WWI Poster Response

Images: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-7jsJa5YaWremFlUFk1OVpDWUU/view

1. I believe that propaganda is an advertisement that promotes a certain idea or object.

2. Propaganda- the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person. (www.webster.com/dictionary/propaganda)

a. This poster displays a woman wrapped up in patriotic clothing asleep in a chair, while the words "WAKE UP, AMERICA!" are displayed at the top of the poster. This poster was intended to make Americans realize that they are asleep to what s going on in WWI and that they need to wake up and start helping their country. This poster calls every man, woman, and child to arms to try and help their home land. My eye is first drawn to the patriotic clothing that the woman is wearing, which helps for the viewer to realize that they wouldn't be anything without the country that clothes them and gives them a save place to live. This poster attempts to make the viewer feel a sense of guilt that they aren't doing their part in helping the country that has given them so much. 

     b. This poster displays a gorilla wearing a German soldiers helmet, a Pickelhaube, while carrying a bat in one hand that represents culture, and an America woman in the other. This depiction of the German soldier shows that Americans view them as animals that will take their women and beat them down with their culture. This idea is taken from the idea of Godzilla and how it terrorized all that saw him and they must fight back in order to survive. This inspires Americans to join the fight to save their country and not let German culture beat them down. This poster first draw my eye to the German hat that the Gorilla is wearing and the savage fact that the gorilla is making. This poster shows that if Americans do not enlist in the army then America and its allies will be stepped on and beaten down.

     c. This poster displays a German soldier with hands and sword covered in blood. This poster urges Americans to buy Liberty Bonds in order to fund the military for supplies. Without a source of funding, the Army will not have a greater chance to succeed. This poster puts a fear of death into the hearts of Americans who don't join the war, but want to contribute something to help. It makes the viewer feel a need to contribute in a way other than fighting. The artist of this poster created this with the idea of forcing the fear of death of others into the hearts of the viewer in order for them to contribute to the fight by purchasing Liberty Bonds.

7. I am comfortable with the idea of the federal government creating propaganda to attempt to convince the public. Without these posters, some people may not contribute or even think about the ideas. With these posters, many people will contribute much more than they ever thought they might, due to the feeling and inspiration that this propaganda gives them.

8. The government felt the need for propaganda during WWI, because they knew that some people would not join the fight if they weren't convinced and some would not contribute at all. These posters urged people to contribute something whether it be bonds or their lives in the war. These posters were also a way for the government to reach the public without them feeling attacked or forced.