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12 September 2024

The Continuation of Music as a Propaganda Tool After the Nazis

Yingting Qin1*
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1 University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas 64110, United States
© 2024 by the Author(s). Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

This paper examines how music can be utilized as a propaganda tool, tracing its history and contemporary applications. Propaganda is defined as the manipulation of public opinion by governments or individuals, and the use of music to evoke emotion and unite the masses has a long history. This study examines the Nazis’ music policy, organizations such as the RKK and the RMEO played a key role in controlling music distribution and propagating Nazi ideology. Contemporary music parallels this, illustrating how music continues to influence public opinion. The analysis emphasizes music’s dual role as an art form and propaganda tool that can influence social norms and reinforce dominant ideologies. The study calls for a critical approach to the music consumed, emphasizing the need to recognize the potential value of music.

Keywords
Music as propaganda
Nazis
Ideology
Control
Contemporary influence
References

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Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflict of interest.
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