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CS 509 120 Kluver, Randy Contributions of Jacques Ellul's "Propaganda" to Teaching and Research in Rhetorical Theory. 18 Nov 95 31p.; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Speech Communication Association (81st, San Antonio, TX, November 16-21, 1995). Viewpoints (Opinion/Position Papers, Essays, etc.) (120) Speeches/Conference Papers (150) MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. *Critical Thinking; Cultural Context; Higher Education; *Mass Media Effects; Mass Media Role; *Persuasive Discourse; *Propaganda; Public Opinion; *Rhetorical Theory; *Technology *Ellul (Jacques); Technological Demands
ABSTRACT
Jacques Ellul is widely known among sociologists and philosophers in the West for his analyses of the impact technology has on human society and humans themselves. Less well known is Ellul's deep interest in human life. Ellul's interest in these areas is evident in "Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes" (1965) and "The Humiliation of the Word" (1985). Of interest to students of rhetorical criticism, Ellul does divide propaganda into political and sociological types. Ellul is known for his searing attack on the technological mindset, "la technique," which he argues is a self-directing and self-augmenting entity. It is the technological mindset, he argues, that disrupts human reflectivity and the quality of human life. For Ellul, technology itself is merely an example of the problem rather than the problem itself. According to this theory, "Ja technique" has invaded the realm of politics and persuasion. Those responsible for public discussion of issues, such as the media systems and the government, now use the techniques of propaganda to override rational discourse and critical thinking. Ellul's contribution to rhetorical theory lies in his understanding that persuasion does not occur in a single isolated instance but in a whole social, cultural, and technological framework of society. Second, Ellul points out that persuasion is based on emotion and irrationality. In a society dominated by propaganda, rationality disappears. (Includes 46 notes.) (TB)
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