Propaganda

Edward Bernays is the father of the public relations industry.

His uncle was Siegmund Freud. He used to have long discussions with him and transferred his psychological theories and practices into the mass market and the public relations industry. He:

* Expanded cigarette sales by persuading fashion models and film stars to smoke, so it became fashionable.

* Created bacon and eggs as the perfect way to start breakfast. It was all about increasing sales of the less desirable cuts of meat.

* Knew that people followed the herd and high-ranking individuals. The more something is repeated, the more our subconscious wants to do it because safety is with the herd.

In Propaganda (published in 1928) Edward Bernays openly boasts how he can influence people without them knowing about it. He used these techniques to change US public opinion about involvement in World War I from against to active engagement.

These techniques are not new, and have been used for hundreds if not thousands of years. ‘Media’ was a country that became part of north-eastern Iran in 550 BC. The ruler used sophisticated methods to keep the population in order and other rulers have copied them ever since.

A quote from Bernays’ book:

‘The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in a democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. ...We are governed, our minds are moulded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of…’

References

Media	Author/Director	Title
Book	Edward Bernays	Propaganda