I think propaganda can be defined as : An image or a slogan presented to the public by the government to promote a specific idea.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines propaganda as, "ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; also : a public action having such an effect"
Propaganda posters
The first poster shows a woman with a red cross hat and an arm reaching out holding a young girl, while a glowing red cross floats above a war scene. It say "Our Greatest Mother" and "Join!" in bold font. The glowing around the cross makes me believe this is a type of religious scene, and the message is that if you are a good christian woman and mother, you should join the red cross as a nurse.
The second poster shows a woman dressed in a nurses uniform with a diploma in her hand opening a door with the word "Opportunity" on it, and behind her, there are buildings on fire. The meaning of this is quite literal. The woman is opening the door and stepping into many opportunities and leaving her past behind. She is able to do this because she has a diploma and is a trained nurse, which was accomplished by doing what the text box on the bottom right corner of the poster says, which is enrolling in the advertised school.
The third poster shows a woman inside a station working a communications center in the middle of the war, and the background is filled with soldiers who are suited up. A YWCA flag is hung up above her work station, and the bottom of the poster has the words " Back our girls over there United Work War Campaign" in bold, and the YWCA logo is drawn again next to it. The YWCA is the Young Women's Christian Association which is the oldest international women's organization that works towards empowerment, leadership, and equal rights for women. The message this poster sends is that women can have a very important job in the center of the war just like the hundreds of male soldiers on the battle field surrounding her. It is an endorsement poster for the YWCA because it is saying that they are the reason she is able to take part in the war efforts.
Propaganda posters
The first poster shows a woman with a red cross hat and an arm reaching out holding a young girl, while a glowing red cross floats above a war scene. It say "Our Greatest Mother" and "Join!" in bold font. The glowing around the cross makes me believe this is a type of religious scene, and the message is that if you are a good christian woman and mother, you should join the red cross as a nurse.
The second poster shows a woman dressed in a nurses uniform with a diploma in her hand opening a door with the word "Opportunity" on it, and behind her, there are buildings on fire. The meaning of this is quite literal. The woman is opening the door and stepping into many opportunities and leaving her past behind. She is able to do this because she has a diploma and is a trained nurse, which was accomplished by doing what the text box on the bottom right corner of the poster says, which is enrolling in the advertised school.
The third poster shows a woman inside a station working a communications center in the middle of the war, and the background is filled with soldiers who are suited up. A YWCA flag is hung up above her work station, and the bottom of the poster has the words " Back our girls over there United Work War Campaign" in bold, and the YWCA logo is drawn again next to it. The YWCA is the Young Women's Christian Association which is the oldest international women's organization that works towards empowerment, leadership, and equal rights for women. The message this poster sends is that women can have a very important job in the center of the war just like the hundreds of male soldiers on the battle field surrounding her. It is an endorsement poster for the YWCA because it is saying that they are the reason she is able to take part in the war efforts.
I think that if the government chooses to use tax-dollars for something, that it should not be to convince us of something they believe in. It almost seems like an abuse of power to use other people's money to further your own agenda. The idea of the government using propaganda makes me uncomfortable, because it does not seem very constitutional or American that the people in power are trying to unify everyone's opinion, instead of letting people having their own.
However, I don't think that during WWI the government had the intent of being un-American, rather they felt it was necessary and used it was a weapon in the war.
No comments:
Post a Comment