A pamphlet can be a brochure, a catalog or a brochure.
Pamphlets are short publications that are intended to denigrate, defame, condemn or attack someone . Its most common use is in the field of politics .
For example: “In yesterday's march, the protesters distributed a pamphlet against the mayor for the cuts he announced,” “I am not going to analyze that pamphlet as if it were an essay: it has no substance or richness on a literary level,” “The “The pamphlet claimed that the deputy voted against the law after receiving a million-dollar bribe.”
Purpose of a pamphlet
The main purpose of a pamphlet is dissemination . Therefore, they are usually written with direct language , so that the reader assimilates the message immediately. On the other hand, since its intention is to reach as many people as possible, it is usually printed with low quality to make it cheaper.
The pamphlet can be used for violent purposes, as happened in Colombia in early 2015 , when 38 journalists, government officials and human rights activists received death threats. The authors of said pamphlet, which was also addressed to various non-governmental organizations, secretaries of governorates and members of the Patriotic Union , were paramilitary groups.
In this case, the definition of a pamphlet is distorted, since it is used for illegal and reprehensible purposes. Denouncing the actions of a politician is a right of all citizens, regardless of the way in which they take advantage of it; but death threats are never justifiable under the law. The pamphlet, in any case, is not conceived with an objective of this type, but rather seeks to warn the population of a negative and unfair fact that a small group of people try to hide to defend their own interests.
When a text resembles a pamphlet in its style, it is usually described as “pamphletary” . It should be noted that this idea is associated with something negative , which is why it is a derogatory qualification: “He is not a sociologist respected by the academic community: his publications are pamphleteering,” “We do not need another pamphleteer professor at this university.”
The idea of a pamphlet can refer to different types of short publications.
A catalog or brochure
Sometimes, the notion of pamphlet is used as a synonym for brochure , flyer or catalogue . Pamphlets, in this case, allow you to advertise a company or product : “A while ago I received a pamphlet from the new fast food establishment that was installed on the other block,” “The boss informed me that the company will invest five thousand dollars in pamphlets.” to distribute on public roads.”
The difference that in everyday speech is usually given to the advertising pamphlet with respect to the flyer is its length. In this sense, the term pamphlet is associated with the idea of a triptych , a publication with three sheets that can be folded so that it is necessary to open it when reading it.
Etymology of the term pamphlet
It is interesting to carry out a study of the etymology of the term since it reveals a series of data as interesting as its supposed relationship with the elegiac comedy called "Pamphilus seu de Amore" , from the comic genre of the 12th century , which was written in Latin verses. This play was very successful during the Middle Ages and people used to refer to it using the word pamphlet , which continued to be used to refer to any work of a satirical nature, a main feature of Pamphilus .
Towards the end of the 17th century , the word pamphlet was used as a synonym for epigram (short poem of satirical or festive tone, which expresses a single main thought with acuity and precision), philippic (harsh censure, alluding to the speeches of Demosthenes against Philip II , former king of Macedonia ), disgrace (an insulting word, insult or dishonor) and libel (a short book, or written of a defamatory or degrading nature against someone or something), among others.