The Artist’s Guide to Manipulating the Public

“There’s an old saying in Tennessee — I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can’t get fooled again.” — George W. Bush. Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

OK, so it’s not just artists who can gain from knowing a little bit about how color psychology, hand gestures, body language, and specific word choices are used all the time by politicians, corporations, marketers, and the like to help steer members of an unsuspecting public towards thinking or feeling a certain way. The ultimate reason of course is to gain votes or support as well as to get people to spend their money.

Knowing a bit about the techniques they use can help you have more control over your own thoughts, opinions, and actions. It can also be tremendously useful for those of us who make art and design for a living so that our creative products pack a more emotional punch. It’s also great for those of us who teach or engage in public speaking on a regular basis to know about better ways of delivering our message whenever we get up in front of a room to speak as well. Heck, it’s even useful for Moms and Dads who want to cut down on tantrums from little ones. (Hint: Paint the nursery GREEN, not yellow.)

So without further ado, I would like to steer you towards several articles I have written for a wonderful blog and organization that promotes media literacy in New York City and beyond called the Lamp.

Manipulate the Public with Color and Clothing Choices:

When we see certain colors, they produce chemical reactions in our brains that can make us feel certain emotions. For example you are more likely to order more food in a restaurant that is decorated with a lot of red because that color makes us hungry. Sports teams often paint the opposing team’s locker room pink because that color makes people tired. Guests on late night TV hang out in the Green Room before coming on stage because that color is the most calming and relaxing. So what could certain candidates be trying to sell you via their color and clothing choices?
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Bonus Color Article: Ciao Bello! Real Boys Like Pink Too (On how a color now associated with girls used to be the go-to color for male babies in the early 20th century and its grand comeback in the world of men’s fashion.)

Manipulate the Public with Gestures and Body Language:

It is a fact that most politicians are advised by their handlers on how to hold or not hold their hands while speaking, to make sure to make direct eye contact with audience members, and never to point fingers or cross their arms. Here are a few things you can look out for the next time you see a candidate making a speech or are considering doing a little public speaking of your own.
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Manipulate the Public with Word Choices:

Have you ever heard the emotionally charged catch phrases, “Death Panels,” “Class Warfare,” and “Drill Baby Drill?”
These linguistic concoctions have been designed for one purpose only, which is to appeal to voters’ emotions and to get people to support or go against a particular issue or political ideology. Let’s take a look at how the word choices of politicians are carefully studied and tested to evoke intense emotional responses.
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That’s all for now folks. ( I have a class to teach in 7 minutes…) Knowledge is power.
Feel free to add to the above or ask me questions in the comments below.