“Again I want to emphasize that the study of propaganda must be conducted within the context of a technological society. Propaganda is called upon to solve problems created by technology, to play on maladjustments, and to integrate the individual into a technological world.”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis
In this quote, Jacques Ellul highlights the important relationship between propaganda and technology in society. He emphasizes that propaganda functions within a technological society to address the issues and challenges that arise from advancements in technology. Propaganda is seen as a tool to manipulate individuals by playing on their vulnerabilities and ultimately, to facilitate their integration into a world that is increasingly shaped by technology. Ellul's insightful analysis sheds light on the complex dynamics between technology, propaganda, and societal control.
Modern Relevance
In today's digital age, the concept of propaganda continues to play a significant role in shaping public opinion and influencing individuals within a technological society. With the proliferation of social media platforms and advanced communication technologies, propaganda has evolved to effectively address the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital landscape. The integration of individuals into a rapidly changing technological world remains a key aspect of propaganda, as it seeks to navigate the complexities of modern society and shape perceptions in an interconnected global environment.
Analysis of Propaganda in a Technological Society
"Again I want to emphasize that the study of propaganda must be conducted within the context of a technological society. Propaganda is called upon to solve problems created by technology, to play on maladjustments, and to integrate the individual into a technological world." - Jacques Ellul
This quote by Jacques Ellul highlights the crucial role of propaganda in shaping individuals' perceptions and behaviors in a technological society. Here are a few examples that illustrate how propaganda functions in such a context:
Social media platforms use targeted advertising to exploit individuals' online behaviors and preferences, manipulating their consumption habits and political beliefs.
Government campaigns promote technological advancements as necessary for progress, encouraging individuals to embrace new technologies without critically evaluating their potential impact.
Corporate marketing strategies leverage technology to create a sense of urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out) among consumers, driving them to make impulsive purchases.
Overall, propaganda in a technological society serves to not only influence individuals but also ensure their conformity and adaptation to an increasingly digital and interconnected world.
Reflection Questions:
Reflecting on Jacques Ellul's statement about propaganda in the context of a technological society, consider the following questions:
- How does technology influence the creation and dissemination of propaganda in today's society?
- In what ways does propaganda rely on exploiting technological advancements and societal maladjustments to achieve its goals?
- Can propaganda be used to both benefit and harm individuals in a technological world, and how can we distinguish between the two?
- How can individuals navigate the constant bombardment of propaganda in a technology-driven society to maintain independent thinking and critical analysis?
Similar quotes
“Propaganda begins when dialogue ends. (Quoted by Marshall McLuhan in McLuhan Hot & Cool)”
“If man--if each one of us--abdicates his responsibilities with regard to values; if each one of us limits himself to leading a trivial existence in a technological civilization, with greater adaptation and increasing success as his sole objectives; if we do not even consider the possibility of making a stand against these determinants, then everything will happen as I have described it, and the determinates will be transformed into inevitabilities.”
“Christians were never meant to be normal. We’ve always been holy troublemakers, we’ve always been creators of uncertainty, agents of dimension that’s incompatible with the status quo; we do not accept the world as it is, but we insist on the world becoming the way that God wants it to be. And the Kingdom of God is different from the patterns of this world.”
“We must be convinced that there are no such things as 'Christian principles.' There is the Person of Christ, who is the principle of everything. But if we wish to be faithful to Him, we cannot dream of reducing Christianity to it certain number of principles (though this is often done), the consequences of which can be logically deduced. This tendency to transform the work of the Living God into a philosophical doctrine is the constant temptation of theologians, and also of the faithful, and their greatest disloyalty when they transform the action of the Spirit which brings forth fruit in themselves into an ethic, a new law, into 'principles' which only have to be 'applied.”
“La libertad pertenece al orden de los relámpagos, no al de la luz eléctrica.”
“Technique has taken over the whole of civilization. Death, procreation, birth all submit to technical efficiency and systemization.”