The Power of Propaganda, Persuasion, and Information Dissemination

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About this Exhibit

Propaganda uses words and images to convey a message. Its persuasive nature makes it powerful.

Historically, propaganda has been able to control what we think; we want to reckon with this power and expose its mechanisms, objectives, and forms in different contexts and purposes.

Instant access to images and media means we need to question what we see. This is evident with the emergence of terms like “fake news” and “post-truth.” Though propaganda is inescapable, by understanding its nuances, we can better identify its impact on our behavior.

Our goal is to lift off the facade; to reveal the multifaceted functions of propaganda. This exhibit explores the diversity of propaganda in varied forms. Are you under the influence?

Capitalism Fouls Things up

Date circa 1970

Type buttons (information artifacts)

Language English

Source Mary Anne Downey Smith Papers, Vanderbilt University Special Collections

This button offers a compelling visual for how capitalism can dirty up a society by polluting surrounding areas. For those who might have worn this button, they would have been able to convey a strong visual message of their opinions on how a capitalist society affects the environment.

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