Death & Destruction

The feared threat in this broad category includes any physical harm or loss to the person or possessions.

Commonly, people fear the violence of war or terrorism (bombing, shooting); most of our attack imagery relates to such active aggression. But lethal dangers also present in famine, starvation, plague, epidemic, radiation.

War propaganda is most intense, but the "death and destruction" theme also appears in domestic politics: "crime in the streets" imagery, or any fears of attacks against persons (assault, robbery, rape), animals (cruelty, killing), or property (theft, looting, arson, vandalism, neglect).

Real dangers exist: John Tierney (New York Times, Jan 30, 2007) wrote: "In his 2003 book, Our Final Hour British astronomer Martin Rees gives civilization no more than a 50 percent chance of surviving until 2100 .... he expects great advances as researchers around the world link their knowledge — but he fears that progress will be undone by what he calls the new global village idiots.... Five years ago, Dr. Rees posted this prediction: “By 2020, bioterror or bioerror will lead to one million casualties in a single event.” He reasoned that “by 2020 there will be thousands — even millions — of people with the capability to cause a catastrophic biological disaster. My concern is not only organized terrorist groups, but individual weirdos with the mindset of the people who now design computer viruses.” Yet, Tierney counters that real optimism can also exist: TierneyLab

Progressive rhetoric of those who HAVE-NOT certain benefits (life,*property) stresses acquisition (get the "good") and relief (change, get rid of the "bad"). HAVE-NOTS fear continued deprivation (death,*suffering, pain, poverty). (*Dead people obviously do not use these techniques; but by "extending the self," many living persuaders say they speak on behalf of the dead. Common themes are revenge for past deaths, or prevention of future deaths.)

Dead bodies (children, babies, civilians,bystanders, animals)

Blood bloodstained relics of victims

Fire, smoke, burning houses and cities

Explosions, fireballs, bombings

Desolation, wasteland scenes, battlegrounds, ruins; air pollution, chemical spills

Sounds (cries, screams, moans, shrieks, sobs, gunfire)




Persuaders' graphic use of film footage of real attacks (Pearl Harbor, WTC 9/11); massacres (Dachau, My Lai, Sabra); tortures (Abu Ghraib), lynchings, gang fights, police brutality, etc.

{left} Gaza City (2003) graffiti: bloody words -- "the Martyred Ones"
{right} Uncle Sam, with bloody knife and dead child
(from: Adam Parfrey, Extreme Islam: Anti-American Propaganda of Muslim Fundamentalism (2001)

World War II propaganda posters
"This is the Enemy" series. From Sam Keen, Faces of the Enemy (1986)

For more images (5,000+) , use www.google.com -- "Image" Search -- using key terms: propaganda posters