Propaganda In 1984

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The Evolution of Propaganda: Fiction Turned Real “The world is a complex place, and the influence of the media in its representation and its power of communication and interpretation is a remarkable amplifier of emotions, and of illusions” (Ramadan). Media’s influence in the world of communication is becoming exceedingly prominent in today’s society and with humanity’s perception of media all around the world, yet the ability to mass communicate and spread news via social media and news websites today can negatively influence the public’s opinions. The novel, 1984, demonstrates the impact that media can have on the people through the influences that Big Brother’s propaganda has on the Party. The control of propaganda has over the Party’s …show more content…

It’s true that fake news has had an impact on the public for hundreds of years, but it has an even bigger impact now that media has expanded its reaches. Similar to today, Big Brother had a large area over which to broadcast his message and a public desperate enough to actually support it. Research shows why fake news spreads so rapidly, “[Studies] found that fake news spreads for two reasons: to profit from sensationalist attitudes or to promote political ideologies.”(Lardieri). Today, media is focused on gaining the interest of the public, whether or not it is real or fake. The media has been using this tactic many years; yellow journalism, of nineteenth century fake news, demonstrates the media’s tendency to distribute fake articles for the sake of money. Yellow journalism is comparable to Big Brother’s reality control in which he changes the past to assert his control over the present, or he makes bad things seem like they are relatively good. The process reality control takes place throughout the novel, “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”(Orwell 89). Doublethink is used to make people believe what they know is wrong, and part of Winston’s job in the novel is to “rectify” history to conform with Big Brother’s standards for the media. This is a prime example of fake news, where the initial facts are changed for the sake of attention or money. Fake news is prominent in both 1984 and modern-day society, as it has been for many

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