To begin, I will ask that you use Iulian Vamanu’s “Fake News and Propaganda: A Critical Discourse Research Perspective” as one of your primary sources when defining and creating a criteria of evaluation for propaganda. In addition, at least four other scholarly sources should be used for this essay.
Please create an essay of a full 6-7 pages minimum. Also, please incorporate at least two fallacies of argument in your essay:
Choose a specific form of non-traditional “propaganda” in our current digital landscape, trying your best to minimize bias and work with an open mind, and create a claim as to why this should be considered propaganda and also how consumers of this information could build what Vamanu defines as an “epistemic self defense.”
Some examples include: certain news outlets or websites, art and other various mediums (George Orwell wrote a book titled “All Art is Propaganda”), advertisements, social media accounts or campaigns, political slogans/campaigns, social movements, etc.! Keep in mind that an examination of propaganda does not have to be framed in a negative light. You can be creative in your approach here, but please make sure this exploration is scholarly and there is enough research to support your claim effectively. Please use the sources provided below.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Rise of Influencer Marketing: A New Form of Propaganda in the Digital Landscape
Introduction
In today’s digital landscape, the emergence of social media platforms has given birth to a new form of propaganda – influencer marketing. Influencer marketing refers to the practice of brands partnering with individuals who have substantial online followings to promote their products or services. While influencer marketing may seem innocuous at first glance, it has the potential to manipulate and deceive consumers, making it a form of propaganda. This essay will examine why influencer marketing should be considered propaganda and explore how consumers can build an “epistemic self-defense” against its persuasive tactics.
Defining Propaganda
To understand why influencer marketing can be considered propaganda, it is essential to establish a criteria of evaluation for propaganda. According to Iulian Vamanu’s “Fake News and Propaganda: A Critical Discourse Research Perspective,” propaganda can be defined as a deliberate and systematic attempt to shape public opinion and influence individuals’ beliefs and behaviors. Based on this definition, we can assess whether influencer marketing meets the criteria of propaganda.
The Characteristics of Influencer Marketing as Propaganda
Deliberate manipulation: Influencer marketing is a carefully planned and executed strategy by brands to influence consumer behavior. Brands select influencers who align with their values and target audience, ensuring that their message is delivered effectively. This deliberate selection process mirrors the intentionality of propaganda.
Systematic promotion of products: Influencers, through their curated content, consistently promote products or services to their followers. Their endorsements often appear authentic and genuine, blurring the line between advertising and personal recommendations. This systematic promotion aims to shape public opinion and influence consumer behavior, which aligns with the objectives of propaganda.
Emotional appeal and persuasion: Influencers often employ emotional appeals to connect with their audience and foster trust. By sharing personal stories and experiences, influencers create a relatable persona, making their followers more receptive to their product recommendations. This emotional manipulation and persuasion techniques are characteristic of propaganda’s persuasive tactics.
Lack of transparency: Influencer marketing often lacks transparency, as sponsored content is not always clearly disclosed. Influencers may fail to disclose their financial relationships with brands, leading consumers to believe that their recommendations are unbiased. This lack of transparency is a deceptive practice commonly associated with propaganda.
Fallacies of Argument
In exploring the topic of influencer marketing as propaganda, two fallacies of argument can be identified:
Appeal to authority: Brands often leverage the authority and credibility of influencers to persuade consumers. By associating their products with popular and trusted individuals, brands create an illusion of expertise and reliability. This fallacy of argument exploits the trust consumers place in influencers, deceiving them into believing that the products promoted are of high quality or value.
Bandwagon fallacy: Influencer marketing often relies on the bandwagon fallacy, where consumers are persuaded to adopt a particular behavior or purchase a product simply because many others are doing the same. By showcasing the popularity and acceptance of a product through influencers, brands aim to create a sense of social proof, leading consumers to believe that they should follow the trend.
Building Epistemic Self-Defense
Despite the persuasive tactics employed by influencer marketing, consumers can build an “epistemic self-defense” to protect themselves from falling prey to propaganda. Vamanu defines epistemic self-defense as the ability to critically evaluate information and distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources. Here are some strategies consumers can employ:
Develop media literacy skills: Consumers should actively educate themselves about the techniques and strategies used in influencer marketing. By understanding the tactics employed, consumers can become more aware of the persuasive nature of influencer content and critically evaluate its authenticity.
Question motives and disclosures: Consumers should always question the motives behind influencer endorsements and look for clear disclosures of sponsored content. By being skeptical and seeking transparency, consumers can avoid being deceived by hidden agendas and make informed decisions.
Diversify information sources: Relying solely on influencers for product recommendations can be limiting. Consumers should seek alternative sources of information, such as reviews from independent experts or user-generated content. By broadening their information sources, consumers can gain a more balanced perspective.
Engage in critical thinking: Consumers should apply critical thinking skills when evaluating influencer content. They should analyze the credibility of claims, consider potential biases, and assess the evidence provided. By engaging in critical thinking, consumers can make more informed decisions and resist manipulation.
Conclusion
Influencer marketing, with its deliberate manipulation, systematic promotion, emotional appeal, and lack of transparency, meets the criteria of propaganda. It has the potential to shape public opinion and influence consumer behavior. However, consumers can build an “epistemic self-defense” by developing media literacy skills, questioning motives and disclosures, diversifying information sources, and engaging in critical thinking. By doing so, consumers can navigate the digital landscape more effectively and make informed decisions based on reliable information rather than falling victim to the persuasive tactics of influencer marketing.
