Today in class we discussed about posters used as propaganda tools during World War One, also knows as the Great War. Posters had different purposes and were conceived to appeal to audience's specific values and emotions.
In the 'resources: the great war' column on the left you find two links to a couple of poster collections: one includes U.S. posters mainly, the other one is a collection of Italian posters and other propaganda material.
- Browse the two collections and select one poster on which you want to comment.
- Write down a comment (from 6 to 10 sentences max) and post it below.
- Put the the title of the poster your commentary is about as title (i.e. Americans all! : Victory Liberty Loan as title and then the comment of the poster in point)
- While writing the comment, keep focused on the values the poster rests on and on emotions it arouse.
- Remember to put your name in the comment, so that I can recognize you :-)
We will discuss your comments in class at the beginning of the next lesson.
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Americans All!: Victory Liberty Loan
ReplyDelete-Lindsay O'Brien
This poster depicts a woman extending her left arm out, holding a laurel wreath, and holding on to an American flag with her right hand. Under the laurel wreath is a poster that reads "Honor Roll" with a gold star and 14 names under it. The names are intentionally diverse- Irish, Greek, French, Polish, etc. to support the main point of the poster: no matter where you are originally from, you are an American, and therefore have a responsibility to the country. This poster evokes feelings of unity and patriotism and is aimed specifically towards those who are not originally from the United States.
Laurel wreaths traditionally signify victory, so the wreath in the poster could represent a hopeful, optimistic spirit, thanks to the names listed under it who are supporting the war effort.
Food Will Win The War
ReplyDelete-Elizabeth Sobka
The 1918 World War I poster created by artist Charles Edward Chambers is an example of the way immigrants were targeted in the mass propaganda campaign encouraging support in the war effort. This poster, containing a combination of visually stimulating illustration and bold typography, urges the practice of anti-wasteful food habits while the country remains involved in overseas conflict. In Chamber’s illustration, crowds of people (presumably immigrants) stand on the New York City shoreline, waving caps in the direction of the Statue of Liberty and a large ship, which could represent either incoming immigrants or American troops being deployed. In the foreground of the scene, a man pleads with a woman holding a basket of food. Across the cityscape is a rainbow – depicted in the colors of the Italian flag. This symbolic imagery combined with the not-so-subtle text below which reads: “You came here seeking Freedom You must now help to preserve it”, informs us of which audience the message is attacking. The general attitude towards European immigrants in the early 20th century was less than harmonious. Especially in a time of foreign unrest, outsiders often had a difficult time discovering their role in American society. Posters such as this one aimed to cultivate a sense of nationalism in those who sought validation as citizens in their new country.
Are you 100% American? Prove it! Buy U.S. government bonds : Third Liberty Loan.
ReplyDelete-Alex Friedman
This poster is designed to extract the patriotism out of American citizens. It attempts to single out each individual by including the word "you" written in large letters in the question. Also, the answer to the question, "Are you 100% American?" is invariably yes for those reading it. The question is the followed by, "Prove it! Buy U.S. Government Bonds." This tries to force citizens to truly feel there patriotism and make donations. It is calling citizens out on an individual basis. The poster also states on the bottom how the interest will be payed, which might aim to those who do not feel a connection with the patriotism, but who just want to make a profit off an investment. Stern's poster certainly lacks subtleness, but seemed to achieve his goals in selling U.S. bonds.
My daddy bought me a government bond of the Third Liberty Loan, did yours?
ReplyDelete-Patricia Lopez
The following poster uses the image a smiling young blonde girl in a white dress and red hair to appeal to the all the American “daddy”’s obligation to protect their children and family’s future in an emotional and not rational manner. By depicting the girl in such an innocent way- for example, dressing her in white and smiling-, it stirs the responsibility of all the men to safeguard the vulnerable, especially the young ones. It can also be seen that they are targeting men’s pride, so in the case that they don’t support the war effort, then they would look as coward men. Through these emotions, the Department of the Treasury of the United States is trying to persuade and urge them to buy liberty loans.
3e Emprunt de la Défense Nationale : souscrivez : pour la France qui combat! Pour celle qui chaque jour grandit poster
ReplyDelete-Victoria DeYoung
This following poster was really interesting when I first took a look at it. It brought up two different types of emotions for me. One was enjoyment and happiness for the father of his child to me home finally. The other was Sadness for the mother who spent all those years raising a child on her own. I wouldn't consider this a type of poster that would make those want to go into the army or anything. I would have to say that it's more or less a poster that would make those in the war realize what they are missing out on at home with their children and families. It's interesting to see that they did make the father and his son illustrated and fully colored but the mother breast-feeding a baby was only drawn in pencil. I find this interesting because it shows a type of view that I've been mentioning. A view that represents that the war hero has returned, but the background scenery, the things you don't witness first hand, is what that war hero had to give up to fight for his country.
Creator of Poster: Jules Marie Auguste (1917)
ReplyDeletePosted by: Matt Higgins
I picked the poster titled Pour la France qui Combat. The husband being in color I think can symbolize the person who provides American freedom. My eye goes directly to him because he is in color. The poster to me gives me the impression that veterans are men in society who should be admired. Looking at the poster I don't necessarily get the impression that women shouldn't be admired; but that they should stay in the traditional role as housewife. The poster says to me that men who go off to war will have a family to go home to.
I picked the poster "Are you 100% American? Prove it! Buy U.S. government bonds : Third Liberty Loan." The poster contains the text mentioned in the title as well as American Patriotic symbols such as an eagle and American flags. This poster struck me because it clearly uses the "us vs. them" type of rhetoric. It separates the people who buy liberty bonds from those who don't and labels them as American or not. It attempts to make those who have not bought bonds yet feel as if they are not true Americans and they are excluded from the group of real Americans. This poster was probably very effective since it appealed both to people's need to belong to a group and their guilt.
ReplyDeleteDefeat the Kaiser and his U-boats...Eat Less Wheat. (Steele)
ReplyDelete-Grace Swock
This poster uses dark colors, a sinking ship, and a frightening German Kaiser to instill fear into Americans. The line "Victory depends on which fails first, food or frightfulness. Eat less wheat," makes it sound as though the American people could lose the war for the Allies by not rationing their food. On the other hand, those patriotic citizens that are sacrificing some of their food for the war effort are helping defeat the evil Kaiser. This poster plays on both fear and patriotism, but I would say probably more fear.
Are you 100% American? Prove it! Buy U.S. government bonds
ReplyDeleteThis wartime poster evokes sentimental feelings from the American people, rallying the country and its' citizens together to unite. The phrase "Are you 100% American" relies on emotional appeals stating that either you buy the war bonds, and as such are patriotic or you don't and as such, are "anti-American". This guilt inspired the population and as such, this campaign was deemed a success. The phrase "100% American" is a loaded question, there was no neutral ground: either you bought the bonds or you did not. The poster relies on core American values such as loyality, patriotism and democracy and implies that if you do not buy the war bonds you are completely negating and destorying the fine attributes that America holds dear. The archetype images of the flag and the eagle contribute to the feelings of democracy. These images are also in bold bright colors such as red, against a cream border, so that they pop and resonate more with the viewer.
Jessica Ward
Are You 100% American? Prove it! Buy U.S. government bonds: Third Liberty Loan
ReplyDeleteThis poster is a very persuasive challenge for Americans to fund the war effort. The patriotic imagery of the bald eagle and the flowing American flags stands out at the top. Yet they are surrounded by what appears to be smoking guns, which shows that everything these symbols stand for, such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, is under attack. It challenges Americans to protect their freedoms by funding the war effort. If you consider yourself a true American, you will buy government bonds and if you do not buy them, you are not a true American. In buying U.S. Treasury bonds, one can prove their patriotism, help fund the war effort, and on a side note get a return on their investment every six months. So really why wouldn't you buy Treasury bonds?
"Halt the Hun! : Buy U.S. Government Bonds, Third Liberty Loan"
ReplyDeleteAs in a lot of propaganda, this poster relies on fear, patriotism, and duty to persuade people to buy government bonds. The poster shows a woman holding a small child in her lap, while one allied soldier appears to be preventing another "hun" soldier from harming her. The red flames at the bottom of the poster and frightened look on the girls face set a tone of fear in the poster. The allied soldier helping the girl, with such strength and honor instils a sense of patriotism in the americans viewing it. Who wouldn't want to help in any way they could, right? Finally, as we saw from another poster in class, after seeing the fear on the girls face, you get the sense that had the allied soldier not been there to save her, very bad consequences would have ensued. All of these emotions play towards the sense that we need to help in any way that we can.
- Chelsea Hoekstra
The poster that I chose was the: Eat more corn, oats and rye products-- ... : eat less wheat, meat, sugar and fats, to save for the Army and our allies, created by L.N Britton in 1917. At this point in the war the US needed money to buy guns and ammunition so this poster was created to try and get Americans to eat products that are cheap and easy to produce. Corn, oats, fruits, and vegetables can be created on the farm very easily and fish reproduce themselves. It costs money to raise cattle and make sugars. I think the government was trying to get across the message that you don’t need to spend money on these expensive foods because the military needs that money.
ReplyDeleteKasey O'Dea
ReplyDeleteI picked the poster titled "Il finanziamento della guerra: invito a sottoscrivere il prestito nazionale." This poster portrays a member of the army pointing towards the person viewing the poster. The picture is very detailed and you are able to see the stern look on his face. He seems extremely serious and tough. This poster is intimidating when you look at it. It would definitely frighten someone into joining the forces. I think it plays on the emotion of fear as a a means to encourage people to support the war.
Ricki Maybruch
ReplyDeleteI picked the poster entitled "Share in the victory : save for your country, save for yourself : buy war savings stamps." This poster stood out to me for a number of reasons: the female in the poster is portrayed as angelic and also similar to a Greek goddess. She holds a sword (signifying strength and/or power) in one hand, a palm branch (signifying victory over death/martyrdom of the soldiers) in the other and wears a laurel wreath (signifying victory) around her head. To me, she represents victory, peace and hope. Placing this heroic female figure next to a message that encourages Americans to buy war savings stamps, implies that buying stamps will result in a victorious war and ultimately peace. The poster's message is especially influential because it reaches out to each individual, stating that buying war stamps not only saves the country, but also saves oneself. It effectively calls upon citizens to complete their civic duties-act patriotic and buy war savings stamps to support the war.
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ReplyDeleteAre you 100% American? Prove it! Buy U.S. government bonds: Third Liberty Loan.
ReplyDeleteEdina Kadunic
I picked this poster because of its simplicity yet its sternness as well. The poster starts off asking you a question of if you are 100 percent American, and then goes on to challenge you by asking you to prove it. After that it gives you a demand on how you need to go about proving your patriotism and loyalty as an American. I do not like the poster because it evokes judgment and fear in a person. Basically the poster is saying that if you don’t buy a liberty bond can you really call yourself a loyal American citizen. It’s a narrow view of what an American looks like, and it is written to force someone to feel an obligation to buy a liberty bond to consider themselves patriotic and loyal. Even though I dislike the poster and its negativity I can understand how effective it could have been during that time.
Sammy Rojas
ReplyDeleteI picked the American poster titled "Americans all! : Victory Liberty Loan." As the description states, this particular poster depicts a woman in a yellow dress raising her left hand up into the air, laurel wreath in hand, while the other hand is clasping the American flag. This poster seems to illustrate one side of what chapter one described; utilizing and exploiting the advantages of the media to persuade the American public to buy liberty bonds and support the war. The way the flag is positioned behind the woman seems to indicate that she is using her physical body to support it. Moreover, her hand is clasped around the flag and she is holding it close to her body. This seems to send the message that the American public should feel responsible for providing a groundwork that represents American support. Furthermore, the way the flag is draped closer to the woman's lower back makes the blend and wrinkles in the red and white look like blood on clothing. As if Americans will be held responsible for the continuing bloodshed if bonds are not bought, so that the war can be won. Finally, the fact that a woman is illustrated and not a man seems to send a resonating message (considering that at this point in time women did not have equal rights to that of men in the public eye): that ALL Americans are responsible and should held accountable in supporting the war. That we could not persevere at this times without everybody’s help. This message does not use the fear factor described within the chapter but rather an optimist guilt trip that states as long as Americans step in fully ready to confront the enemy, we will win and the war will be over. Otherwise, everything will continue to collapse and tarnish.
Professor- I finally got the website to work today- I went to my internet provider and she fixed the problem!