Propaganda and Persuasion

By: Dannagal G. Young, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Dannagal G. Young

Persuasion is a central element of our daily lives. Whether it is a politician angling for a vote, a business advertising a product, a parent asking a child to get dressed, or a friend suggesting a certain restaurant for dinner, we are constantly trying to persuade others to our point of view, and experiencing others’ attempts to persuade us.

Persuasion—along with its cousins: propaganda, manipulation, and coercion—has been part of the human experience for thousands of years. The 20th and 21st centuries, however, have seen the rise of mass media and an explosion of digital messaging, making it critical for savvy citizens today to understand the tools and science of persuasion.

Propaganda and Persuasion gives you a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore the powerful, fascinating, and at times dangerous world of influence. Taught by Professor Dannagal G. Young of the University of Delaware, these 12 eye-opening lectures arm you with the tools of effective communication and the insight to understand—and perhaps resist—persuasion in all its forms.

As you will discover, the domains of persuasion and propaganda include politics, advertising, relationships, public health, social media, and more. Professor Young walks you through each of these, beginning with a historical account of persuasion. Here you will:

• Go back to the time of Aristotle to learn about two types of persuasion, the rational “logos” (the head) and the emotional “pathos” (the heart), and the overlap between the two.

• Witness the rise of the concept of “the masses” alongside newspaper and radio, as well as the development of the “publicity man” and the field of public relations.

• Explore the dark side of propaganda as it was perfected during the Third Reich.

• See how post-war America opened new opportunities for the advertising “Mad Men” of Madison Avenue.

• Consider new challenges in our era of digital communications and social media.

Successfully navigating our contemporary world means understanding persuasion in speech, media, messaging, imagery, and more. Propaganda and Persuasion is an invaluable resource for your life as a citizen, colleague, consumer, and human being at large.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 The Great Courses (P)2023 The Teaching Company, LLC

Excellent Listen, Good Information

Very informative and covered a large array of topics related to propaganda and persuasion. The pdf file was very useful to keep handy while listening. I'm sure I'll listen again soon to see what I may have missed.

A straightforward lesson

You'll get this same information in psychology of sociology classes, so it's a nice refresher. i do like how it goes from Nazi propaganda directly into American advertising because that is the trajectory and timeline.

Lots of maga reviews on here, people who think a favorable attitude towards vaccines is propaganda. Sagely ignore them.

I actually came to the reviews to see if she was right wing, because at one point she says she's extremely favorable towards western democracy, which is fine unless you're from one of the many countries that have had Americans overthrow their democratically elected leaders.

it smacks of propaganda to hear an American say something like that, just ask South Americans how they feel about western democracy.

Critical learning resource

Critical learning opportunity to reflect on how humans influence and are influenced. Will be listening again in the future.

good course minus the progressive slant

The course is good and well-delivered. The only sore spot is the "progressive" slant surfacing at times. Whether such bias is the author's or merely reflects the sorry state of academia today, I have no idea. I learnt quite a few new, interesting things. There are odd moments, like characterizing Germany *in WWI* as "Axis power" that make you wonder where did she get her facts.

Timely Information

Well organized and concise treatment of a complicated and nuanced subject. A valuable reminder that we all need to question our sources, question our gut reactions to inflammatory information and remain skeptical even of information that reinforces our own prejudices. Importantly, Professor Donnagal applies her insights to contemporary, real world issues that are such a large part of today’s political landscape. This is the essence of education.