MANIPULATORS

MANIPULATORS

Source: Alexandra Filcakova, IntercultuReality: TOOLS, METHODS and TIPS for tolerance and media literacy

Time: 2-3h

Aim: -to introduce persuasive and manipulative techniques which are used in media

- increase media critical thinking and recognition of techniques

- improve competences in use of video and creating video spots

Material: video camera or mobile phone with video camera, paper, pencils, pens, colours, PC and projector

- selection of 15-20 printed techniques, shortly described (links on list of techniques are at the end of activity)

Instructions:

1. Introduce that the topic of this session will be manipulative and persuasive techniques. If necessary, clarify the terms. Ask participants which techniques they know, and give some examples.

2. Divide participants into small groups (5-6 participants per group). All the groups have the same task, to create a TV advertisement or a political campaign promoting a person, idea or product using as many manipulative techniques as possible. Everything is allowed, participants can use everything they know from TV. They can take it seriously but also with humor. The important is to convince other groups.

3. For making the video they can use mobile phones and to avoid editing they should make one-shot movie. The advertisement can also be short, encourage them to combine different techniques which they know from TV advertisements.

3. If the group is less experienced or there is not enough time, it’s possible to make a theatrical performance instead of doing a real video.

4. They have 45minutes to make videos.

Presentation of videos:

Before you start the presentation of the videos, present to the participants shortly the most usual persuasive and manipulative techniques (max 1520). During presentation give concrete examples of use of techniques (from publicity, politic campaigns) and encourage participants to tell their examples.

Participants will present their TV spots. Every video is followed by a small discussion facilitated by trainer/facilitator.

Which techniques did you recognize? Did you recognize other techniques we didn’t mention?

Debriefing:

Have you seen these techniques being used in media? In which media products?

Do you think that these techniques have influence over audience? Do they have influence on you?

Do you know other techniques which haven’t been mentioned? How can we protect ourselves from these techniques?

Session is closed with a presentation on very frequent manipulative techniques which were not used in videos and participants are asked to give some concrete examples.

Discussion is supported by example of videos and pictures from famous movies, advertisement, etc from the web selected by the trainer.

TIPS for facilitators:

This activity can have many variations. If there is more time, it’s possible to divide the activity in two parts: during the first part (one day) ask participants to create an advertisement using persuasive techniques. During the second part (other day) create political/ideological speech or campaign using manipulative techniques. In this way participants can go deeper in the topic. You can invite participants to make advertisement and political campaign on not-serious topics: for example advertisement for the best toilet paper or political campaign that all pens have to be blue.

The number of persuasive and manipulative techniques is really high and therefore it is important to select the ones which are the most important for the aim of your activity, or which are more actual.

Recommended links:

http://www.newsu.org/courses/understanding-media-process-andprinciples/analyze/how-media-persuade-viewers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_techniques “MEDIA MANIPULATION is a series of related techniques in which partisans create an image or argument that favours their particular interests. Such tactics may include the use of logical fallacies, psychological manipulations, outright deception, rhetorical and propaganda techniques, and often involve the suppression of information or points of view by crowding them out, by inducing other people or groups of people to stop listening to certain arguments, or by simply diverting attention elsewhere.” Source: wikipedia.org

SELECTED TECHNIQUES:

A FALSE DILEMMA

A false dilemma or black or white fallacy is a type of informal fallacy in which something is falsely claimed to be an "either/or" situation, when in fact there is at least one additional option.

AD HOMINEM

Manipulative technique is in which an argument is rebutted by attacking the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument, or persons associated with the argument, rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself

DEMONIZING THE ENEMY

Making individuals from the opposing nation, from a different ethnic group, or those who support the opposing viewpoint appear to be subhuman, worthless, or immoral, through suggestion or false accusations. Dehumanizing is also a term used synonymously with demonizing, the latter usually serves as an aspect of the former. Source: wikiledia.org