Apocalypse as Political Propaganda

Apocalypse as Political Propaganda

Posted by jkata on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 03:04 in

In chapter three of the history of the end book it touches on how revelation can almost be seen as propaganda and that "modern scholars agree that Revelation and the whole apocalyptic tradition are best understood as a way of coping with oppression and persecution by imagining a better world to come." (87) Then the book later goes on to say that John was a "astute propagandist who expertly strokes the hopes and terrors of his readers and hearers." (99)

This same kind of propaganda is still in use today especially in political ads, sometimes it is only subtle (usually because they are the official campaign ads) and other times not, like in this one:

www.youtube.com/watch

Clearly this type of propaganda is playing to the fears that some people may have these days, which are that they are being persecuted for their freedom and that choosing the right leader will deliver them from evil. Oddly enough I'm sure that the "evil" people who are causing this fear also consider themsleves to be persecuted and oppressed because of their beliefs, and that they are only trying to fight what they see as evil as well.

I think that might be a

I think that might be a parody, especially with the screaming green man at the end. Nonetheless, it's nearly indistinguishable from real political ads, and that in itself should tell you something.

Posted by jdrouin on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 02:45