thoughts on Bernays & Lippmann

There are many approaches towards manipulating a society’s attitude in favor of any given agenda. According to Bernays “It is one of the manifestations of democracy that anyone may try to convince others and to assume leadership on behalf of his own thesis.” So whether you’re trying to gain American support for a velvet hat popular in France, or taking on the Jim Crow laws down south, Bernays believes that we are all entitled to persuade public consensus how we see fit. The author of the first article believes propaganda as a “necessary intervention in the communicative chaos of modern life, a service to the public that helps them interpret and act in a confusing world.” Whereas the author of the second article Lippmann, sees this same propaganda as a regressive service to society. He agrees with Bernays that this “public opinion” is vital towards the advancement of any society, but unlike his counterpart views this type of media as unrealistic. Lippmann sees this type of propaganda as a means of disconnecting society’s bystander citizens from important issues, placing emphasis off of the majority and onto the “experts and decision makers.”

Both authors write in the same persuasive language, but do so using different methods. Bernays confident tone of speech is very noticeable throughout his work, personally making it more easily to reject as a reader. Lippmann’s opposing argument is intended to relate with his audience’s pre existing biases against coercion. By telling his story of the “disenchanted man” he tries to relate to his audience on a more personal level, reflecting readers past experiences of media bombardment, and strengthening these already existing biases through creating the general analogy of an average citizen. Lippmann and Bernays may both hold extremely different views towards propaganda’s influence on public opinion, but both share many common traits of rhetoric throughout their writings. Audience persuasion clearly the most obvious goal within both authors work makes me surer of rhetoric’s involvement within our daily lives, and persuasion that surrounds us everywhere.