WWI and Propaganda An Introduction Propaganda Formal Definitions

  • Slides: 15
Download presentation
WWI and Propaganda An Introduction

WWI and Propaganda An Introduction

Propaganda: Formal Definitions § Information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or

Propaganda: Formal Definitions § Information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. § Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda. Dictionary. com

Put Another Way… § A way of manipulating people using images and words to

Put Another Way… § A way of manipulating people using images and words to achieve a desired affect or outcome § Propaganda clouds reality and gets in the way of clear and honest thinking

Purpose of Wartime Propaganda § To recruit soldiers, either through a draft or voluntary

Purpose of Wartime Propaganda § To recruit soldiers, either through a draft or voluntary enlistment § To finance the war effort through sale of war bonds or new taxes § To eliminate dissent and unifying the country behind the war effort § To conserve resources- food, oil, steelnecessary to wage war § To increase participation in organizations to support the war.

Tools of Wartime Propaganda § § § § Demonization (aligns the enemy with evil)

Tools of Wartime Propaganda § § § § Demonization (aligns the enemy with evil) Emotional appeals Name-calling Patriotic appeals Half-truths and lies Catchy slogans Evocative visual symbols Humor or caricatures

WWI Examples § Each of the nations which participated in World War One from

WWI Examples § Each of the nations which participated in World War One from 1914 -18 used propaganda posters not only as a means of justifying involvement to their own populace, but also as a means of procuring men, money and resources to sustain the military campaign. (The following posters are from firstworldwar. com)

§ First, simply write what you see in your notes, then investigate how this

§ First, simply write what you see in your notes, then investigate how this is trying to “work” on its audience.

§ This poster appealed to immigrants who had come from Europe; it also encouraged

§ This poster appealed to immigrants who had come from Europe; it also encouraged everyone to “waste nothing” (so food could go toward the war effort).

§ Again, simply write down what you see, then try to investigate how this

§ Again, simply write down what you see, then try to investigate how this poster is making its appeal.

§ This poster shows someone who builds war materiel, one navy recruit, and one

§ This poster shows someone who builds war materiel, one navy recruit, and one army recruit; it proposes that you also should join in the effort, and the Allies can’t lose.

§ Same routine describe what you see, then try to identify how it aims

§ Same routine describe what you see, then try to identify how it aims to appeal to its audience.

§ Propaganda appeals on different levels. You don’t want to be seen as UNpatriotic,

§ Propaganda appeals on different levels. You don’t want to be seen as UNpatriotic, so you better sign that pledge!

Shocking? § This is from Germany during WWI. What is going on here?

Shocking? § This is from Germany during WWI. What is going on here?

Appeal to Religion § This poster, from Germany, shows an image of Jesus blessing

Appeal to Religion § This poster, from Germany, shows an image of Jesus blessing German soldiers as they go off to war. Who are the “bad guys? ”

Political Ideology § Russia’s Communist Revolution pitted the working class against the wealthy minority.

Political Ideology § Russia’s Communist Revolution pitted the working class against the wealthy minority. “Workers of the World, Unite!” encourages this poster. Read Marx if you are curious.