WWI Poster Analysis

Madi Smith

2/29/16

USH 1 – WWI Poster Analysis

Group 7 – Forrest & Victoria

1) Propaganda was a form of advertising that would draw attention to it through pictures, bright coloring, and key phrasing.

2) Propaganda - ideas or statements that are often false or exaggerated and that are spread in order to help a cause, a political leader, a government, etc. (Merriam-Webster)

My focus is first drawn to the large, red letters "BOYS and GIRLS!" These posters appeal to a very specific crowd, the children. They highlight their focus with the red coloring of the letters and then their want is understated in a smaller black font underneath it. The centered picture interrupts the reading, to show the towering figure of Uncle Sam holding a little girl and a little boy is beside him looking on with an earnest gaze. This is meant to appeal to the masses because it depicts the children doing something for the better good, it appeals to the empathetic and philanthropic side of the readers. The red coloring of the letters stands out the most against the white background and it more appealing than the black lettering below it. 

The first thing my gaze is drawn to is the word "Food". It is the largest font on the poster and the coloring highlights and is similar to that of the men's skin. My eyes are drawn to the depiction of strong men laboring for food, with an outline of corn crops behind them. They appear to be a family and it is noted that everyone is keep their "home" gardens going. The artist is appealing to farms families and any family that might have someone in the service by showing them that they too can help by providing food for the soldiers. There is a sense of pride that is invoked by staring at this poster and the reader too could hold this feeling if they supported the war effort of supplied food. 

The is a pull between the words  "ENLIST NOW" and the depiction of a school girl pushing a plow. Her cheeks are highlighted red in her effort, but it brings forth the idea that women are a driving force (driving the plow) in the war effort. The poster appeals the adolescents, male or female. The ladies are driven to help by preparing food and sending it towards the war effort but men are drawn in by the large red lettering saying "ENLIST NOW". The color of the poster is very mute otherwise and is used to bring out the red letters and the young school girl who pushes the plow. 

I hold no qualms with the idea that propaganda is used to help enlist people in a common goal, but it would be more suspicious to me if it was used for their own personal gain. 

I think the production of Propaganda was used to unite the people of the United States in an effort to help bring the war to a quicker end.