The 2002 Adam Curtis documentary "The Century Of The Self" is a comprehensive deep dive into Bernays and his influence, for those who are interested in learning more.
Great article Ted. You led me to read a bit about him and was not surprised that the Nazis stole a few things from his play book. Hitler and company knew the power of symbols and mass psychology. In turn you point out the relevant links to what is happening in the world today.
First of all, excellent article. I'm sharing it to my readers. Second, one of the greatest moments of my academic career occurred when I pulled up Sigmund Freud's bio on Wikipedia to show to my Astronomy class, durng a lesson on bad science (and bad resources), and all 250 of us discovered at the same time that some editor with an astonishing sense of humor, not to mention irony, had changed "Sigmund" to "Poopie" and "Freud" to "Head."
For decades I've considered Jacques Ellul's "Propaganda" as the source on the necessity of propaganda with examples mainly from Communism. While clearly written, the translation uses the word "man" so much that it isn't readable by many today. Also, it states the rule, denied by all, but true: 'the more educated one is, the more manipulable by propaganda.' This may be an important difference from the 1934 book. BTW the examples in Ellul's book is stunning - a classic of the 1960s.
Vance Packard’s “The Hidden Persuaders” was an examination of the use of covert psychological techniques in advertising. But of course Packard was not advocating for them but trying to expose them.
I first learned of Bernays from Chomsky, who talks a lot about him in The Manufacture of Consent and elsewhere. Remarkably I never heard about Bernays when getting a PhD in communication in the late 1980s and early 90s.
Bernays is a major figure for sure, but psychoanalysis’s influence in creating the modern consumer economy has been more profound and subtle than his stunts, Ernest Dichter’s ‘Strategies of Desire’ of equal historical importance to ‘Propaganda’, then there’s the centrality of psychoanalytic thought to semiotics, especially Lacan, and the rise of commercial semiotics into mainstream brand marketing, there’s probably a case to be made that Bernay’s insights got blended into the contemporary behavioral data science nudge guys too.
The 2002 Adam Curtis documentary "The Century Of The Self" is a comprehensive deep dive into Bernays and his influence, for those who are interested in learning more.
The sad thing is these societies for rational research and argument, debate clubs, eventually morphed into terrible schools of sophistry and cynicism (Lifelong Liars Clubs) which give us some of our most toxic politicians: https://harpers.org/archive/2022/09/both-sides-now-domination-and-abuse-on-the-high-school-debate-circuit/
I'm surprised you didn't use the word "sophistry" even once in this article. You missed a good tie in with you're earlier post.
Great article Ted. You led me to read a bit about him and was not surprised that the Nazis stole a few things from his play book. Hitler and company knew the power of symbols and mass psychology. In turn you point out the relevant links to what is happening in the world today.
sounds like some agitprop brainwashing to me...(oops, ha!)
Most "art" today is agitprop. Universities are selling indoctrination. Politics is a zero-sum game; you lose, you die.
First of all, excellent article. I'm sharing it to my readers. Second, one of the greatest moments of my academic career occurred when I pulled up Sigmund Freud's bio on Wikipedia to show to my Astronomy class, durng a lesson on bad science (and bad resources), and all 250 of us discovered at the same time that some editor with an astonishing sense of humor, not to mention irony, had changed "Sigmund" to "Poopie" and "Freud" to "Head."
And his sauce isn't bad either.
For decades I've considered Jacques Ellul's "Propaganda" as the source on the necessity of propaganda with examples mainly from Communism. While clearly written, the translation uses the word "man" so much that it isn't readable by many today. Also, it states the rule, denied by all, but true: 'the more educated one is, the more manipulable by propaganda.' This may be an important difference from the 1934 book. BTW the examples in Ellul's book is stunning - a classic of the 1960s.
Wow fascinating! I knew nothing of this. Thanks for posting.
Vance Packard’s “The Hidden Persuaders” was an examination of the use of covert psychological techniques in advertising. But of course Packard was not advocating for them but trying to expose them.
I first learned of Bernays from Chomsky, who talks a lot about him in The Manufacture of Consent and elsewhere. Remarkably I never heard about Bernays when getting a PhD in communication in the late 1980s and early 90s.
I sort of 5% knew about this. Wow. This was amazing. You make a compelling argume....hey wait a minute that's probably the propaganda talking!
It's very rare and exhilarating to learn something you didn't know that is a new take on something you thought you knew AND significant.
Thanks!
Anthony Young
Santa Monica CA
Bernays is a major figure for sure, but psychoanalysis’s influence in creating the modern consumer economy has been more profound and subtle than his stunts, Ernest Dichter’s ‘Strategies of Desire’ of equal historical importance to ‘Propaganda’, then there’s the centrality of psychoanalytic thought to semiotics, especially Lacan, and the rise of commercial semiotics into mainstream brand marketing, there’s probably a case to be made that Bernay’s insights got blended into the contemporary behavioral data science nudge guys too.
MIT Press recently came out with a book on the topic. https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/masters-of-crowds-the-rise-of-mass-social-engineering/