Summary Analysis
In World War One, propaganda was used to maintain control over public opinion. Without it, the constant news of death and economic strain would cause mass public hysteria. So propaganda became a defense mechanism. They often provide a call to action. These could include enlisting in the army, working at a factory, on a farm, or even buying war bonds. They could also be words of encouragement, promising swift victory and a good future. However, just saying something won’t make everything better, so through inspirational imagery and rhetoric language, the posters would convince the audience that there was merit in it’s message. A method of making posters resonate well with the audience that was very commonly used during the First World War was an appeal to their sense of nationalism. Through flags, colors, animals, and other national symbols that the people recognize created a strong sense of us versus them, and they want to help “us” win. Nationalism was so important that opposing nations would even attack eachothers symbols to raise morale, because it was as aggressive as an attack against the enemy. Through inspiration, a government could maintain control of a nation’s happiness and through calls to action, they could acquire the resources needed to create the stability necessary to wage a war.