Propaganda Posters During World War One

World War One was full of propaganda. There were posters for any war-related cause known to man at the time. Propaganda posters drove people to support the war, whether it was from their homes or from the front lines. People were motivated by propaganda. Propaganda used different styles of persuasion in order to promote different causes. Some propaganda threatened with pictures of the enemy, others encouraged victory gardens with bright pictures of home gardens. The makers of propaganda posters knew who to target, what context their poster should placed in, and what content the poster needed to have in order to make an impact on its audience. One poster I found particularly interesting is one focused toward fathers and their reputations. This

The poster depicts a middle-aged British man who has two children, lives in a comfortable home, and most likely leads a quiet, comfortable life. This man has most likely not seen much commotion, or crime in his life. All he knows is his daily routine. The primary audience is very appropriate because the main character depicted in the poster is a British father who has made the passive decision to stay home. This poster speaks directly to the kind of men that mirror this man’s lifestyle. It is a call to arms directed at ordinary men who spend all morning drinking tea and eating crumpets. It offers an opportunity for them to prove their courage and bravery to the world. It is a direct warning to avoid the situation that father on the poster has found himself in. I believe that this poster is very effective in its plea to take up arms. It speaks to the somewhat selfish, and prideful nature of men. It challenges their future reputation, what they will be remembered for, and how they will set the example. These can all be enough to drive a man to serve his country. However, the poster speaks directly to the most convicting manly characteristic: