Propaganda in World War 1

Propaganda is information in a form of advertisement that is generally misleading or biased to promote a point of view or political cause. It was found in the design of posters, pictures, slogans, literature, film and evensong.  Both sides of World War 1 used propaganda to their public to encourage them into joining and continuing war services.  The main point found in World War 1 (WW1) propaganda was to promote patriotism and nationalism within a country. Many subtle techniques amid the propaganda would appeal to a larger audience; make it more believable and effective.

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Propaganda is an art in itself, one approach used is to target emotion in the audience and create an emotional appeal. An example of this is the poster to the right that was used in 1914 in Britain; the creator of this has used the appeal of adolescence lives to encourage people to buy war savings certificates. The public was persuaded to do as the poster says because their natural concern is for the matter of their own children's lives. Although the poster may not be very true it convinces its audience; parents, to believe that the only way to save their children's lives to do as the poster says. Appeal to family is not the only form of ‘emotional blackmail’ that is used in propaganda; some others appeal to fear, insecurity, loyalty, patriotism, tradition and custom. [pic 2]

The poster to the left is proposing that its viewers must join the army as a duty to their country. This attack provokes an emotive reaction and an appeal to patriotism. It grabs the attention of the viewers with inclusive language that makes the audience feel a part of their country, Britain. It targets the viewer and makes them believe they are important because of its specific language saying ‘Britons wants you’. ‘God Save the King’ is another attack targeting loyalty and patriotism as it is the national anthem of Britain and reinforces the point of joining the countries alliance.

Another tactic that can be seen used commonly in the propaganda of WW1 is dehumanizing the enemy or even the ally for multiple reasons. The first and main point of dehumanizing the enemy is making them seem inhumane. It is nature for people to have sympathy for other human beings, especially when it comes to ending one's life. Although when the enemy is displayed into a vicious monster, it makes it easy for one to kill. The targeted viewers of propaganda that consist of the enemy been dehumanized know they are just people but despite that, they are relating them to a barbarous animal and that is the image that stays with them. This encourages young men to go and fight this what they think of the enemy as a vicious animal, and it is evident that the tactic is effective as volunteers joining the war almost doubled after propaganda was being used in Britain for the first time in WW1. Dehumanizing countries as a whole is another strategy publishers used when creating propaganda because, like the enemy, it creates a fabricated image of a nation. For example, a British poster displayed the British Flag and multiple British Bulldog standing guard on the flag and facing the outsides of the flag, with the caption ‘are we afraid? No’. This example is appealing to loyalty and patriotism because it suggests that the British should not feel afraid when they are a part of a wholesome country by relating their unity to a symbolic fierce animal.