Propaganda Posters

-INTRODUCTION-

The idea of Propaganda has been used long since before the Russian Revolution. As far back as reliable evidence existed, an early example of propaganda is the Behistun Inscription in 515 BC. As you may know, the idea of Propaganda is often used to influence beliefs in religions, especially during the split between the Catholic Church and Protestants. Throughout the history till nowadays, fragments of the world used the idea of Propaganda with similar purposes, to make people believe in order to encourage and convince them. In other words, Propaganda is the spreading of information or messages among groups of people aimed to influence them. However, Propaganda can also be biased and contains untruths. In addition, the information spread can advance or damage a cause. In Russia, Joseph Stalin used Propaganda to gain power and support from the people. In other words, he forced the way people think, and most importantly, limited the freedom of speech. In this blog, the posters provided below are specifically about Russia and Propaganda during 1917-1953, in which tells you the message and detailed analysis of how it affects what the people think and believe about Communism. By studying propaganda posters in the history, you will be able to identify truths and untruths, and understand different points of views of one particular thing that affects Russia, the world, and who we are today.



Poster 1

“Lenin. October. Power to soviets. Peace to the nations. Land to peasants. Factories to workers.”
http://posters.nce.buttobi.net/

The massage of this poster is Communism will solve all problems the people have and all will finally have peace. Through the Communist revolution, there would be no more wars among the nations and the land would be distributed equally among the peasants. By looking at the picture of Lenin pointing his fingers, it shows that the soviets have the power to tell the people what to do. On the other hand, it also shows that Lenin is doing his job and care about the people, not like the Tsar. The poster is trying to get the people to think that through Communism, the soviets must have absolute power in order to improve the lives of the people, and support the government. Although the people want a change for a better life, there isn’t much freedom among the people left. However, in order to get what they want, the people have to do what they were told to do and support the government. It was the best way for everyone. This poster is effective and easily identified. First of all, the color of the poster is red, which is the color of Communism. Moreover, the soviet symbol around the picture of Lenin also shows that the poster is talking about Communism. Lastly, the huge words written on the poster show the message of the poster effectively.



Poster 2

“The plans of [Communist] party are my plans as well.”
http://posters.nce.buttobi.net/

This plain picture represents propaganda well, in which the man, probably a worker, in the picture was influenced and convinced to believe and was willing to do what he was told to do. The message of this poster is Communism will bring what you want if you cooperate with the Communist party and do what you were told to do. It is the change they were waiting for all along for a better life. Therefore, that is the reason why the people were willing to support Communism, believing with faith in it. It is trying to get people to think that Communism is good, and as an example, others should do the same; join and work cooperatively with the government. In addition, by cooperating with the government, the people will get what they want. The gestures of the man in the picture with his hand over his chest, swearing, shows his loyalty, determination, and willingness to work together cooperatively with the Communist party. This poster is not effective, because without translations, it is quite difficult to identify what this poster is talking about, or how it associates with Communism. On the other hand, the background color of the poster is red, and the gestures of the worker is easily understood his determination to work cooperatively.



Poster 3

“Our October [Socialist Revolution] was done to achieve togetherness, peace and work.”
http://posters.nce.buttobi.net/

The message of this poster is a change is required to be taken in action for a better life; for togetherness, peace, and work. It is trying to get us to think that the only way to improve their lives is a revolution, and unite for a revolution. There is no other way left since they had no power in the government. Before there were no machines in farming, however, a change would bring them one, resulting better crops and food production. With togetherness, peace, and work, their lives will improve. This picture is effective, because of “1917”, showing the year of the October revolution, the man in red suit, showing communism, and the machines, showing that they would have better technology for better products.



Poster 4

“Stalin. There were no posters with Stalin's face printed officially in USSR since Stalin's death. Yes, he was on the list!! One could only see a few posters being sold on people's markets, but that was illegal. This is probably the first poster of Stalin printed in the USSR since the 50's. But - this is an anti-Stalin poster.”
http://posters.nce.buttobi.net/

The poster is one of the first poster of Stalin printed in the USSR, in which this is an anti-Stalin poster. The message of this poster is under Stalin’s rule of Russia, the people did not have a better life, and instead they were killed. The poster was trying to get the people to think that what Stalin was doing is not improving the lives of the people. He killed them. Although Russia was the second key industrial country in the world, the lives of the people did not actually improve. From which the show trials, the purges, and the huge famine, resulted from collectivization, killing 10 million people of starvation. This poster is easily understood, and very effective in conveying the message. First of all, in the bottom half of the poster, it is written that he killed millions of people. On the left bottom corner are the bones of the people he killed. However, the top half as background are the clapping hands of Stalin shooting, showing his support from the people that thought it was right to shoot others who opposed him.



Poster 5

“Our Fatherland is in danger: Crisis of economy, Confrontation, Criminality, Separatism. The Soviet flag is being torn apart...”
http://posters.nce.buttobi.net/

The message of this poster is that because of the unsolved problems Russia has resulted under Soviet rule; crisis of economy, confrontation, criminality, and separatism, it destroys the unity and harmony among the Russian, making the country even more shattered. The problems resulted from the harsh rule of Communism and the economy failure, leading to criminality and separatism. It is trying to get the people stop creating problems, solve the problems, and once again reunite with each other for peace and their future. The picture of hands torn the flag apart shows the lack of unity and harmony Russia would have without solving the problems they had. The use of red color and Soviet flag shows Communism, in which the sentence in the middle of the poster, “Our fatherland is in danger,” makes the people realize the problems Russia was having, and together try to solve it.



Poster 6

“The better we'll work, the better we'll live!“
http://posters.nce.buttobi.net/

The message of this poster is if you work hard, then you will have a better life. Hard work was rewarded with better pay, better housing, and even medals. It is trying to get the people to work at their best abilities to improve the country and the lives of the people. The background picture and the men and women wearing helmets show that they were the people who work in factories. The smile in their face shows their excitement that they were happy with the fact they would have a better life if they work hard, not just for nothing. The gestures of the men show his determination of working his best, and that he could have seen his happy future.

-CONCLUSION-

Propaganda is commonly used in Russia, especially the period of Russian Revolution and Communism. During 1917-1953, the main media for the use of propaganda is posters, in which all six posters above are just few examples of the posters used in Russia. The Russian people were convinced that Communism is the only way to bring peace to Russia, and solve the economic problems in the country. The use of propaganda resulted effectively, and the government gained support from the people. Nowadays, propaganda is still used in many different ways, for example, advertisements. People were convinced by the facts or untruths from the main media, such as, television and internet, to use or buy a product. Propaganda is also used in movies, books, newspapers, and radios. In Communist countries, propaganda is still used in schools to teach children to have a communist way of their lives. It is also be used to influence the people to support the government. Propaganda is one of the things we need to be aware of, because it has huge effects in our lives that it shapes the world and who we are today.

Jazz Age (1920-1929)

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/The-Jazz-Age-.jpg>.

This is a movie poster of the Jazz Age in 1929 called 'A Scathing Indictment of the Bewildered Children of Pleasure....Riding the Gilded Juggernaut of Jazz & Gin.'

Jazz Age

In 1918-1929, a new period of time was created, the Jazz Age, which it was during the end of World War I and the start of the Great Depression in the 20th century. The Jazz Age was one of the most popular in the segments of society during 1920s. It took the name ‘Jazz Age’ from F. Scott Fitzgerald and jazz music. Two of the most popular Jazz musicians during Jazz Age were Louise Armstrong, and Duke Ellington.

Important Events of 1920s

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Crowd_outside_nyse.jpg>.

This picture is when the people gathered in the Wall Street.

Wall Street Crash of 1929

One of the most devastating stock market crashes of the American History is the Wall Street Crash of 1929, also known as the Crash of ’29, also, consisted the ‘Black Tuesday’. It was the time of prosperity when the market was totally destroyed on October 24, 1929, the Black Tuesday, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the largest stock market of the world, collapsed. The market was unstable, the stock prices fell that day, and continued to fall. However, the crash leads to the starting of important financial reforms and trading regulations. This was the cause and the start of the Great Depression, the world economic crisis, which leads to devastating effects on the industrialized countries as well as the countries that exported materials.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Symbol_of_the_League_of_Nations.svg>.

League of Nations

The League of Nations, resulted from the Paris Conference in 1919-1920, was an international organization that supported disarmament, preventing war through collective security, using negotiating for setting disputes between countries, diplomacy, and improvement of global welfare. After a number of successes and failures in the 1920s, the League was proved that they were incapable of preventing aggression by the Axis Powers in 1930s, and failed its primary purpose, which was to avoid any further world war. The United Nations Organization replaced it after the end of World War II.

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/af/Klan-in-gainesville.jpg>.

The picture of the second Ku Klux Klan at a rally in 1923.

Ku Klux Klan in 1920s

A second version of the Ku Klux Klan arose during the 1920s. Immigration, fear of radicalism, and a revolution was widespread throughout 1920s. The member of the Ku Klux Klan peaked in 1920s, which exceeded 4,000,000 members. The burning cross became the symbol of the new organization. Many white-robed Klansmen participated in marches, parades, and nighttime cross burnings all over the country.

Important People of 1920s

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7e/ARMST01.jpg>.
This is the picture of Louise Armstrong, playing his trumpet, which this photo was the part of Howard Frank Archives of Hollywood celebrities.

Louise Armstrong

Louise Armstrong was an American jazz musician, and he was one of the most famous jazz musicians in the 20th century. At that time, he was known as ‘Satchmo’ or ‘Pops’. He inspired and influenced people of the 20th century with his creative performances and improvised soloing. Improvised soloing was the major change in jazz that shifted from collective melodic playing. His influences were one of the major impacts on music of the 20th century. At the very beginning of his career, he became famous as a cornet player, then he switched to play trumpet, performing in small clubs, at the funerals, or parades around the town. Throughout his career, he spread jazz around the world. However, he was best known as a vocalist, and became one of the most influential jazz singers of the 20th century. Many of his records remain popular more than three decades since he died. Louise Armstrong was honored by the people of the world. Nowadays, his songs are broadcast, and listened in everyday of our lives.

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dc/Ruth1918.jpg>.

Babe Ruth

George Herman Ruth, Jr. was one of the greatest baseball players in the history. He was an American Major League baseball player, also known as “Babe”, "The Bambino", "The Sultan of Swat", "The King of Crash", "The Titan of Terror" and "The Colossus of Clout". He began his career as an outfielder with the New York Yankees, however, he later became a successful starting pitcher for the Boston Red Fox. He set several World Series pitching records, and he also hit 29 home runs in a single season, which broke Ned Williamson’s record. His life time with the total of 714 home runs record was considered one of the Major League’s Baseball unbreakable records. Ruth popularized baseball during his lifetime, especially in 1920s, and he became the first American sports celebrity superstar. Although he died nearly 60 years ago, nowadays his name was still one of the famous names in American Sports.

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Nellie_Tayloe_Ross.jpg>.

Nellie Tayloe Ross

Nellie Tayloe Ross was the first American woman to serve as governor of a US state. She was the governor of Wyoming from 1925 to 1927, which nowadays she was also the only woman who had ever served as governor of Wyoming. She later became the director of the National Mint for many years. On September 11, 1902, she married a young lawyer named William Bradford Ross, who later became the leader of the Democratic Party of the state. In 1922, he was elected as governor of Wyoming, however, after serving a year and a half in his office, he died, because of appendectomy. After her husband died, she was easily elected the governor of Wyoming, although she refused to campaign. On January 5, 1925, she became the first woman governor in the history of the United States. She continued her husband’s policies, which was to call for tax cuts, banking reforms, assistance for poor farmers, and laws to protect children, woman workers, and miners. She ran for re-election, but was almost defeated. However, she remained active in Democratic Party. Later she served as vice chairman of the Democratic Party, and became the first female director of the US Mint on May 3, 1933.

Famous Writer of 1920s

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Francis_Scott_Fitzgerald_1937_June_4_%281%29_%28photo_by_Carl_van_Vechten%29.jpg>.

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald, an American Jazz Age author of novels and short stories, was regarded one of the best writer of the 20th century. In 1920s, he was a part of the community called ‘Lost Generations’, whose worked to exile communist in Paris. He was very famous and very popular during that time. During his life time, he wrote lots of short stories about youth, despair, and age. Also, he finished four novels, left one unfinished.

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/28/ErnestHemingway.jpg>.

Ernest Miller Hemingway

Ernest Miller Hemingway, an American novelist, a journalist, and a short-story writer, was quite famous and his writing was popular during the 20th century. In 1920s, he was part of the community that exiled the communist in Paris, which was known as ‘The Lost Generation’. In 1953, he received the Pulitzer Prize for ‘The Old Man and the Sea’, and the following year, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. He suffered from increasing physical and mental problems during his life, which that leads to his committing suicide by shooting himself in July 1961.

Famous Musician of 1920s

<http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_ellington_duke.htm>.

Duke Ellington

Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington was one of the most famous and greatest composers, pianists, artists, and bandleaders of the history of music in the 20th century. With lots of variety of forms and number of compositions, he was considered one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century. When he was seven years old, he started study piano. By 1923, Duke Ellington moved to New York City, and had his own band called ‘the Washingtonians’, then he formed Duke Ellington Orchestra. He wrote music for all kinds of settings, such as the ballroom, the comedy stage, the nightclub, the movie house, the theater, the concert hall, and the cathedral. Later he became the mater of romantic ballad, and created huge numbers of songs that characterized the great soloists in his jazz orchestra. In 1940s, he with his orchestra toured all around US and Europe before and after World War II.

Important Technological Improvements

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Penicillin-core.png>.
This is the picture of the penicillin nucleus.

Penicillin

Penicillin is a group of beta-lactam antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections caused by sensitive organism. Penicillin was discovered by Scottish scientist, Sir Alexander Fleming in 1928. However, penicillin was developed as a medicine by Australia Nobel Laureate Howard Walter Florey. During World War II, penicillin was a major change in the number of deaths caused by infected wounds. Penicillin is an important scientific discovery in the 20th century, and it is a life saver!!!

<http://www.scotclans.com/scottish_history/modern_scotland/1926_television.html>.

First Television

One of men’s greatest inventions is television, also known as TV. Television was invented by John Logie Baird. The first television that he successfully transmitted from one room to another was in 1926. In 1927, he sent a moving image from London to Glasgow through telephone wires. In 1928, he successfully transmitted the first Atlantic television broadcast.

Important Scientific Discovery

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/InsulinMonomer.jpg>.
This picture is the structure of insulin. The left side is a space-filling model of the insulin monomer; green=Carbon, White=hydrogen, red=oxygen, and blue=nitrogen. On the right side is a cartoon of the insulin hexamer.

Insulin

Insulin was discovered by Dr. Frederick Banting with his team, which includes Best, Macleod and Collipin, in 1921. It is an animal hormone used to inform the body’s cells that the animal is well fed. By informing animal body’s cells, it causes the liver and muscle cells to take in glucose, and store it in the form of glycogen. Also, it causes the fat cells to take in blood lipids and turn them into triglycerides. Its structure varies depending on the animal’s species. Insulin is medically used to treat some forms of diabetes mellitus, also known as sugar disease, a disease that killed thousands of people every year until the discovery of insulin.

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