Introduction
Congratulations on your job offer and welcome to Mustapha Mond's Department of Propaganda! As a new employee, it is imperative that you understand clearly and completely your role in our brave new world of stability, harmony, and never-surpassed human happiness. Please read the following closely.
The Department of Propaganda plays a key role in maintaining the paradise we have constructed. This world of ours did not come about by accident - in fact, mankind almost destroyed itself first, and only the prospect of imminent extinction through instability and war brought about the necessary changes leading to a better tomorrow. We have less freedom now than in previous societies, but we are happier and more stable for it; in fact, we have discovered that stability is more important than freedom. Our way of life is controlled and planned down to the smallest details, and endless attention and care is required if society is to maintain its steady progress towards an ever improving quality of life. Hence your job in the Department of Propaganda. You play a vital role in the health of our state. In attending to the organization and rationale of our society, we can never rest in our efforts to ensure stability through social engineering and advanced science.
Task
You will be assigned to one of four Department of Propaganda subdepartments responsible for reinforcing correct thought and correspondingly correct behavior:
Shop 'til You Drop Subdepartment:
You are responsible for promoting the idea that an increase in production and consumption lead to happiness and virtue. Newer is better! More is best! Old is horrid!
Everyone belongs to everyone else! And all have a role and a function in society. Everyone has to do their part! To understand and act on this is to be happy and to live healthily. One cannot be reminded of this long enough - or forget the ugliness, squalor, and irrationality of the old family-model based on [sic] "parents"!
Whether it be the Obstacle Golf, Orgy Porgy, or the Feelies, a normal person just wants to have non-stop 24-7 fun! Sensory stimulation is the highest pursuit of the best form of happiness. Don't be the last to indulge in the latest greatest amusement! And let's all do it TOGETHER!
Feeling a bit under the weather? Gloomy thoughts clouding your day? Take a Soma vacation! Pop a pill(s) and kiss those rain clouds good-bye. Relief is just a dose away! What are you waiting for? TAKE IT NOW!
Process
Get into groups of 3-4
Have one group member come and pick a number
The number is the department you work for
Look at the teachers page for some examples.
Create a propagandistic poster that might be seen in public places in the Brave New World. These posters should demonstrate the values that the government wants the people to adopt.
Extra Credit : Then create three other posters that might be seen in our own presidential campaign. What do the candidates want us to believe about our country and ourselves? Feel free to use fallacious reasoning in creating these posters. Be prepared to explain the images and words you create.
You can use google ppt or forms to make your viusal. E-mail/Share to me.
Evaluation
- Does the poster effectively communicate the message of your subdepartment?
- Does it immediately grab viewer attention?
- Is message easy to understand?
- Is poster creative and powerful?
- Does it use catchy, easy to remember slogans and/or jingles?
- Could you see this poster actually being advertised in the World State?
- Could you see it in the plot of Huxley's book?
- Have all members of subdepartment played a role in creation and production of the poster?
Teacher Page
