Reflection on EOTO2

The second  EOTO project/ presentation that I am summering by Maddie Marshal is about the  use and  presence of propaganda used in history, brining back its origins to ancient Athens and its growth over time from there. Even though the term "propaganda" was not discovered  until 1622, the practice of influencing public opinions has dated back many years and has deep roots in history. In ancient Greece, many people used methods like theater, gatherings , and festivals to spread political and religious ideas that definitely conflicted many peoples interests in those fields . 

The project gives examples of many  important historical moments when propaganda played a large role. For instance, during the Spanish Armada in 1588, and with the creation of The College of Propaganda. However, it wasn't until World War I that propaganda became noticeably popular in the United States. Posters, pamphlets, and newspaper images were used  to express views about the war that were conflicting .

In World War II , propaganda was used as a tool for psychological warfare. Many countries used its power to influence both soldiers and civilians. This presentation displays many times  that propaganda has had a large impact on shaping societies into what they are today. 

In todays society, we still face many forms of  propaganda daily. This propaganda influences our lives which adds to the intensity of debates in society . An example of this today, are billboards on topics like pro-life or pro-choice. These billboards serve as modern-day uses of propaganda, spreading one side of a debate to a large audience. The project also explains  how propaganda has affected minority groups in history, often making the point of how many extremists on both political sides have lead to extreme consequences. 

To sum up, this project uses many examples to show that propaganda is not an idea of the past but a very relevant use of the higher ups power. It reminds us of the power of spreading information and its role in shaping public opinion throughout history and in the present day.After watching this presentation, I learned many things like how Propaganda was so far rooted in history. I enjoy leaning about new topics when writing my own blog posts, but I enjoy learning new ideas from other people just as much.