Propaganda only works when the reader feels like you’ve been absolutely fair to other side
As a technique for making good stories, I think this is solid advice. As a technique for making effective propaganda, it’s blatantly false. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is one-sided. Birth of a Nation is one-sided. Brokeback Mountain is one-sided. MoR is one-sided; no one makes a compelling case against rationality.
This isn’t too surprising, considering the source. I’ve read some of Card’s propaganda novels. They’re good stories, but I wasn’t even a little compelled to become a Mormon.
As a technique for making good stories, I think this is solid advice. As a technique for making effective propaganda, it’s blatantly false. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is one-sided. Birth of a Nation is one-sided. Brokeback Mountain is one-sided. MoR is one-sided; no one makes a compelling case against rationality.
This isn’t too surprising, considering the source. I’ve read some of Card’s propaganda novels. They’re good stories, but I wasn’t even a little compelled to become a Mormon.