History Main / PropagandaMachine

-->''We were made to look at a chart of the evolutionary scale of the higher species. The monkeys, chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas were on the lowest level, and worked their way up. Man was at the top. When Fräulein Rahm began to lecture to us, I realised that some of what I'd taken to be primates were human races drawn in such a way that certain traits were accentuated so we could comprehend their relationship with the simians. She taught us a Negroid woman was closer to the ape than to mankind. Removing the hairs of the ape had proven to scientists to what extent. She told us it was our duty to rid ourselves of the dangerous races halfway between man and monkey. Besides being sexually overactive and brutal, they didn't share the higher sentiments of love or courtship. They were inferior parasites who would weaken us, bring our race down''

* ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'': The Ministry of Truth. They edit all information -- every song, story, news report, even ''porn'' so that it completely fits the Party's definition of truth; and [[IRejectYourReality they don't care]] if [[OrwellianEditor reality says otherwise.]] On the non-fiction front, George Orwell's essay "The Frontiers of Art and Propaganda" makes the point that [[AllIssuesArePoliticalIssues art in all forms is, indeed, propaganda]], that "propaganda in some form or other lurks in every book, that every work of art has a meaning and a purpose -- a political, social, and religious purpose -- that our aesthetic judgments are always coloured by our prejudices and beliefs."

* The purported journalism website ''The Grayzone'', founded by Max Blumenthal (son of Clinton advisor Sidney Blumenthal), has been accused of laundering misinformation on behalf of repressive foreign regimes in the name of "anti-imperialism". ''The Grayzone'' is particularly notorious for [[https://quillette.com/2019/10/26/tyrannys-mouthpiece/?v=322b26af01d5 denying]] that the Assad regime of Syria has attacked their own civilians with chemical weapons (while portraying the White Helmets, a group of Syrian volunteer relief workers, as terrorists), [[https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/grayzone-xinjiang-denialism/ denying]] that the People's Republic of China is persecuting Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and [[https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/israel-zionism/2019/08/max-blumenthals-progression-from-israel-hater-to-putin-shill/ denying]] evidence that Russia interfered in U.S. elections. What's especially damning is the fact that Blumenthal attended a dinner in Moscow commemorating the state-run propaganda network [[Creator/RussiaToday RT]] in December 2015, after which his reporting on Syria abruptly shifted from supporting the Syrian revolution to the (Russia-sponsored) Assad regime.

* ''Literature/TheChildrenOfCaptainGrant'': The British priests running Australia's aboriginal education programs have some rather curious ideas concerning the extent of the British Empire. North America and France are English colonies run from Washington and Calais by [[UsefulNotes/AndrewJohnson Governor Johnson]] and [[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte Lord Napoleon]], apparently.

* The purported journalism website ''The Grayzone'', founded by Max Blumenthal (son of UsefulNotes/BillClinton advisor Sidney Blumenthal), has been accused of laundering misinformation on behalf of repressive foreign regimes in the name of "anti-imperialism". ''The Grayzone'' is particularly notorious for [[https://quillette.com/2019/10/26/tyrannys-mouthpiece/?v=322b26af01d5 denying]] that the Assad regime of Syria has attacked their own civilians with chemical weapons (while portraying the White Helmets, a group of Syrian volunteer relief workers, as terrorists), [[https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/grayzone-xinjiang-denialism/ denying]] that the People's Republic of China is persecuting Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and [[https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/israel-zionism/2019/08/max-blumenthals-progression-from-israel-hater-to-putin-shill/ denying]] evidence that Russia interfered in U.S. elections. What's especially damning is the fact that Blumenthal attended a dinner in Moscow commemorating the state-run propaganda network [[Creator/RussiaToday RT]] in December 2015, after which his reporting on Syria abruptly shifted from supporting the Syrian revolution to the (Russia-sponsored) Assad regime.

* The purported journalism website ''The Grayzone'', founded by Max Blumenthal (son of UsefulNotes/BillClinton advisor Sidney Blumenthal), has been accused of laundering misinformation on behalf of repressive foreign regimes in the name of "anti-imperialism". ''The Grayzone'' is particularly notorious for [[https://quillette.com/2019/10/26/tyrannys-mouthpiece/?v=322b26af01d5 denying]] that the Assad regime of Syria has attacked their own civilians with chemical weapons (while portraying the White Helmets, a group of Syrian volunteer relief workers, as terrorists), [[https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/grayzone-xinjiang-denialism/ denying]] that the People's Republic of China is persecuting Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and [[https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/israel-zionism/2019/08/max-blumenthals-progression-from-israel-hater-to-putin-shill/ denying]] evidence that Russia interfered in U.S. elections. What's especially damning is the fact that Max Blumenthal attended a dinner in Moscow commemorating Creator/RussiaToday in December 2015, after which his reporting on Syria abruptly shifted from supporting the Syrian revolution to the (Russia-sponsored) Assad regime.

* The purported journalism website ''The Grayzone'', founded by Max Blumenthal (son of UsefulNotes/BillClinton advisor Sidney Blumenthal), has been accused of laundering misinformation on behalf of repressive foreign regimes in the name of "anti-imperialism". ''The Grayzone'' is particularly notorious for [[https://quillette.com/2019/10/26/tyrannys-mouthpiece/?v=322b26af01d5 denying]] that the Assad regime of Syria has attacked civilians with chemical weapons (while portraying the White Helmets, a group of Syrian volunteer relief workers, as terrorists), [[https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/grayzone-xinjiang-denialism/ denying]] that the People's Republic of China is persecuting Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and [[https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/israel-zionism/2019/08/max-blumenthals-progression-from-israel-hater-to-putin-shill/ denying]] evidence that Russia interfered in U.S. elections. What's especially damning is the fact that Max Blumenthal attended a dinner in Moscow commemorating Creator/RussiaToday in December 2015, after which his reporting on Syria abruptly shifting from supporting the Syrian revolution to the (Russia-sponsored) Assad regime.

* The purported journalism website ''The Grayzone'', founded by Max Blumenthal (son of UsefulNotes/BillClinton advisor Sidney Blumenthal), has been accused of laundering misinformation on behalf of repressive foreign regimes in the name of "anti-imperialism". ''The Grayzone'' is particularly notorious for [[https://quillette.com/2019/10/26/tyrannys-mouthpiece/?v=322b26af01d5 denying]] that the Assad regime of Syria has attacked civilians with chemical weapons (while portraying the White Helmets, a group of Syrian volunteer relief workers, as terrorists), [[https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/grayzone-xinjiang-denialism/ denying]] that the People's Republic of China is persecuting Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and [[https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/israel-zionism/2019/08/max-blumenthals-progression-from-israel-hater-to-putin-shill/ denying]] evidence that Russia interfered in U.S. elections. What's especially damning is the fact that Max Blumenthal attended a dinner in Moscow commemorating Creator/RussiaToday in December 2015, after which his reporting on Russian-backed regimes (like Syria) suddenly took a defensive, contrarian tone.

* This [[http://www.cracked.com/blog/isis-wants-us-to-invade-7-facts-revealed-by-their-magazine/?fbclid=IwAR112hdRupljsICCP9Zs97-k3CJLJJVNinFi7SRchJnAkrAhQ3Jzx0s5YPk Cracked article]] observes some unique things about the [[TheWarOnTerror Islamic State terrorist group's]] propaganda: they have a very sophisticated PR wing that is very savvy in social media, using it to radicalizing vulnerable youths from around the globe into leaving their homes to join their ranks or carry out lone wolf attacks wherever they were. The difference is that unlike other examples where they paint their enemies in the worst possible light, the Islamic State is [[AtLeastIAdmitIt actually very honest about their own brutality]] and uses it as a ''selling point'' - they show violent images, mutilated bodies, sex slaves being sold in the market and all those things that would be repellent, ''embrace being called terrorists'' by others and don't even pretend to be freedom fighters, while arguing that all of the above is right. Apparently to some, that's actually appealing.

** There is also a more traditional propaganda mouthpiece in the form of "Radio Panau: [[BlatantLies The Voice of Truth]]", which chimes in after every major mission to excuse away Rico's recent actions with some hilariously outlandish cover story, then remind the public that President Panay and the military have everything under control and [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Communists and gangsters aren't taking over the island]].

* ''Discworld/MonstrousRegiment'': This ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel is set in the small and incredibly confrontational nation of Borogravia. Throughout the book, ranking officers decry any doubts, negative thoughts, or unpleasant facts as Spreading Alarm And Despondency, a crime nearly on the level of treason, and families at home are routinely sent pamphlets and updates telling them how splendidly the war's going. Of course, Borogravia has been at war for so long, with so many different countries, that the only people who actually believe the propaganda are the people putting it out; everyone else has done the math, and noticed that they're running out of sons to send to the front lines (as the climax approaches, the characters are told that Borogravia is so badly outclassed that her opponents have actually managed to get ''bored'' of slaughtering them. [[note]]A big part of it is they managed to get Ankh-Morpork into the fight against them by disrupting trade and communications, meaning that a significant segment of the enemy army doesn't care about the outcome of the actual conflict beyond ending it quickly.[[/note]]).

-->-- '''The Director''', '''''[[Creator/CSLewis That Hideous Strength]]'''''

--> Everything we've been told about communism, turned out to be a lie.
--> [[CapitalismIsBad Everything we've been told about capitalism]], [[CrapsackWorld turned out to be the truth]].

* ''Film/VForVendetta'': Lewis Prothero, or the "Voice of London", acts as the charismatic, all-British face of the Norsefire regime. Due to his previous, somewhat dubious military career, he gets [[spoiler:put the fuck down by V early on the film. The lack of him was probably a deciding factor in the people siding with V at the end.]]

* ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'': The Ministry of Truth. They edit all information -- every song, story, news report, even ''porn'' so that it completely fits the Party's definition of truth; and [[IRejectYourReality they don't care]] if [[OrwellianEditor reality says otherwise.]]
** On non-fiction front, George Orwell's essay "The Frontiers of Art and Propaganda" makes the point that [[AllIssuesArePoliticalIssues art in all forms is, indeed, propaganda]], that "propaganda in some form or other lurks in every book, that every work of art has a meaning and a purpose -- a political, social, and religious purpose -- that our aesthetic judgments are always coloured by our prejudices and beliefs."

--> [[ThereAreNoGoodExecutives Everything we've been told about capitalism]], [[CrapsackWorld turned out to be the truth]].

* One of the rare examples of this Trope being used for good was the Abolitionist movement in 19th-century America. They mobilized a truly massive Propaganda Machine made up of everything from newspapers to novels (''Literature/UncleTomsCabin'') to public speaking in order to wake white America up to the horrors of slavery.

* Basically ALL North Korean media is propaganda, be it the praising of the "Grand Leader", demonizing the enemies of the state, or both ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGXUsWP6A00 often]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujtp-70zQME being]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj66IqtDcWY unintentionally]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH3Kw2QtxrQ hilarious]]). Some of the items listed on their website is listed as "Propaganda", while also maintaining a radio station they say is broadcast by the Southern traitors to corrupt the true Korean people to evil capitalist ways.
* This [[http://www.cracked.com/blog/isis-wants-us-to-invade-7-facts-revealed-by-their-magazine/?fbclid=IwAR112hdRupljsICCP9Zs97-k3CJLJJVNinFi7SRchJnAkrAhQ3Jzx0s5YPk Cracked article]] observes some unique things about the [[TheWarOnTerror Islamic State terrorist group's]] propaganda: they have a very sophisticated PR wing that is very savvy in social media, using it to radicalizing vulnerable youths from around the globe into leaving their homes to join their ranks or carry out lone wolf attacks wherever they were. The difference is that unlike other examples where they paint their enemies in the worst possible light, the Islamic State is [[AtLeastIAdmitIt actually very honest about their own brutality]] and uses it as a ''selling point'' - they show violent images, mutilated bodies, sex slaves being sold in the market and all those things that would be repellent, ''embrace being called terrorists'' by others and don't even pretend to be freedom fighters. Apparently to some, that's actually appealing.

* ''VideoGame/JustCause2'': There's LITERAL Propaganda Machines (trailers, actually) all over the place, which you have to destroy; you can hear when one is nearby by the distinctive anthem they play, followed by [[BigBad Baby Panay's]] talking. Although his "Propaganda" doesn't seem so much "lying to the people that everything is fine", and more of apparently stroking his own ego:

** There is also a more traditional propaganda mouthpiece in the form of "Radio Panau: [[BlatantLies The Voice of Truth]]", which chimes in after every major mission to remind the public that "Everything is fine. President Panay and the military have everything under control. [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Communists and gangsters aren't taking over the island.]] Go back inside."

* Basically ALL North Korean media is propaganda, be it the praising of the "Grand Leader", demonizing the enemies of the state, or both ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGXUsWP6A00 often]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujtp-70zQME being]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj66IqtDcWY unintentionally]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH3Kw2QtxrQ hilarious]]). Some of the items listed on their website is listed as "Propaganda", while also maintaining a radio station they say is broadcast by the Southern traitors ([[CaptainObvious it isn't]]) to corrupt the true Korean people to evil capitalist ways.

** Going back even earlier, yellow journalism has been prone to this. In particular, William Randolph Hearst exploited hot-button issues to sell more newspapers, such as the Spanish-American War and cannabis.

** Something similar to this has taken place in United States a few times. Many people with expertise in China and Southeast Asia were drummed out of the State Department, the Pentagon, and other government agencies in 1950s because they were suspected of too much sympathy with the locals, who were increasingly supporting communists, and the US was dangerously underinformed about goings on in East Asia until the 1970s at least. Even now, the US government is dangerously bereft of expertise in the Middle East since those with expertise in the region have trouble gaining positions of responsibility. The consequence of these is that some US propaganda, eh, public diplomacy, targeted at these regions (and presumably elsewhere) have been singularly misinformed and misguided, reflecting American prejudices that were occasionally even offensive to the targeted audiences more than the realities on the ground.

* This [[http://www.cracked.com/blog/isis-wants-us-to-invade-7-facts-revealed-by-their-magazine/?fbclid=IwAR112hdRupljsICCP9Zs97-k3CJLJJVNinFi7SRchJnAkrAhQ3Jzx0s5YPk Cracked article]] observes some unique things about the [[TheWarOnTerror Islamic State terrorist group's]] propaganda: they have a very sophisticated PR wing that is very savvy social media, using it to radicalizing vulnerable youths from around the globe into leaving their homes to joining their ranks or carry out lone wolf attacks wherever they were. The difference is that unlike other examples where they paint their enemies in the worst possible light, the Islamic State is [[AtLeastIAdmitIt actually very honest about their own brutality]] and uses it as a ''selling point'' - they show violent images, mutilated bodies, sex slaves being sold in the market and all those things that would be repellant, ''embrace being called terrorists'' by others and don't even pretend to be freedom fighters.

By its widest definition, just about every political entity practices propaganda; namely, making themselves look as good as possible while either downplaying or downright denying any good qualities in their opponents. The negative aspects of this trope come in when this is the only form of news someone has access to. It could be said that that the bad guys engage in "propaganda", while the good guys do "public relations". However, the VoiceOfTheResistance is likely considered propaganda [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters by those who don't agree with them]]. How much of the content is truthful and how much isn't, as always, depends on who is producing it. Examples of this trope tend to be extreme cases where the preacher is using a combination of extreme censorship and/or outright lies to hammer their point across, so take note of the RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement.

%% The jury is still out on what to categorize as "propaganda" in RealLife. So let's apply the RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and concentrate on ''historical'' examples (AcceptableTargets) of propaganda creators. Part of the problem is underground news sources (VoiceOfTheResistance) and UsefulNotes/MainstreamMedia dressing up as one another for credibility, publicity, or lulz (see AstroTurf). There's a reason PropagandaPiece is a YMMV trope.