American propaganda during World War II
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please discuss this issue on the talk page or replace this tag with a more specific message. This article has been tagged since February 2007. |
In World War II, propaganda one of the main goals of American propagandists, through posters, was to portray the Germans and Japanese as anything but human. By attributing animalistic and demonic characteristics to their appearance this conveys themes of dehumanization, good vs. evil, preying on the weak, and war messages, throughout different images.
Contents |
[edit] Themes
[edit] Dehumanization
The main theme of dehumanizing the enemy is shown through the physical portrayal of the Germans and the Japanese. Japanese are shown as animals with devil-like intentions. The lack of physical bodies only dehumanizes them further. Their characteristics are also bloodthirsty brutes that prey on the innocent. There is a drastic contrast between the monster like hands of the Germans and Japanese attacking the angelic Americans.
[edit] Preying on the Weak
The images of Americans include helpless women that are susceptible to rape, torture, and animalistic actions. Innocent babies, which are many times used as a pathos appeal, are shown as under attack by the evil hands of the enemies. The United States as a whole is at the mercy of the Germans and Japanese.
[edit] The Message
The messages of the images are straight forward and not much is left to interpret. This is made obvious by identifying each character with the party’s respective symbol (i.e. swastika, Japanese flag). American propagandists are direct and want to convey a specific meaning of fear through both the language used as well as the actions of the enemy. Emotion evoking words communicate a sense of urgency and need for defense. The actions of the enemies will include evil intentions to attack as well as the pleasure found through the harm they caused.
[edit] Good vs. Evil
Each image includes a portrayal of the Germans and Japanese as the “evil” as well as a portrayal of Americans as “good” and “innocent”. The Japanese are attributed with evil characteristics. The Americans are portrayed as innocent through the use of women, children and American homes.
[edit] Examples
[edit] WARNING!
This piece of American propaganda shows the Japanese on the left side and the Germans on the right. Each is dawned with their respective symbol (swastika, naval ensign). The Japanese are depicted with monkey-like characteristics with a bloodthirsty stare in their eyes. The Germans are shown with features identical to Adolf Hitler, implying that they are a homogenous group and lack individuality. Each is holding a weapon of destruction; a bloody knife in the hands of the Japanese and a Luger in the hands of the German. The two enemies are hovering over the United States, creeping their way into undisturbed American land. Action words such as ‘warning’, ‘homes’, ‘danger’, and ‘now’ are used to convey fear and territorial appeals.[1]
[edit] KEEP THESE HANDS OFF!
This portrays the Germans and Japanese as evil and the Americans as angelic. The image of the innocent woman holding her defenseless baby appeals highly to the patterns of the American population. The black claws are identified as Japanese and German through the use of war symbols. The message sent is that through buying war bonds you are helping to protect the valued women and children of America. The message of the poster is that the enemies have evil intentions to attack.[2]
[edit] STAMP 'EM OUT!
This image is another portrayal of the evil of both the Japanese and Germans which are identified by their respective symbols. The two evil groups are dehumanized into a depiction as snakes that are low and beneath Americans. The snakes’ intentions are poisonous as they prey on the innocent frog. The stomping of the Americans show their power to defeat the enemy while protecting innocent Americans. The contrasting red background not only draws the audience’s attention but further communicates the sense of evil.[3]
