Maine shooting vs. Israel War

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Maine Shooting meme 2023

Background Information
This is a meme created by a meme creator who goes by Retro-Satana from the Memedroid app, which describes itself as "the best place to see, rate and share funny memes, pics and videos".
Technique Used
Activate Emotion
This is propaganda because
It looks like it's meant to elicit either outrage or laughter by implying that "Nobody" cares about the Israel-Hamas conflict, but they only care about the local terrorism story, especially when the gunman has not been apprehended. Hard to say whether beneficial or harmful. Certainly would be offensive to some, but also raises the question about relevance when it comes to terrorist attacks. The closer to home, the more intense the reaction.
Source
Memedroid

Comments

  1. user-avatar
    Shelley' Wolfe
    Sat, 11/04/2023 - 19:49
    Shelley' Wolfe
    This meme portrays a subtle form of propaganda. Using emotional manipulation: The text employs emotionally charged language and phrases, such as "nobody cares about war or mass shooters" and "desensitized to what is some people's everyday life of war." By evoking strong emotions, it tries to influence the reader's perception of the subject matter. It uses generalizations and stereotypes, or what one may call fearmongering: "Bring on the white mass shooter," which stokes fear and paranoia. I would also say it provides an oversimplification through imagery and language. It reduces complex issues like war, mass shootings, and societal desensitization into binary concepts where people either care profoundly or not at all, failing to address the nuances of public opinion and activism. Also, the image appeals to emotion over reason, whereas the text appeals primarily to emotions rather than presenting a balanced and reasoned argument. Propaganda often relies on this technique to cloud rational judgment.

    From a critical thinking perspective, the passage creates an "us versus them" mentality by dividing people into groups like those who care and those who don't, and an ongoing sense of desensitization. Such black-and-white thinking can be a hallmark of propaganda.

    The meme subtly employs propaganda techniques to manipulate the reader's emotions and opinions regarding war, mass shootings, and societal attitudes. It simplifies complex issues, uses emotionally charged language, and makes broad generalizations, all of which are common elements of propaganda.
    Heartbreaking....
  1. user-avatar
    Martha Kuhlman
    Tue, 11/07/2023 - 12:47
    Martha Kuhlman

    I understand and even agree with the criticism--Americans do react more to events unfolding in the USA. But the public also responds to international conflict. It's just that the American here is represented as an "over the top" woman with her mouth screaming.

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