"Race for the Prize" (1999) Flaming Lips

The theme of this song is that sometimes one is so determined to achieve something that one does extreaordinary things in order to achieve them. Although it may be hard at times, it's possible. This theme is supported throughout the song. Listening to it, the strong lead guitar gives me a sense of hope. There's a lot of different chords and sounds, which supports how hard it may be. However, it's not just the musical elements that build on this theme. Lyrical evidence throughout the song adds to it as well. "Theirs is to win, if it kills them. They're just humans."

Fallacies. Patrick Henry speech.

"Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?"
This is the argumentum ad baculum fallacy. I can tell this is so because it is an appeal to fear. Henry wants people to see that if that they don't fight now, then more critical and scary situations for the colonists might happen. He wants them to fear what they might be headed for. This is also closely linked to appeal to consequences. If they don't fight now, this will happen.

Duck and Cover (1951)

The overt message is that it is important to "duck and cover" when there is a flash or you hear the neighborhood siren. This is said repeatedly throughout the presentation.
The covert message is that the atomic bomb is coming and that is in inevitable so we must be ready when it does come. Also, children must always listen to adults because they know what's best.
This is mainly informational because it was made to teach kids what to do when the atomic bomb came. It presents different situations and what to do in each case.

Destination Earth

The overt message is that oil has made life for Americans easier beacuse not only is it a a great source of energy but it is also used in many different ways. Competition is what makes it work for everyone.
The covert message is along the lines that oil and competition are part of being American, it is patriotic, because it is what makes America work. Also, it refers to the fact that people aren't happy under communism because it doesn't allow for the same things the American system does.
A few techniques it used to exemplify this is that all the people on Mars were sad at the beginning, they weren't showing emotion, until the guy came back from America with these new ideas. Also America is generalized because they say that all Americans have cars and drive.

WWII 1941-1945

The overt message is that people should eat less bread.
The covert message is that we should sacrifice our luxuries to help the troops that are fighting for America.
The disparity between the two makes this propaganda because the covert message is what matters, what the ad is really trying to reinforce.

"Clampdown" by the Clash (1979)

- I think this song is about how people do crazy things when they are put under pressure and suddenly all these crazy things become a reality. I think that in saying "we will teach them our twisted speech" he means that that is what they will learn, that twisted speech will be their reality.
-The musical elements that add to my lyrical interpretation are mostly the drums that are heard throughout the song and get heavier towards the end of the song.
-This song relates to propaganda because there is a covert message about the Clampdown but you have to really stop and think what he really wants to say, more specifically, WHO/WHAT is the clampdown.

Quotations-Propaganda Assignment

658.

Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man

will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived… The masses are always impressed by the

superficial appearance of things… NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI (1469-1527), The Prince, 1513.

"Don't judge a book by its cover." "It's on the inside what counts." We are told these things even when we're young and growing up. But as much as we might hate to admit it, we live in a materalized world where most of what we know is based on appearances. The stars on TV commercials are always have the most "aesthetically" pleasing starring. Of course, it is made this way on purpose. This quote explains just that. "Men are so simple of mind, and so dominated by their immediate needs..." Well, yeah, we want food, water, shelter, to reproduce, and basically survive through whatever life throws at us, right? "... that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived." The deceitful man in this situation would be the media, and the mass population those ready to be deceived. Now comes the most important part, " The masses are always impressed by the superficial appearance of things." This is true for I would think mostly everyone. We like classifying things by how they appear. For example, when you're looking for colleges, a lot of people tend to look at campus appearance. When shopping, the prettier it is, the better. It's how we do a lot of things. So when we're sitting in front of the TV and this beautiful actresse comes onscreen and promotes Pantene shampoo, we like it and we want it. This happens more than we often want it to. A perfect example of it is the Nixon vs. Kennedy election that we discussed in class. Nixon knew the politics, had good arguments, and spoke well. Kennedy had script scribes, spoke well, didn't have many good plans for his presidency, but was good at promoting his ideas. To those listening on the radio, Nixon won the debate. To those watching TV, Kennedy won the debate. Why? It's easy to say that Kennedy is certainly better looking than Nixon. We are men of simple mind. We are easily impressed by the superficial appearance of things. This has been evident throughout our history and our lives many times.