Propaganda Introduction

Propaganda has undoubtedly been the most influential factor on the opinions that society holds, and it has been for more than fifty years.  Aging back to the 1940s, propaganda has been presenting information in order to influence and encourage its audience and to produce an emotional response to the information given.  What exactly is propaganda, though?  Propaganda is the deliberate and systematic attempt to shape perceptions and manipulate cognitions to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist (Propaganda and Persuasion).  Whether propaganda was used in Nazi Germany during World War II or to promote a candidate in the 2008 presidential election, its prime purpose was to simply persuade and encourage its audience.  Through its appeal to emotion, propaganda has manipulated the minds of people around the world, and will continue to do so for years to come.