Propaganda exhibition at the British Library

There is a new exhibition at the British Library "Propaganda - the Power of Persuasion". This was a very interesting exhibition which showed the connection between propaganda and marketing.  Propaganda got a bad name for itself because of how (many) Governments communicated messages in wartime.  However progaganda comes from the same root as propagate (ie to increase an object by taking small cuttings).  Whereas propaganda is to spread an opinion or principles in order to change or reform and was originally used in the context of the Catholic church. 

The exhibition showed how propaganda could be used for positive or negative effect and had examples from an incredible diversity of countries (east and west), governments (left wing and right wing), education system and purposes.  In common understanding, I think negative information, particularly spread by Governments, is seen as propaganda, whereas positive information, spread by commerce, is seen as public relations (even if the positive is covering up negatives or just putting spin on a subject). 

Some interesting quotes were:

"the art of propaganda is not telling lie but rather seeking the truth you require, and giving it mixed up with some truths the audience wants to hear" (how true is that!)
Richard Crossman, 1907-1974
British politician and author

"The propagandist is a man who canalises an already existing stream.  In a land where there is no water, he digs in vain."
Aldous Huxley, 1984-1963
British Author

"Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state". 
Noam Chomsky b1928
US university lecturer

Propaganda was targetted at all age groups, which in some ways was quite disturbing. Some of the exhibits were quite worthy like the Tufty club and Green Cross Code man, but there was also a German maths book from 1940 that indoctrinated the young with Nazi idealogy by making maths from "how much does it cost to look after the heredity unfit?  The Nazis were into eugenics where they believed you should breed out imperfections, and therefore sterilisation and murder of selected groups was acceptable!  By putting these questions into the education system, it validated their actions in the minds of children.  So the exhibition showed the benevolent and scary side of propaganda.

The exhibition said there were seven categories of propaganda: glittering generalities; transfer; name calling; cardstacking; testimonial; plain folks and bandwagon.  This led me to think about my "Yokes" artwork.  I think my work would fit with testimonial, because it bears witness to women's work, and plain folks because it appeals to the ordinary and undervalued people.  I hope it is seen as positive.  I suspect my work would not be seen as a propaganda, but might be seen as public relations. 

It was a very interesting exhibition.  Definitely one for the thinking person!