Researcher(s)
- Summer Nies, Art, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- William Starkey, Art, University of Delaware
Abstract
This research project examines how public opinion can be influenced through the interaction of psychology, media systems, and institutional power. Rather than viewing propaganda as a straightforward means of manipulation, this project uncovers the hidden deceptions in modern America today, precisely the ones that hold us back from obtaining a true democracy.
This project is divided into three common themes: manufactured consent, manufactured enemy, and manufactured power. The first explores how fear, identity, and social division can be cultivated through psychological mechanisms such as moral panic, herd behavior, and engineered contexts that encourage citizens to view one another as adversaries. The second examines how media, advertising, algorithms, and public relations influence the formation of beliefs by directing attention, framing issues, and reinforcing narratives through repetition and emotional engagement. The third investigates the institutions and incentive structures that shape information systems, including media ownership, corporate influence, political power, and the economic forces that determine which stories are amplified or marginalized.
Propaganda is deeply embedded in American society today, intertwining the masses into a web of deceit and lies, primarily through the media. Social media, especially, has exacerbated the division in our country, ensuring that we do not see our neighbors as human beings, but as enemies. The structure of modern American society prevents the working class from possessing the desire to protest for their basic rights, while enabling elites to maintain power. Ultimately, the project asks not only how opinions are formed, but also who benefits from particular narratives, how systems of influence evolve, and what role informed citizens can play in preserving independent thought in an increasingly mediated society.