Vintage War Propaganda Posters — Are We Repeating History?
World Wars I and II left us with not only a global landscape changed forever politically and historically, but two of the biggest events in the 20th century left us with a wealth of propaganda artifacts that almost tell the story better than any history book. Some of the themes championed in these beautifully designed posters of
food conservation,
using resources carefully, sticking
with the service no matter what, and
encouraging women to do their part sound like wildly familiar themes today. I mean, carpooling! As applicable as some of the sentiments may be, of course the rampant use of racist images to dehumanize the enemy renders some of the images shocking to a modern eye. Though decidedly different than the wars that left us these posters, we are still in wartime. We might not see propaganda campaigns like these posters, but you might not have
to look too hard to see the same kinds of appeals to fear, appeals to prejudice, and bandwagon methods of getting the word out today. Take a look at propaganda gone by and see what looks familiar.
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Cool slideshow!
1Yea I agree good job citizen!
though i don't know if i would classify some of those posters (like the keeping your mouth shut ones) as propaganda, but its really interesting to see that stuff!
i love vintage posters and adverts, probably part of the reason why I love Mad Men!!
2my granny had a WOW pin. I didn't know what it meant though. I can't wait to fish around for it when i get home! now I know what it means.
yeah, keeping your mouth shut is a good idea in war. especially if you're taking your chances with ladies who "look" clean but aren't. and they might be a lure!
3Can you imagine asking someone to keep their mouth shut nowadays? You'd have a 1st amendment lawsuit on your hands quicker than anything...
4I asked my grandpa about those "loose women" posters directed at soldiers — he laughed and said he remembered them, and that some of "those boys serving had just come off the farm!" Pretty priceless. I'm glad you all liked seeing them!
5"keeping your mouth shut is a good idea in war. especially if you're taking your chances with ladies who "look" clean but aren't. and they might be a lure!"
Considering the examples of racist posters, I'm surprised there's not one in there warning about the specific dangers of the "Oriental woman," too.
6When my dad was in the Navy, before his first overseas leave, he and several guys got "the talk", where they end with the statement "Is 15 seconds of pleasure worth a lifetime of trouble?" From the back of the room someone raised their hand and asked: "How do you make it last 15 seconds?"
7I have used these posters in my classroom for the last 2 years. My kids were shocked, but loved it. It really hit home for them that the war was not just affecting those on the front line. I'll try to see if I can find the European ones, they are great too.
8great story from your gramps citizen!
9my mom joked one time about how many half-siblings I might have running around Vietnam. I was so shocked! she never mentioned it again.
10my dad always joked with me when i was bad that he was going to "send me to live with his other Mama-san and my half siblings in nam" if i didnt behave....now i dont know if he was joking or not.
I have pictures of him, with many women, in thailand on leave and in vietnam.
11Here is one of the German ones: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/posters/ewige.jpg
Here is a good American one: http://www.diggerhistory.info/images/posters2/usa07.jpg
This one by the British was one of my male students' favorites: http://www.diggerhistory.info/images/posters2/uk03.jpg
These ones are great. These are ones the Japanese used in Australia: http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-posters/jap.htm
12oooh good links hunter! thanks!
13Thanks Ca
. Isn't the Australia one the best?
14Makes me feel young when I recognize a parody orre-do of one of these before the original.
15I love Mad Men too, Cabaker! I just started trying to get through them on demand before the new season starts, but I don't think I will finish them in time.
16Oh wow, some of these are priceless! The Hitler one's are the best. But there are some great points brought up. Especially when it comes down to pooling money (for national resources) and car pooling.
And its a known fact (well, idea) that we repeat history. Propaganda is no exception- only the method of its display is.
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