Reconstructing Reality: Propaganda Art
Transcending the borders of history and time, propaganda art has been a capable and compelling tool to unite people to support a cause. It has been utilized specifically in political movements, and its influence is ubiquitous on a global scale.
Although the use of propaganda art can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks in their idolized depiction of Alexander the Great, it mainly started to be produced on a large scale in World War I. When Congress declared war on Germany in 1917, men were needed at once to join the fight. Shortly after, the U.S. government’s public information committee created the Division of Pictorial Publicity, which set out to illustrate posters to promote participation for the war effort and raise national morale. Thus the famous Uncle Sam poster was born. Other posters involved the personalization of America as Lady Liberty and unforgettable imagery of people rallying in a group effort.
When the world went to war once again in WWII, propaganda posters were used to achieve a similar effect. They portrayed a heavily dramatized depiction of the war, with the country’s flag swaying in the wind as the triumphant soldiers look to the horizons with triumphant smiles. Romanticized illustrations included the bravery and flair of soldiers — and nurses who played crucial roles. This wasn’t just spread in the United States; propaganda crosses beyond a country’s borders. Germany was another main power that took advantage of this visual tactic. The Nazi Germany flag and the swastika appeared everywhere in the posters, paired along with the same patriotic and nationalistic images.
In the 20th century, communism took over the world by storm as escalated tensions resulted in the Cold War. Patriotic images of Stalin and other leaders were spread thoroughly. Key elements that repeated include the glorification of political leaders, simple yet attention-grabbing composition, and short slogans.
China’s cultural revolution in the latter part of the 20th century saw posters like this, where themes of unity and greatness were explored. Mao Zedong’s ideals and his Little Red Book were prominent aspects of the Chinese’s everyday life.
Why were these propaganda posters so effective to the masses? First, they satisfied the “pathos” aspect of our psychology. It evoked a sense of emotion, whether it would be positive or negative. Some of the posters inspired people to take part in the collective effort, while others instilled a great terror of something people never feared before. Second, they were selective in their message. This means greatly distorting the factual information by either magnifying or eliminating details, bending the truth. Third, propaganda posters were visually appealing artwork that was remarkably easy to reproduce. Thousands of copies can be printed quickly and conveniently, then pasted all over in the public eye on buildings and lampposts. The composition was simple yet effective, making the image indelible to most people as many of the designs became iconic and well-known over time.
This leads to the artistic aspect of these posters; are they artwork or simply an advertising tactic with not-so-ulterior motives? While many of these posters were created by successful illustrators at the time, there isn’t a definite answer. However, what is certain is that the remaining posters are exhibited and celebrated in museums as integral parts of the world’s history.
Disseminating misinformation, the false sense of education created by propaganda posters was a cloak that concealed the governments’ intent. Its effects were beyond significant; the sentiment of a whole nation was swayed, whether it was to increase participation in the war or to spread political ideas. These warped depictions bend the truth so much that it completely reconstructs reality itself.
