The object of education is to prepare the young to education themselves throughout their lives. ~ Robert M. Hutchins
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Week 2, Activity 2
Politic campaigns use a variety of tactics to create negative ads. Smear tactics date back centuries and can be seen in American politics as far back as Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson's campaign. However, the theme of such attacks has remained the same over the ages. As Mr. Kubey states in th video, "it's easy to scare people about the here and now." In Lincoln's time, racism was displayed as he was compared to a monkey. Jefferson' wife was called a whore. Today, people spread fear about terrorism and financial insecurity. Fear, racism and greed are often themes used to smear candidates during political campaigns.
Part Two: The Romney ads use the tactics of fear and greed to promote racism. The ad shows a elderly white male and tells him how his Medicare money is going to fund a new government program. The ad alludes to the government taking the hard earned money of elderly white citizens and funneling it into a program for the underinsured. The group of underinsured is more than halfway compromised of blacks, Hispanics, and Asian-Americans.
While watching political ads from the Obama campaign, this particular ad caught my attention. What I noticed most was that it seems to show all races and creeds.
This is a great example of how political ads can also be positive! However they are also purposefully constructed...not a bad thing. I wish more ads focused on the positive rather than negative. Unfortunately research shows negative ads work. If not to change the minds of voters but to disengage voters from the voting processing. This undermines democracy. Good example of how the Obama campaign also uses the tactics of fear and greed. One of my interests in promoting media literacy in schools is to create a citizenship that demands more from politicians. We need politicians who seek to educate the public on the issues and who can explain solutions to growing world problems!
This is a great example of how political ads can also be positive! However they are also purposefully constructed...not a bad thing. I wish more ads focused on the positive rather than negative. Unfortunately research shows negative ads work. If not to change the minds of voters but to disengage voters from the voting processing. This undermines democracy. Good example of how the Obama campaign also uses the tactics of fear and greed. One of my interests in promoting media literacy in schools is to create a citizenship that demands more from politicians. We need politicians who seek to educate the public on the issues and who can explain solutions to growing world problems!
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