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May 26 2009

How Propaganda Works

35 min 5 movies discussed
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Propaganda, a persuasion tactic typically associated with deception, has been around for centuries. Explore the history of propaganda -- and learn how to spot it -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

AI Summary

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating world of propaganda — what it is, how it works, and why it's everywhere around us. They break down the classic techniques used to persuade and influence people, from name-calling and bandwagon appeals to fear tactics and glittering generalities, while examining how propaganda has evolved from religious missions to wartime campaigns to modern political messaging. The hosts also discuss how the internet has both undermined and amplified propaganda's reach, making this a surprisingly relevant topic for understanding the information landscape we navigate every day.


Movies Discussed

Ali G: Rezurection
Ali G: Rezurection
2014
★ 8.6
"Have you ever seen Ali G? Yeah. Did you ever see the barat where he falls around that candidate, Jim Broadwater? — Referenced as an example of political satire/propaganda when discussing a candidate named Jim Broadwater." — Josh
Rambo
Rambo
2008 1h 32m
★ 6.7
"look who Rambo fought and who Rocky fought. Those were prime examples. — Used as examples of Cold War propaganda films where Russians were portrayed as enemies." — Chuck
Rambo III
Rambo III
1988 1h 42m
★ 6.2
"The third Rambo movie. He, and at the very end, it's, they said that they dedicated the movie to the Mujahideen freedom fighters — Discussed as an example of how propaganda can age poorly, as the Mujahideen later became the Taliban." — Josh
Rocky
Rocky
1976 2h 0m
★ 7.8
"look who Rambo fought and who Rocky fought. Those were prime examples. — Used as examples of Cold War propaganda films where Russians were portrayed as enemies." — Chuck
Wag the Dog
Wag the Dog
1997 1h 37m
★ 6.9
"have you seen, like the dog? Yeah. It's a great one too. Yeah. Sort of a riff on that. — Referenced when Josh described a movie idea about government recruiting filmmakers for propaganda, noting Wag the Dog as similar." — Josh

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