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Analyzing Propaganda

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Today we will learn about propaganda advertisements during the time the USS Intrepid served!

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Before we start, let’s reflect on these questions:

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  • What is propaganda?
  • What issues required the use of propaganda in World War II?
  • What were some actions the United States wanted its citizens to take during World War II?

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What is propaganda?

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Similar to an ad you would see on TV, propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position. These were often used as posters, like the one you see on the right.

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Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 2011.04

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What is propaganda?

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Propaganda can be visual and is often referred to as a negative form of advertisement because people would use media (print, tv, radio) to bias their listeners/readers. When analyzing propaganda, we want to consider:

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  • the creator’s tone, or attitude, toward the cause.
  • the mood, or feeling, you have when you see or hear the propaganda.
  • how propaganda is also used for positive persuasion.

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Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 2011.04

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What issues required the use of propaganda in World War II?

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  • Workers in factories
  • Changing gender roles
  • Support for service members fighting in the war

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Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 00.2010.072

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More than 13,000 men served in World War II

CREDIT: Naval History and Heritage Command

Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 2005.100.002.014

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What are some elements in a propaganda poster that make them effective?

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Propaganda is more than just words. Symbols such as flags, empty slogans, exaggerated images, generalities, currency, music, parades and other spectacles are used to elicit an emotional response by those seeking influence and power. Propaganda often uses carefully selected truths to persuade and manipulate.

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Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 2011.04

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What were some actions the United States wanted its citizens to take during World War II?

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Click here to see this document up close

  • What’s going on in this image?
  • What is the tone?
  • What other documents or historical evidence can you use to help you understand this event?
  • Who made it, and how effective is its persuasion?
  • What generalities, slogans, or symbols were used, and how did they make you feel?

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Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 00.2010.150

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What were some actions the United States wanted its citizens to take during World War II?

  • What’s going on in this image?
  • What is the tone?
  • What other documents or historical evidence can you use to help you understand this event?
  • Who made it, and how effective is its persuasion?
  • What generalities, slogans, or symbols were used, and how did they make you feel?

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Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 00.2010.151

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What were some actions the United States wanted its citizens to take during World War II?

  • What’s going on in this image?
  • What is the tone?
  • What other documents or historical evidence can you use to help you understand this event?
  • Who made it, and how effective is its persuasion?
  • What generalities, slogans, or symbols were used, and how did they make you feel?

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Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 00.2010.071

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What were some actions the United States wanted its citizens to take during World War II?

  • What’s going on in this image?
  • What is the tone?
  • What other documents or historical evidence can you use to help you understand this event?
  • Who made it, and how effective is its persuasion?
  • What generalities, slogans, or symbols were used, and how did they make you feel?

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Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 00.2010.096

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How do you think the creator of this poster wanted the audience to respond?

Think about the elements that make propaganda. You might also consider what you saw in the video.

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Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 00.2010.171

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How do you think the creator of this poster wanted the audience to respond?

Think about the elements that make propaganda. You might also consider what you saw in the video.

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Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. 00.2010.177

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Reflection

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  • How do you know if something is propaganda?
  • Does something have to be a lie to be propaganda?
  • Is propaganda different from education?
  • How de we all use spin in our lives to project images of ourselves to get what we want?

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For More Information

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https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers-of-persuasion

https://the-artifice.com/world-war-ii-weapon-propaganda-film/

www.loc.gov

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/lessons

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