WORLD WAR II PROPAGANDAWORLD WAR II PROPAGANDA

OBJECTIVES:OBJECTIVES:

1. You will analyze and describe 1. You will analyze and describe propaganda posters from World War propaganda posters from World War II.II.

2. You will utilize your knowledge of 2. You will utilize your knowledge of propaganda techniques/tools and propaganda techniques/tools and objectives in creating your own World objectives in creating your own World War II propaganda posters.War II propaganda posters.

WHAT IS PROPAGANDA?WHAT IS PROPAGANDA?

According to Merriam-According to Merriam-Webster it is, “Ideas, facts, Webster it is, “Ideas, facts,

or allegations spread or allegations spread deliberately to further deliberately to further

one's cause or to damage one's cause or to damage an opposing cause.” an opposing cause.”

THEMES OF WARTIME THEMES OF WARTIME PROPAGANDAPROPAGANDA

1. Recruitment of soldiers or other wartime personnel, either through a draft or voluntary enlistment

2. Financing the war effort through the sale of war bonds—loans from citizens to the government—or new taxes

3. Eliminating dissent and unifying the country behind the war effort

4. Conservation of resources—such as food, oil, and steel—necessary to wage war

5. Increase factory production of war materials

COMMON TOOLS USED IN COMMON TOOLS USED IN WARTIME PROPAGANDAWARTIME PROPAGANDA

Demonization Emotional Appeals

Name CallingPatriotic Appeals

Half-Truths or Lies Catchy Slogans

Evocative Visual Symbols Humor or Caricatures

Demonization

This tool involves portraying the enemy as purely evil, menacing, murderous, and aggressive.

Emotional Appeals

This tool involves playing on people’s emotions to promote the war effort.

Name Calling

This tool involves using loaded labels to encourage hatred of the enemy.

Patriotic Appeals

This tool involves using patriotic language or symbols to appeal to people’s national pride.

Half-Truths or Lies

This tool involves deception or twisting the truth in an attempt to make an argument more persuasive.

Catchy Slogans

This tool involves using memorable phrases to foster support for the war effort.

Evocative Visual Symbols

This tool involves using symbols that appeal to people’s emotions—

like flags, crosses, statues, mothers and children, and uniforms—to promote the war effort.

Humor or Caricatures

This tool involves capturing the viewer’s attention through the use of humor to promote the war effort.

PROPAGNDA POSTER #1PROPAGNDA POSTER #1

What do you see What do you see here?here?

What is happening What is happening in the poster?in the poster?

What objective is What objective is the poster the poster designed to designed to achieve?achieve?

What propaganda What propaganda techniques (tools) techniques (tools) are used in this are used in this poster?poster?

POSTER #1 EXPLAINEDPOSTER #1 EXPLAINEDThis poster depicts two children wearing gas This poster depicts two children wearing gas

masks on their way to school with the masks on their way to school with the inscription, “Dear God, keep them safe!”inscription, “Dear God, keep them safe!”

Objectives:Objectives: Financing the Financing the

war effort war effort through the sale through the sale

of war bondsof war bonds

Techniques/Techniques/ Tools:Tools:

Emotional AppealsEmotional Appeals Evocative Visual Evocative Visual

SymbolsSymbols Catchy SloganCatchy Slogan

IT’S NOW YOUR TURN…IT’S NOW YOUR TURN…

As a group, you will carefully As a group, you will carefully examine WWII propaganda examine WWII propaganda posters, determine the objective posters, determine the objective that you think the posters are that you think the posters are trying to achieve and what trying to achieve and what propaganda techniques/tools are propaganda techniques/tools are being used. Record your being used. Record your findings on handout #2. findings on handout #2.