Group Project Part 1 -Analyzing WWII Posters
Visual texts are the focus of this lesson to enable you to deal constructively with complex new modes of delivering information, new multisensory tactics for persuasion, and new technology-based art forms. Today we are living in a world increasingly non-printcentric. New media such as the Internet, MP3 files, and video are transforming the communication experience and can include any combination of visual art, motion (video and film), graphics, text, and sound-all of which are frequently written and read in nonlinear fashion.
- Select four American "Anti-Japanese" Posters and four Nazi "Anti-Semitic" Posters; then complete the 1st page of the Poster Analysis Worksheet for each poster and the 2nd page for each group. You will have completed 10 pages when you have finished.
- Download the Argument Propaganda Handout, which clarifies the goals, techniques, and methods used in the genres of argument, persuasion, and propaganda. Next, select four posters from the online collections at Northwestern University or Smithsonian Web sites. Complete the Analyzing a World War II Poster Analysis Questions in order to determine if they belong to the argument, persuasion, or propaganda genre. You must be able to defend your reasoning.
Group Project Part 2 - Analyzing Motion Pictures
Although the fighting was taking place in Europe and over the Pacific, the American government had goals to accomplish on the home front as well. These include:
When watching the following clips it is important to notice the often cryptic elements within the creation process.
These following videos were shown before movies at the movie theatre (TV's weren’t widely available during the 1940s) during World War II. Some of the short films were instructional (teaching people how to conserve, for example), while others were intended to inform American citizens about their enemies. As you are viewing the videos, note which of the 7 types of propaganda techniques are being used and answer the essential questions.
Essential Questions
- Persuade men to join the army
- Persuade citizens to accept rationing
- Force total mobilization (women needed in the workforce)
- Keep FDR in office
- Give money to support the war
When watching the following clips it is important to notice the often cryptic elements within the creation process.
- Design= includes the colors, symbols, sounds, language, and stereotypes
- Medium= is a poster, radio address, cartoon, or movie
- Purpose= should include what the message of the author is and what goal out of the 5 listed above he/she is trying to fulfill
- Intended Audience= Who does the creator want to reach? How do you know?
These following videos were shown before movies at the movie theatre (TV's weren’t widely available during the 1940s) during World War II. Some of the short films were instructional (teaching people how to conserve, for example), while others were intended to inform American citizens about their enemies. As you are viewing the videos, note which of the 7 types of propaganda techniques are being used and answer the essential questions.
Essential Questions
- Why do you think the US Government commissioned the creation of this specific video? What were they trying to get across to the American people?
- What types of propaganda techniques did you notice while you were viewing the video?
- Describe your feelings while watching the video.
- What aspects of the video do you think are accurate? What aspects are exaggerated? What aspects are fabricated?
- Do you think this kind of propaganda is still happening? Refer back to our your link on reflection for our Anne Frank Journals.
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Independent Writing Task
- After working in small groups analyzing posters, you will independently demonstrate your understanding of propaganda posters through different writing assignments. These range from considering the historical time and events the poster sits within, to comparing two posters, to fiction writing. You must use the proper format (remember 6+1 Writing) and cite your work! You must use one of the poster below.
- Compare and contrast two or more posters
- Visual essay: pull together different images to tell a story; text should bridge the posters together
- Responsive essay: elaborate on the emotions (anger, sadness, pride, etc.) that the poster(s) evoke
- Historial writing: Historically contextualize the poster: Is there a particular event or person the poster refers to? What makes this a World War II poster? (Requires additional research)
- Point of view writing: Pretend you are a person in the poster; what story do you want to convey?
- Fiction writing: Make up a narrative describing the events leading up to or following the scene depicted in the poster