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{{trope}}
[[File:
{{quote|''They have an engine called the press whereby the people are deceived.''|'''The Director''', '''''[[
▲{{quote|''They have an engine called the press whereby the people are deceived.''|'''The Director''', '''''[[CS Lewis (Creator)|That Hideous Strength]]'''''}}
At least, that's what they say. In fact, a
▲The [[Propaganda Machine]] a.k.a. [[The Ministry of Truth]] delivers the The Truth from [[The Government]] to the people. That's [[Truth and Lies|The Truth]].
▲At least, that's what they say. In fact, a [[Propaganda Machine]] is only employed by [[The Empire]] and used to [[Brainwashed|brainwash]] people into [[Gullible Lemmings]] who believe that everything is all right when in fact, it isn't, and that the very people who could help them are their enemies. Vigorously hated by [[La Résistance]] because it turns the very people they are trying to do good for against them.
A well-oiled propaganda machine is a frequent tool in establishing a [[Cult of Personality]].
▲Habitually indulges in [[Malicious Slander]], [[Astroturfing]] and [[Divide and Conquer]] toward its [[The Scapegoat|scapegoats]] and enemies. Opposed by the [[Voice of the Resistance]].
{{examples}}
== [[Comic Books]] ==
* The Voice of Fate from ''[[V for Vendetta]]''.
==
* Referred to as such in ''[[Mr. Smith Goes to Washington]]''.
* All the viral messages in ''[[Starship Troopers]]'' movies are a pastiche of propaganda recruitment tools.
* The Father's public adresses in ''[[Equilibrium]]'', although they also use Prozium to enforce obedience.
* [[The Empire]] from ''[[Star Wars]]'', unsurprisingly.
* The film of ''[[V for Vendetta]]''
* ''[[CSA: Confederate States of America]]'': The Family Values Program is a series of propaganda films to brainwash slaves, keep women submissive, and root out homosexuals. In the [[Alternate History|movie's reality]], American culture was pretty much nothing ''but'' propaganda.
==
* ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'': The Ministry of Truth, hereinafter known as just The Ministry. They edit all information - every song, story, news report, even ''porn'' - so that it completely fits the Party's definition of truth, and they don't care if [[Orwellian Editor|reality says otherwise.]] The protagonist, a Ministry employee whose job it is to edit this information, believes they are not clumsy, but they are quite blatant. At first, it looks like The Ministry must be laboring under the premise that, while their marks may be quite talented at checking public record for consistency, they all have amnesia. Before long, it becomes clear that people are just dishonest, pliable and prone to doublethink. The entire culture of 1984's version of Earth is portrayed as a polite fiction that's as unconvincing as possible, so as to test the pliability of the population.
* In the later ''[[Harry Potter]]'' books starting with ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (novel)|Order of the Phoenix]]'', ''The Daily Prophet'' effectively exists to maintain the Ministry line and discredit anyone who disagrees with it. The Ministry line varies ''wildly'' between the three books in question, but it's always at least somewhat misguided.▼
* ''[[Discworld
* ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'': Apparently, the government has enough control over the newspapers that many significant stories can only be reported as [[Suspiciously Specific Denial
* The Global Community-controlled media and press becomes this in the ''[[Left Behind]]'' series during the Tribulation, which causes Buck Williams to develop his [[Voice of the Resistance]] publication called ''The Truth'' to counter their news report spins with actual facts.▼
* ''[[Star Trek]]'': The [[The Empire|Romulans]] and ''especially'' [[Police State|Cardassians]].{{context}}▼
▲* In the later ''[[Harry Potter]]'' books, ''The Daily Prophet'' effectively exists to maintain the Ministry line and discredit anyone who disagrees with it. The Ministry line varies ''wildly'' between the three books in question, but it's always at least somewhat misguided.
* ''[[Babylon
▲* ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Monstrous Regiment|Monstrous Regiment]]'': This ''[[Discworld]]'' novel is set in the small and incredibly confrontational nation of Borogravia. Throughout the book ranking officers decry any doubts, negative thoughts, or unpleasant facts as Spreading Alarm And Despondency, a crime nearly on the level of treason, and families at home are routinely sent pamphlets and updates telling them how splendidly the war's going. Of course, Borogravia has been at war for so long, with so many different countries, that the only people who actually believe the propaganda are the people putting it out; everyone else has done the math, and noticed that they're running out of sons to send to the front lines (as the climax approaches, the characters are told that Borogravia is so badly outclassed that her opponents have actually managed to get ''bored'' of slaughtering them).
* ''[[Doctor Who]]'':
▲* ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'': Apparently, the government has enough control over the newspapers that many significant stories can only be reported as [[Suspiciously Specific Denial|Suspiciously Specific Denials]]. All radio stations are made to run frequent official broadcasts, but the much-promoted November 22 "report on the world crisis" is [[Do Not Adjust Your Set|pre-empted]] by [[Author Filibuster|John Galt's speech]].
** In
▲* The Global Community-controlled media and press becomes this in the [[Left Behind]] series during the Tribulation, which causes Buck Williams to develop his [[Voice of the Resistance]] publication called ''The Truth'' to counter their news report spins with actual facts.
** In ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/S14
* In the RPG ''[[Paranoia (game)|Paranoia]]'', Friend Computer constantly reminds every inhabitant of Alpha Complex that propaganda is unnecessary, because everything is ''perfect''.▼
▲== Live Action TV ==
▲* ''[[Star Trek]]'': The [[The Empire|Romulans]] and ''especially'' [[Police State|Cardassians]].
▲* ''[[Babylon Five]]''. Used to denigrate Sheridan and his alien allies during the reign of President Clark, so Susan Ivanova became the [[Voice of the Resistance]] to counter it.
▲* In ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/S18 E3 Full Circle|Full Circle]]'', a handful of youngsters live in the wilderness, convinced that Mistfall is a myth put out by the Deciders to control. Then Mistfall comes. {{spoiler|When they manage, through various ways, to get to safety, the Deciders solemnly consider their youth and their new knowledge and only put them to work.}}
▲** In ''[[Doctor Who/Recap/S14 E3 The Deadly Assassin|The Deadly Assassin]]'', we hear the plans -- twice -- for covering up what happened.
* ''[[Red vs. Blue]]''. Apparently Command convinces the Reds to fight the Blue based on the information that "the Blues suck."▼
▲== Tabletop Games ==
▲* In the RPG ''[[Paranoia]]'', Friend Computer constantly reminds every inhabitant of Alpha Complex that propaganda is unnecessary, because everything is ''perfect''.
* In ''[[Mutant Chronicles]]'' ,Bauhaus has its own [[The Ministry of Truth]] which tells people what they want them to hear.
==
* ''[[Beyond Good
▲* ''[[Beyond Good and Evil (Video Game)|Beyond Good and Evil]]'' is all about fighting a government propaganda machine.
▲* ''[[Command and Conquer]]''
** In the first ''Command and Conquer'', NOD has a determined go at collapsing GDI support via falsified news reports. Whiles't not precisely falling under this trope in most of the 'Western world' it is noted in the background that NOD effectively controls at least 2/3rds of the 3rd world nations of today.
** The Chinese in ''Command And Conquer: Generals'' can build Propaganda Centers and Speaker Towers to improve their troops' performance.
*** You can also build Propaganda Towers which heal soldiers. Somehow.
* ''[[Heavy Metal (
* ''Tropico'': This [[Real Time Strategy]] game has this trope ''implied'', especially in the third installment, as there are many news reels during gameplay, where the anchorman, ''Juanito'', actually tells the people (and of course the player) how the political stability, the finances, citizen life quality, and other important aspects of the game, currently are. Although he sometimes deliberately twists facts, he can be quite openly skeptic at times. El Presidente CAN have Juanito executed in the expansion, however he is then replaced by a snarky anti-governmental anchorwoman, who unfortunately can not be rid of.
* ''[[Red Faction|Red Faction: Guerilla]]'' has the Voice of Mars Broadcasting System [[Catch Phrase|brought to you by the EDF]]. You kill a ton of EDF troops assaulting civilians: "Today EDF forces found a group of insurgents near a civilian housing complex, three EDF troops and five insurgents were killed in the crossfire".
Line 68 ⟶ 55:
* ''[[Star Craft 2]]'': Mengsk's Dominion has one of these up and running, making [[The Hero|Raynor]] and his buddies out to be terrorists. {{spoiler|When Raynor & co. find damning evidence that confirms that Mengsk threw Tarsonis' population to the [[Horde of Alien Locusts|Zerg]], they hack in and broadcast it sector-wide. The media quickly turns against Mengsk.}}
* In ''[[Freelancer]]'', after Rhineland falls under control of the {{spoiler|Nomads}} and prepares for war with the other nations, their government gains a Ministry of Information. All the news items available in Rhineland during your brief visit there are so blatantly propaganda that it stretches [[Suspension of Disbelief]] as to how the people are going along with this - after all, the prewar Rhineland government was supposed to be democratic.
* ''[[Just Cause (
{{quote|
* The city of Ascalon in [[Guild Wars]] was a real propaganda machine, trying to paint their foes (who were [[Villains
* In ''7.62 High Calibre'', you can listen to two radio stations: the official military government news, and the pirate guerilla resistance news. Both will report on events that you are not directly involved in exactly the same (such as a noted celebrity visiting), but any events that further the plot are ''wildly'' misrepresented by both sides. If, for example, while working for the rebels, you happen to ambush a military convoy, killing all the soldiers and taking their weapons, the resistance will report that rebel fighters successfully took the convoy, killing many (which is truth but for the fact that you did most, if not all the work). The government, on the other hand, will report that the soldiers managed to drive off the attackers, successfully defending the convoy while crushing the rebel force.
* Worth mentioning is a hazard in ''[[
* ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]]'' features Arsenal Gear, a naval fortress designed to filter all information on the internet and remove anything that paints the USA in a negative light.
== Web Comics ==▼
* One edition of ''[[Concerned]]'' has a [[La Résistance|Rebel]] newspaper report on Freeman's rampage through Nova Prospect. The Combine response? EVERYTHING IS FINE!
==
* ''[[Doctor Steel]]'': Doctor Steel is a master of using propaganda and propagandic art to spread his Utopian Playland message, which his fans/followers (known as Toy Soldiers) happily disseminate. [[Doctor Steel]] is, in fact, the only mad dictator in the history of existence who can actually label his propaganda as "propaganda" and no one will care. Except perhaps [[The Spoony Experiment
▲* ''[[Doctor Steel]]'': Doctor Steel is a master of using propaganda and propagandic art to spread his Utopian Playland message, which his fans/followers (known as Toy Soldiers) happily disseminate. [[Doctor Steel]] is, in fact, the only mad dictator in the history of existence who can actually label his propaganda as "propaganda" and no one will care. Except perhaps [[The Spoony Experiment (Web Video)|Dr. Insano]].
▲* ''[[Homestar Runner (Web Animation)|Homestar Runner]]''
** First we have Marzipan's kindergarten, named L.ifeblossoms U.ndergoing R.e-education N.aturally. Her children (i.e. grown men Homsar, Homestar, and Strong Mad) are referred to as "lifeblossoms", and the point of the lessons is parodically hyper-vegan (one of her blackboards reads "soy is also murder," as she says, [[Orphaned Punchline|"and that way you always feel guilty"]]).
** In the short "Career Day" it's revealed Strong Bad treats his space program's promotional films as such - the vanity plate reads "SBASAF <s> propaganda indoctrination mind control</s> edumacational films presents".
===
▲* ''[[Red vs. Blue]]''
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* The entire episode "Mindset" of ''[[Exo Squad]]'' was dedicated to Neosapien propaganda and Terrans who collaborated with it.
* ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'': The Fire Nation. Their schools have effectively made their students blindly follow the Fire Nation and stamp out all individuality, like any good Evil Empire would. Subverted in the first season, though. Two Fire Nation guards are reading about how the avatar can supposedly "run faster than the wind" and one of them scoffs that its just Fire Nation propaganda. Guess who zooms past right at that moment?
** The Fire Nation has nothing on the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se, whose propaganda is so thorough that they've managed to convince a significant chunk of the population (including their own king) that there is no war. Of course, people know there's a war - they just ''also'' know [[Secret Police|what happens if you talk about it]].
==
* [[Nazi Germany]] and Joseph Goebbels in particular.
* American post-war propaganda and "mental hygiene films" were directly inspired by the Nazi use of cinema, a great volume of which was produced by the military.<ref>No exaggeration; This Troper's grandfather was a filmmaker for the US Marines, and subjected him to over eight hours of his work throughout the decades
* Stalin had Trotsky, Yezhov, and many, many others [[Unperson|edited out]] of pictures, for starters; later Soviet premiers shied away from being ''quite'' as blatant, though the propaganda machine remained in place. The untrustworthy nature of the news sources at the time sparked a joke in the USSR spoken amongst those not prone to reporting people to the Central Committee: There is no Pravda ("truth") in ''Izvestia'', and there is no Izvestia ("news") in ''Pravda'' (or some variation thereof; both papers are still around, by the way, although they have become two remarkable cases of [[In Name Only]]). Since people had to read between the lines to determine what actually happened, with
* There is a [[Russian Humour|
▲* There is a [[Russian Humour|russian joke]] made after [[Why We're Bummed Communism Fell|the disappointment of the 90s in Russia]]:
* For a somewhat more humorous version, Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf (Baghdad Bob/Comical Ali), the Information Minister under Saddam Hussein,
▲Everything we've been told about capitalism, turned out to be a truth. }}
▲* For a humorous version, Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf (Baghdad Bob/Comical Ali), the Information Minister under Saddam Hussein, who was to be found vigorously denying in a press conference that the American forces have captured Baghdad while the sounds of American tanks rolling towards the broadcast center can be heard in the background.
* If "demonization of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany before and during World War I" is something you find curious, [http://hnn.us/articles/1521.html here] is a good summary. Or perhaps if you are curious as to where Orwell found that idea of official image of the world being routinely subjected to U-turn revisions via Memory Hole:
▲* [[Wartime Cartoon|Wartime Cartoons]].
{{quote|Even worse was ''The Kaiser, The Beast of Berlin'', which opened on Broadway in the spring of 1918. The content more than justified the title. The man whom the ''New York Times'' had acclaimed as the Prince of Peace in 1913 was portrayed as gloating over slaughtered Belgian civilians and torpedoed ships. }}
* One
* By its widest definition, just about every political entity practices propaganda; namely, making themselves look as good as possible while either downplaying or downright denying any good qualities in their opponents. The negative aspects of this trope come in when this is the only form of news anyone has access to
* It could be said that the difference between propaganda and Public Relations is that the bad guys engage in Propaganda, while the good guys do Public Relations. Indeed, the [[Voice of the Resistance]] is likely considered propaganda by those who don't agree with them. How much of the content is truthful and how much isn't depends on who is producing it.
* Australian PR firm Crosby/Textor makes extensive use of [[Divide and Conquer|wedge politics]] on behalf of its mostly [[Strawman Political|neo-conservative]] clients.
* Almost any state media news organization in a dictatorship will get used in this way.
* If you believe Noam Chomsky, then ''all'' media is part of a propaganda machine. The argument goes that all media is profit
** Not a very competent propaganda machine, though. The occasional story on CBS ''[[60 Minutes]]'' about US-now-Turkish warplanes destroying entire Kurdish villages or on ''[[Fox News]]'' about New Orleans residents interned in the Astrodome and so forth gets through. It's pretty easy to avoid the propaganda, you just turn the TV and radio off and make sure when you find ads in something, if it's political, current events, historical, ethics, or religious, stop being exposed to it. Wikipedia often toes the party line, but if you study 20th century history, sociology, and political science, you can draw your own conclusions.
** This is not dissimilar to what happened to the Germans after [[World War I]], which in part set the stage for World War II. All the good news from the front lines had been let through by the censors, but the tales of defeat were not. Since the Germans leaders surrendered before the Allies actually invaded Germany itself, some people thought they'd been betrayed by their leaders while they were winning the war.
* "[http://www.unz.com/runz/our-american-pravda/ Our American Pravda]" article on ''The Unz Review'' describes peculiarities of the late American version (the historical roots are mostly covered by [[Mark Twain]]).
* In June 2018, Ralph Peters, a former military analyst for [[Fox News]], made headlines by [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/07/business/media/ralph-peters-fox-cnn.html declaring that the channel has become a "destructive propaganda machine"] doing a "great deal of damage" to the United States, and that it was "assaulting our constitutional order and the rule of law".
* Near the end of March 2021, Amazon [https://web.archive.org/web/20220711115608/https://twitter.com/BesDMarx/status/1376721256658071558 was caught out] running an [[astroturf]] campaign using [[Twitter]] [[Sock Puppet|bot accounts]] to try and derail the momentum of a growing employee unionization movement. While their role in recent anti-union efforts against their workers has become well-known by this point, this particular attempt was blatantly obvious, with the linked thread detailing numerous examples (such as one "user" taking their avatar from a quickly-Googled band promo). The attempt was [[Counterproductive Propaganda|so counter-productive]] that [[Streisand Effect|some users took to altering their display names and/or Twitter bios to look vaguely similar to the bots while calling Amazon out]].
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Organization Index]]
[[Category:Help Help This Index Is Being Repressed]]
[[Category:Fame and Reputation Tropes]]
[[Category:The Index Is Watching You]]
[[Category:Propaganda
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