A Stranger in Copper Creek Chapter 1: Crystal Clear As Barrett Hawke crossed the threshold into the dusty town, the scent of deception that clung to his soiled handkerchief mingled with the air of suspicion that hung heavy over the desolate streets. The windows of ramshackle buildings bore the gaze of a dozen hidden onlookers. Through the heart of this forsaken town flowed a narrow, serpentine rivulet, the unassuming “Copper’s Creek” that gave this place its moniker, a fact that drew a wry chuckle from Hawke. His boots splashed in the shallow water, scattering droplets onto the parched, sunbaked sand. His destination was the general store he had spied a few miles off, a simple establishment marked by a spigot standing sentry at its entrance, sporting a sign that declared, “5 cents a bucket”. From the dimness within the store emerged a rotund man, his jovial face belied by the town’s desolate atmosphere. “Good lord, son, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” he exclaimed.
War has endured as an intrinsic aspect of human civilization, tracing its roots back to and past prehistoric eras, and it can be argued that war is visible in the struggles of the natural world, such as the battles waged among ant species or lion prides. However, despite the longevity of war, propaganda is a somewhat new addition. Propaganda exists to sway public opinion on conflict or policies, either by showing the glory of one’s own morals, or the evils enabled by the enemy's. It is an artform that can be used or abused and has proved to be very powerful. If history is written by the victor, then propaganda is the prelude to that inevitability. That being said, Propaganda is not always effective and can be detrimental in more ways than one. So, let’s try and understand propaganda, it’s purpose, effective use, and especially it’s failures. In the ancient world, propaganda was less motivated by war and more created to lend credence to the reigning monarchs of the time.