The Role of Public Relations and Media in Shaping Public Perception of Prohibition
Mentor/s
Professor McLaughlin- Professor for Senior Capstone Class
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
This essay examines how the 1920s' emergence of consumer culture and the influence of advertising shaped the cultural myths of the time by influencing both the support for and opposition to Prohibition. Through this essay I explored the significant influence that propaganda had in shaping public opinion about Prohibition and how that opinion still shapes how we view the "Roaring Twenties." I wanted to focus on a topic that combined both of my majors - History and Strategic Communications, PR, and Advertising - together into one over archiving narrative. This paper aims to expose the intricacies of Prohibition, which were frequently simplified in popular depictions, by examining the relationship between government propaganda, consumer culture, and media representations. This essay explores how myths about Prohibition, such as speakeasies and flappers, were influenced by advertising and how this affected public opinion and opposition to the law.
I discovered that advertisements and media representations actively shaped the narratives surrounding Prohibition rather than just reflecting the social environment. A complex environment that both supported and opposed the law was produced by the entertainment industry's glamorization of illegal drinking and the temperance movement's use of propaganda. This research made me aware of how profoundly the media's portrayal of the 1920s has influenced historical memory, creating a romanticized image of the time period that frequently obscures the difficulties in implementing Prohibition. This paper includes a better understanding of how myths are created and how they influence public policy discussions by examining these historical and cultural changes.
College and Major available
Digital Communication BA, History
Academic Level
Undergraduate student, Graduate student
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Start Day/Time
4-25-2025 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-25-2025 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Prize Categories
Most Scholarly Impact or Potential, Best Visuals, Most Creative, Best Writing
The Role of Public Relations and Media in Shaping Public Perception of Prohibition
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
This essay examines how the 1920s' emergence of consumer culture and the influence of advertising shaped the cultural myths of the time by influencing both the support for and opposition to Prohibition. Through this essay I explored the significant influence that propaganda had in shaping public opinion about Prohibition and how that opinion still shapes how we view the "Roaring Twenties." I wanted to focus on a topic that combined both of my majors - History and Strategic Communications, PR, and Advertising - together into one over archiving narrative. This paper aims to expose the intricacies of Prohibition, which were frequently simplified in popular depictions, by examining the relationship between government propaganda, consumer culture, and media representations. This essay explores how myths about Prohibition, such as speakeasies and flappers, were influenced by advertising and how this affected public opinion and opposition to the law.
I discovered that advertisements and media representations actively shaped the narratives surrounding Prohibition rather than just reflecting the social environment. A complex environment that both supported and opposed the law was produced by the entertainment industry's glamorization of illegal drinking and the temperance movement's use of propaganda. This research made me aware of how profoundly the media's portrayal of the 1920s has influenced historical memory, creating a romanticized image of the time period that frequently obscures the difficulties in implementing Prohibition. This paper includes a better understanding of how myths are created and how they influence public policy discussions by examining these historical and cultural changes.
Students' Information
Brianna Salegna
Double Major: Strategic Communications, PR, and Advertising as well as History
Minor: Honors
Graduation: May 2025
Extra Curricular: Kappa Delta Sorority and D1 Dance Team