Glittering Generalities
Definition:
Glittering generalities is a form of propaganda where vague and often hollow words are used to describe a person, place, or object to evoke positive emotions, rather than provide specific information.
Glittering generalities is a form of propaganda where vague and often hollow words are used to describe a person, place, or object to evoke positive emotions, rather than provide specific information.
Analysis:
This propaganda is a clear depiction of glittering generalities as it aims to portray the British Navy as a positive entity to the British people in a vague manner. Using the phrase, “The British Navy guards the freedom of us all,” the propagandist vaguely describes the Navy’s fight for freedom but does not go into specifics in outlining what exactly the Navy is doing to guard this freedom. The propagandist fails to depict the multiple battles the British Navy had fought against the Nazi Navy nor the shelling of multiple key Nazi and instead simply states that the Navy is guarding freedom. However, the poster still evokes positive emotions of security even with its ambiguity. By illustrating the battleships as if it is looming in the distance, the propagandist attempts to portray the Navy as the majestic guards of Great Britain, giving a sense of security to the people. Along with the short but direct slogan, “The British Navy guards the freedom of us all,” the propagandist shows that the Navy is guarding Great Britain from the Nazi threat and that the people are safe.
This propaganda is a clear depiction of glittering generalities as it aims to portray the British Navy as a positive entity to the British people in a vague manner. Using the phrase, “The British Navy guards the freedom of us all,” the propagandist vaguely describes the Navy’s fight for freedom but does not go into specifics in outlining what exactly the Navy is doing to guard this freedom. The propagandist fails to depict the multiple battles the British Navy had fought against the Nazi Navy nor the shelling of multiple key Nazi and instead simply states that the Navy is guarding freedom. However, the poster still evokes positive emotions of security even with its ambiguity. By illustrating the battleships as if it is looming in the distance, the propagandist attempts to portray the Navy as the majestic guards of Great Britain, giving a sense of security to the people. Along with the short but direct slogan, “The British Navy guards the freedom of us all,” the propagandist shows that the Navy is guarding Great Britain from the Nazi threat and that the people are safe.