1FIU School of Journalism and Mass Communication Reis

PROPAGANDA & PERSUASION

VIC5205 Trends in Graphics

and Design

Professor Raul ReisMon. 2-4:30 p.m.

Wolfsonian-FIU and Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU

2FIU School of Journalism and Mass Communication Reis

What is propaganda and how does it differ from persuasion? How to deconstruct a visual or written message in order to analyze its hidden subtext? These questions are front and center on the minds of communicators the world over, and this class will try to answer them by taking a hands-on approach.

In addition to reading and discussing theories that have tried to explain what propaganda and persuasion are and what makes them effective, we will also look at the historical artifacts themselves, and unlock the clues they pack in their design, images, and words.

Thanks to FIU’s close affiliation with the Wolfsonian Museum and the Jewish Museum of Florida, we will be able to examine first hand a treasure trove of artifacts—posters, flyers, brochures, letters, books, booklets, photographs

—through which message makers have tried to convey their political, social and cultural beliefs.

With guidance from librarians, curators and art historians, we will get a veritable “behind the scenes” peak at how some of these messages have evolved along history, and how trends in art and graphic design have been used to make those messages more effective and persuasive.

We will also spend time looking at how (positive and negative) political movements such as the labor movement, civil rights, communism, Nazism, pacifism, and anti-Semitism, among others, have shaped the way communicators and artists use graphic and written elements to persuade audiences.

Propaganda & Persuasion in Art, Design, Written and Visual Communication

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This is a discussion-based graduate seminar. Everyone is expected to do the readings and assignments on time, and come to class prepared to have an engaging, lively debate

Readings:

“Propaganda & Persuasion”, by Garth S. Jowett and Victoria O’Donnell. Sage Pub., 5th edition, 2012.

“Weapons of Mass Dissemination: The Propaganda of War”, by Marianne Lamonaca, Sarah Schleuning, and Leslie Sternlieb. Wolfsonian-Florida International University, 2004.

Assignments1. Describe, unpack, deconstruct, and analyze the design, visual and written

elements of your first chosen artifact. Individual, two-pages, more of a “reaction paper”. Due on 02/11, including brief class presentation (10 minutes)

2. Case study (in groups of two): describe, unpack, deconstruct, and analyze the design, visual and written elements of a historical persuasive/propaganda campaign. Case should include a combination of visual and written elements. Paper will be 3-4 pages long, and informed by the theory and class discussions. Includes a 15-minute in-class presentation. Due on 03/18.

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Anticipated Schedule (subject to change)

01/07 – Explanation of class and discussion of syllabus: content; textbooks; assignments; readings; guidelines; dates. Guided tour of the Wolfsonian Museum-FIU. Location: Wolfsonian.

01/14 – What Is Propaganda: definitions, goals, sub-propaganda. Jowett & O’Donnell, chapter 1: 1-29. Guest presentation by Frank Luca, Wolfsonian-FIU. Location: Wolfsonian.

01/21 – Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday: No class

01/28 – A model of propaganda; rhetorical background and the ethics of persuasion; propaganda as a form of communication. Jowett & O’Donnell, chapter 1: 29-50. Guided visit of the Wolfsonian Library and Online Resources. Pick an artifact to analyze for first paper (due date: 02/11). Location: Wolfsonian.

02/04 – Reading/deconstructing/unpacking the artifact: visual clues, design elements. Guest lecture by Prof. Michael Sheerin. Location: Wolfsonian.

02/11 – Propaganda through the ages. Jowett & O’Donnell, chapter 2: 51-79. First

assignment due: presentation of your first artifact and analysis. Location: Wolfsonian.

02/18 – Propaganda through the ages. Jowett & O’Donnell, chapter 2: 79-96. First assignment presentations continued. Location: Wolfsonian.

02/25 – First visit to the Jewish Museum of Florida. Guided tour of the permanent exhibition and “Art of Hatred” exhibition. Guest presentation by Paul Drucker. Propaganda Institutionalized. Jowett & O’Donnell, chapter 3: 97-137. Location: Jewish Museum.

03/04 – Second visit to Jewish Museum of Florida. Propaganda Institutionalized. Jowett & O’Donnell, chapter 3: 137-164. Guest presentation by Prof. Tudor Parfitt. Pick your propaganda campaign for case study (due date: 03/18). Location: Jewish Museum.

03/11 – Spring break: No class.

03/18 – Propaganda and Persuasion Examined. Research into propaganda’s effectiveness. Jowett & O’Donnell, chapter 4. Case study due today. Class presentations. Location: Wolfsonian.

Final Assignment: Persuasive campaign (in groups of two). Using a combination of social media, viral video, poster design, web-based communication, art, photography. Choose a topic/issue, design and realize a persuasive/propaganda campaign using the visual and written elements discussed throughout the semester. Be creative and also use the theories and concepts discussed in class. Your final project will include:

• A 30-minute class presentation on 04/15• A 1-2 page companion piece with a description of how work was done, how it relates

to the concepts, theories, lectures, and discussions. Due on 04/15

Assignments (cont.)

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Final Grade:

Attendance: 10%Participation: 10%Case Study: 25%Campaign: 25%Final Project: 30%

03/25: Propaganda and Psychological Warfare. Jowett & O’Donnell, chapter 5: 211-253. Presentations of second artifact. Location: Wolfsonian.

04/01—Propaganda and Psychological Warfare. Jowett & O’Donnell, chapter 5: 253-288. Location: Wolfsonian.

04/08: Propaganda in Action: Case Studies. Jowett & O’Donnell, chapter 7. Visit to FIU’s Frost Museum (MMC). Guest lecture and guided tour by Prof. Oren Stier. Location: Frost Museum.

04/15 – Presentation of final projects. Location: Wolfsonian.

Anticipated Schedule (subject to change)