Download Propaganda WWI What is propaganda?

Definition:
The spreading of information aimed at influencing the opinions
or behaviours of large numbers of people
The world “propaganda” comes from “propagate,” which means
to cause to grow or spread.
Similar Modern Example:
-Military Recruiting Posters
-Television Commercials
-Magazine Ads
Propaganda involves
•Spreading carefully selected information, rumours
and ideas
•Providing information that is often biased or distorted
•Persuading people to support a goal
When examining primary sources such as posters that were
created as propaganda, remember the following equation.
It will help you read and interpret propaganda posters, as
well as other primary source documents.
During wartime, countries used propaganda for a number of
reasons
1) To increase military recruiting
2) To encourage food rationing at home
3) To encourage the purchase of War Bonds
4)To increase support for the war
•Television had not yet been invented
•Not everyone owned or had access to a radio
•Posters were the most effective means of getting a message
across
Propaganda posters are designed to deliver a specific message to a
specific audience. Some techniques used to create propaganda posters
include
•Colour and symbols (e.g., red might symbolize blood)
•Appeal to emotions (e.g., fear, sense of adventure, sense of duty)
•Images that are important to an audience (e.g., commitment to family,
church, or country)
•Bold slogans
As a result, you may see some of the following ideas and images in
World War I propaganda posters:
Emotional images
Threats to family, church, or country
The Union Jack (Britain’s flag)
Symbols of France, such as a soldier in French uniform
Purpose: To encourage men to
join the army
Target Audience: Frenchspeaking Canadian men
Techniques Used: Slogans that
appeal to emotions (“Will we
stand by while things that are
precious to us burn?”), image of
a burning cathedral (designed to
appeal to the emotions of
French-speaking Canadians,
many of whom were Catholics)
A number of techniques were used to get the message across:
-Guilt
-Patriotism
-Demonizing the enemy
-Pro-Country/Cause
-Revenge
-Strong images/symbols
-Emotional hooks – phrases/descriptions
Propaganda is designed to invoke strong personal feelings
Purpose: To encourage people to join the military
Technique: Guilt – he’s done his part, he’s singling you out to do YOUR part!
Target Audience: Males – old enough to join the forces
Purpose?
Technique?
Target Audience?
Purpose?
Technique?
Target Audience?
In partners or small groups analyze a WWI propaganda poster.
Answer the following questions:
1) What is the purpose of the poster?
2) What technique is used?
3) Who is the target audience?
4) What imagery/symbols does it use?
5) Is it effective? Why or why not?
It’s Raining Propaganda!
German flyer dropped over
the front lines in 1918.