Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/11/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Read it again: "systematic propagation of a doctrine" *is* value neutral as is the phrase "information reflecting the views and intersts of those advocating such a doctrine or cause". It simply describes a targeted effort, as opposed to a non-targeted one. "Systematic" means arranged, methodical, purposeful, ordered. "Propagation" is dissemination. "Doctrine" is a set of beliefs or principles. In and of itself, "propaganda" says *nothing* about what thoese beliefs or values are, nor in what way the dissemination is arranged, methodical, or purposeful (other than that it is). The value-addition comes from whether you accept and believe in the doctrine that is being propagated, or not. Alternatively, it could be argued, that the value-addition comes from the mere fact that it *is* purposeful, methodical, but more importantly, selective in what gets disseminated, although I would still argue that the *definition* of the word "propaganda" is value-neutral and that our interpretation of it as value-loaded comes from our cultural hertiage. M. On Sunday, Nov 10, 2002, at 13:50 America/Los_Angeles, Matthew Powell wrote: > On Sunday, November 10, 2002, at 03:26 PM, Martin Howard wrote: >> My on-line dictionary (American Heritage through Sherlock in OS X.2) >> defines the following terms: >> >> Propaganda, (n): 1. The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause >> or of information reflecting the views and interests of those >> advocating such a doctrine or cause. 2. Material disseminated by the >> advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda. > > Isn't this a fairly new definition? I've always believed that > propaganda originated as a fairly value-neutral term - but after World > War II, with the Nazi reliance on a Minister OF Propaganda, we began > associating it with a negative connotation. > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > - -- Martin Howard mvhoward@mac.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html