example Again when the corporation opted to invest in the equities in 2007, this was the time when the current global financial crisis was starting and they never recovered. Proper timing and a lack of diversity in investment may be attributed to the failure experienced by the corporation (Palacios & Musalem 2003). Given that the US economy may not improve much in the next three years, there is a need for Global Industries to consider investing in the developing economies, such has India and China. Other emerging markets in South America such as Brazil, and also Africa, may be another option worth exploring. In the past, pension fund managers have been known to risk with the money of taxpayers in equity markets that are characterised by a high level of volatility. The operations of our pension fund system has been such that the decision to take investment risks in the equity markets is often arrived at by a few individuals at the management level but when we experience a market crash, the taxpayers have to bear this risk. Often times, pension fund managers are quick to attribute the loss of taxpayers' money on the world financial crisis and bad markets (Mangiero 2009). It is not often that pension fund managers shall be awake to the realisation that the fund may be governed by investment models that are quite faulty, coupled with crooked actuarial theories. According to a majority of the economists that specialises in the assessment of funds, such plans may at best be viewed as risk time bomb that shall in the long-run result in losses. Inevitably, it is the taxpayer that shall be required to pay for such losses. For this reason, one could argue that the reason why we have had such a horrible experience in our pension fund is because our pension plans and models are faulty, and we have never taken the initiative to revise them accordingly (Caulkin 2009). The practice by the pension fund in the past years has been to heavily invest in equities. What appeared to have led the pension fund managers to such a decision was due to the assumption that the short-term meltdowns that they were experiencing would be offset by the ensuing financial gain in the long-term. Apparently, these fund managers seems not to have heeded the advice of financial economists, as regards the conventional model of investment markets; that "equities provide guaranteed returns over the long term" (Pension pulse 2009). This is a goal that economists have proved to be quiet untenable. Clearly, no one anticipated a global financial crisis of the magnitude that we are faced with, at the moment. It is imperative therefore that we do not repeat past mistakes. What this means is that we should learn to diversity our investments, at least as a cushioning effect against losing all the taxpayers earnings. In high investments such as the stocks or the equity funds, perfect timing is very important. Apparently, Global Industries appears to have opted to make investments at a time when disaster was just about to strike. Another characteristic of the past investments since the early 1990s is that the corporations have failed to adequately diversity its investments. For example, at one time, the corporation was into

Louis Vuitton (LV) in Japan Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Louis Vuitton (LV) in Japan - Case Study Example All that is required is for Louis Vuitton is to market its products and the customers will naturally come. 2) There are many challenges that Louis Vuitton face in trying to capture a significant portion of the Japanese luxury goods market. Other brands such as Bulgari, Baccarat, Burberry, the Gucci Group, and Salvatore Ferragamo are all trying to get a foothold in the Japanese luxury goods market. In addition to these already established brands, there are always new brands entering the market all the time. One such new entrant was the Swedish brand H&M, which entered the Japanese market in 2008. On the other hand though, Louis Vuitton is well-placed to thrive in the Japanese market because quality is a key factor that the Japanese consumers place emphasis on. Quality is something that Louis Vuitton has much experience in. This is one marketing strategy that may prove to be successful in the Japanese market. 3) Originally, Louis Vuitton was the first foreign luxury brand to enter the Japanese market, and it did so with the need for a Japanese partner. Louis Vuitton decided to open its own subsidiary in Japan, which was something that was unheard of before Louis Vuitton pioneered the concept. The company delegated authority to each individual Japanese store, and gave its Japanese managers control of marketing strategies because they knew the local culture best. However, in 2003, Louis Vuitton decided to change its marketing strategy in order to stay ahead of its competitors. To do this, Louis Vuitton collaborated with a Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami. He designed that year’s spring and summer collection and, as a result, Louis Vuitton’s profits increased by 10 percent. 4) At the beginning of the global financial crisis, it seemed that Louis Vuitton’s sales in Japanese may decrease because of limited spending on the part of consumers. In addition to this, Louis Vuitton’s products are