SXSW 2025

This Is Propaganda

Description:

What do you picture when you hear the word “propaganda”? Nazis? North Korea? The CIA? Why not the Geico Gecko or Barbie movie?

In this talk, we challenge the marketing profession’s delusions about the origins, techniques and cultural impact of the work we do. We examine how 20th century wartime propaganda became the foundation of all consumer marketing and dissect how it evolved across generations of media, with consequences we are all facing today.

You’ll never think of propaganda – or marketing – the same way again. Based on the Webby award winning podcast This Is Propaganda.

Related Media

Vimeo Video

Other Resources / Information

https://thisispropaganda.show

Takeaways

  1. Critical examination of how consumer propaganda contributes to a decline of nuance and increase in polarization.
  2. Succinct overview of how consumer propaganda evolved over the past century.
  3. Tangible understanding of what makes propaganda effective in our current cultural environment.

Speakers

Organizer

Joshua Belhumeur, Co-Host, This Is Propaganda

Meta Information:

  • Event: SXSW
  • Format: Presentation
  • Track: Advertising & Brand Experience
  • Track 2
  • Level: Intermediate
Show me another idea

Add Comments

SXSW reserves the right to restrict access to or availability of comments related to PanelPicker proposals that it considers objectionable.