This week we learned about public manipulation or as I consider it the effects of propaganda. The video showed how in the late 1950's there was a stigma against women smoking. The nation felt that smoking was a mans 'thing' and it showed that he had power. Well tobacco companies began to make print ads and commercials with women smoking, the video even showed a clip from I Love Lucy of Lucy smoking. Back then it was a sign of power for women as well. Towards the end of the video we saw how even public relations affected president Eisenhower's decision to consider Guatemala a threat to America. Even though this was a very small country with limited resources, through public manipulation the President came under pressure from the American people to handle the Guatemala situation.
The power of manipulation is still used today, although I think our mind sets as Americans have changed to not follow a crowd,but to be independent thinkers. We are still manipulated through print ads, main stream media, and radio broadcast.
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