Difference Between Advertisement and Propaganda

                                          

   Although both may have similar ways of being implanted and used, advertisement and propaganda are different, especially on what they intend to persuade or convince. First of all, propaganda is the use of messages, which are usually false, twisted, exaggerated or modified, in order to receive support and persuade people to believe in a specific ideal or purpose (which are usually political or religious-based). On the other hand, advertisement focuses more on business, trying to make people buy and/or consume a specific product by using true (well, mostly) statements and facts. Propaganda is more of  persuasive technique in communication, whereas advertisement is more used for commercial and sell-product reasons. The transmitting of a persuasive message in order to make someone interested in a specific product or brand and gradually buying it is found in advertising. Their base purpose in not entirely related to political or cultural points of view. They might use those ideals to make people purchase their merchandise, yet the true reason for it is to sell the most they can only. In contrast, propaganda is a type of communication that uses misleading statements and messages to make people believe and support a specific point of view, idea, culture or belief. It basically promotes the civilians to "buy" and "consume" the messenger's  philosophy and way of thinking and seeing things. Advertisement makes the consumer believe that the buying of the company's product will make his/her life better and easier, even if it means exaggerating sometimes. Propaganda may use the same mass media techniques and ways of promoting but is is used to create or change society's opinion and attitude towards a specific topic, person, place, etc. Also, while advertising is used by companies and businesses, propaganda is implanted by political, cultural and ethnic groups and organizations. 

   They might differ in their kinds of purposes, but there is a delicate and thin division between them. Even though most businesses use advertising by utilizing certain images, some also use beliefs and public opinion to promote the purchasing of their product and vice versa (with propaganda). This is were the line between propaganda and advertising starts to become thinner. Companies use a specific ideology and point of view to create a reason, motivation or need in the consumers to buy their merchandise, while propaganda promotes people to implant and and apply an idea or philosophy through ways completely connected to advertising. In other words, businesses use the fact that people want to better their lives, become successful or just follow a specific social culture to make people continue to purchase their brands. Likewise, propaganda is combined with advertisement-based messages and techniques in order to be more successful of implanting their specific purpose. Both are different, yet they intertwine and join together on occasions, breaking the barrier between them. Both also reach out to the audience's emotions, beliefs, desires and needs in order to achieve their intention and purpose.

Good night and have a great Thanksgiving!

Have fun! 

Sincerely,

Michelle