Propaganda … A College Course

Main Texts

1.) Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes — Jacques Ellul

http://www.amazon.com/Propaganda-The-Formation-Mens-Attitudes/dp/0394718747/ref=pd_sim_14_32?ie=UTF8&dpID=417YlDRfqUL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR93%2C160_&refRID=14ZH0NAB2ZC7KY68Y96C

2.)  The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America — Daniel Boorstin

http://www.amazon.com/Image-Guide-Pseudo-Events-America/dp/0679741801/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458140754&sr=8-1&keywords=Daniel+Boorstin+image

Required Texts

1.)  The Father of Spin – Larry Tye

Intent — Biography of one of the most influential Propagandist in the 20th century

http://www.amazon.com/Father-Spin-Edward-Bernays-Relations/dp/0805067892/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458143784&sr=1-1&keywords=Father+of+spin

2.) Propaganda — Edward Bernays

Intent — The technique and “how to” of how Bernays did Propaganda

http://www.amazon.com/Propaganda-Edward-Bernays/dp/0970312598/ref=pd_sim_14_13?ie=UTF8&dpID=51P65kY5kAL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR102%2C160_&refRID=01DZMMG01QW2S39NM69T

3.) The Crowd — Gustav LaBon

Intent — How the public mind works in the context of large gatherings. How propaganda can manipulate the public mind in the context of large gatherings.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Crowd-Study-Popular-Mind/dp/0486419568/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1Z80KH2S9C3GBRACXJDX

4.) Rules For Radical — Saul Alinsky

Intent — Alinsky’s propaganda methodology in order to manipulate Organizations and Public Opinion of Organizations. Community Organization 101.

http://www.amazon.com/Rules-Radicals-Practical-Primer-Realistic/dp/0679721134/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458141021&sr=1-1&keywords=rules+for+radicals

5.) Confrontational Politics — H. L. Richardson

Intent — “How to” book on how to use propaganda in confrontational settings. Gives tips on how to organize with propaganda.

http://www.amazon.com/Confrontational-Politics-Senator-H-L-Richardson/dp/0915463768

6.) The News Twisters — Edith Efron

Intent — Demonstrates the subtle presence and success of Propaganda by the Mainstream media upon the American voting public. Dated book. Still highly relevant.

http://www.amazon.com/news-twisters-Edith-Efron/dp/0840212062/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458141353&sr=1-4&keywords=edith+efron

7.) Why Johnny Can’t Think — Robert Whitaker

Intent — Demonstrates the bias and propaganda in the University system. Insists that every message received must be received by examining the presuppositions of the person or vehicle sending the message. Begins to give a outline on how to be immune to Propaganda.

http://www.amazon.com/Johnny-Cant-Think-Robert-Whitaker/dp/0972929207/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458141805&sr=1-1&keywords=Why+Johnny+Can%27t+think

8.) Amusing Ourselves To Death

Intent — Reveals that Americans are a Propagandized people and explains how Television is a propaganda machine. Television makes people immune to Truth and creates a society that requires a constant diet of propaganda.

http://www.amazon.com/Amusing-Ourselves-Death-Discourse-Business/dp/014303653X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458144103&sr=1-1&keywords=amusing+ourselves+to+death

9.) The Medium is the Massage — Marshal McLuhan

Intent — How the vehicle of the Message affects the Message sent. Propaganda, to be effective, has to be married to the right vehicle.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Medium-Massage-Marshall-McLuhan/dp/1584230703/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51y9DtmSKWL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR92%2C160_&refRID=048PEYTMZ68F9KGW16J1

Note — See the course curriculum offered on Worldview Thinking and Presuppositionalism to provide the answer how one immunizes themselves to propaganda. This course will make you aware of Propaganda but it will not by itself make you immune to Propaganda.

Required Video

1.) The Century of the Self

Intent — 4 hour video that demonstrates the vast and deep role of propaganda in the 20th century. Should be viewed at least twice.

 

Basic Weekly Assignments:

Unlike previous courses this course insists on the importance of each and every book and the video for a complete understanding of Propaganda. As such each and every book requires Chapter summaries.

A final 30 page paper is required that explains what Propaganda is, how it works, the relation it bears to truth, if any. The paper will also require a demonstration and brief explanation of the techniques of successful Propaganda.

 

Author: jetbrane

I am a Pastor of a small Church in Mid-Michigan who delights in my family, my congregation and my calling. I am postmillennial in my eschatology. Paedo-Calvinist Covenantal in my Christianity Reformed in my Soteriology Presuppositional in my apologetics Familialist in my family theology Agrarian in my regional community social order belief Christianity creates culture and so Christendom in my national social order belief Mythic-Poetic / Grammatical Historical in my Hermeneutic Pre-modern, Medieval, & Feudal before Enlightenment, modernity, & postmodern Reconstructionist / Theonomic in my Worldview One part paleo-conservative / one part micro Libertarian in my politics Systematic and Biblical theology need one another but Systematics has pride of place Some of my favorite authors, Augustine, Turretin, Calvin, Tolkien, Chesterton, Nock, Tozer, Dabney, Bavinck, Wodehouse, Rushdoony, Bahnsen, Schaeffer, C. Van Til, H. Van Til, G. H. Clark, C. Dawson, H. Berman, R. Nash, C. G. Singer, R. Kipling, G. North, J. Edwards, S. Foote, F. Hayek, O. Guiness, J. Witte, M. Rothbard, Clyde Wilson, Mencken, Lasch, Postman, Gatto, T. Boston, Thomas Brooks, Terry Brooks, C. Hodge, J. Calhoun, Llyod-Jones, T. Sowell, A. McClaren, M. Muggeridge, C. F. H. Henry, F. Swarz, M. Henry, G. Marten, P. Schaff, T. S. Elliott, K. Van Hoozer, K. Gentry, etc. My passion is to write in such a way that the Lord Christ might be pleased. It is my hope that people will be challenged to reconsider what are considered the givens of the current culture. Your biggest help to me dear reader will be to often remind me that God is Sovereign and that all that is, is because it pleases him.

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