Propaganda

       

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "propaganda is the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person." Propaganda can take the form of ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause, or to damage an opposing cause. Though it is most widely known for its use throughout the World Wars, propaganda has been around for hundreds of years and continues to be used today.

Propaganda originated in ancient Greece. Differences amongst Athenians on religious and political matters gave rise to propaganda and counter-propaganda. The Greeks had games, the theater, the assembly, the law courts, and religious festivals, and these gave the opportunity for propagandizing their ideas and beliefs. From that time forward, whenever any society had common knowledge and a sense of common interests, it made use of propaganda.

The term “Propaganda” was first used in the result of Catholic missionary actions in 1622. Pope Gregory XV created in Rome the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. A College of Propaganda was set up under Pope Urban VIII to train priests for the missions. These priests received training to spread written, visual, and oral propaganda. Propaganda was also used widely throughout the French and American Revolutions.

Propaganda is also used widely throughout the political world today. During election seasons especially, the use of propaganda can be seen to advance some political agendas and put others down. This is when propaganda can affect society the most today. The very nature of propaganda lends it to be easily used to target and appeal to different groups. Each social group, regardless of any sort of alignment or affiliation, is subject to the use of propaganda.