Portfolio task 1 - Compare 2 propaganda posters

Savile Lumley, 1915

'The Uncle Sam Range' 1876, Schumacher & Ettlinger

The first image is an advertisement for 'Uncle Sam's Range' , however, without the typography, this would not be immediately recognisable. The range in question has been pushed to the left-hand-side of the advert, leaving the focal point for 'Uncle Sam' himself. There is a very patriotic theme running throughout the image, acutely shown in the somewhat crude over-use of red, white and blue and the repetitive stars and stripes images in the carpet... and even 'Uncle Sam's clothes and the eagle are such strong American imagery. The advertisement is clearly focusing on America's independence, with the clock showing 1776 (the year which they gained independence) and 1876... marking 100 years of America. This is also shown in the image of the Centenary Hall (the site of independence day celebrations in Philadelphia) out of the window, it is almose a message to the rest of the world saying "look how far we have come in these 100 years".
Every component of this illustration seems to have a concealed meaning, each promoting America in some way. From the subtle names on the children's shirts, Dixie, West and New england (the 3 different parts of America) to the garish-looking globe character symbolizing the rest of the world (greatly contrasted to Uncle Sam, who is depicted as being dignified) holding a receipt for food from around the world. This alone indicates that this advert is aimed at the American people as the list of food from other countries is almost insultingly stereotypical, for example 'boiled grasshoppers' for China, implying that America is better than the rest of the world... more fruitful and far more important, this is also shown in the use of an African slave cooking for the rest of the family.
The designers are clearly playing on the feelings of the time, everything right down to the bold 'western' font they have used in the bottom of the image, is so clearly depicting aspects of the American dream. I feel this poster was aimed at the low to mid-middle classes, people who would aspire to be the characters depicted in the illustration, people who live for the 'American Dream'. People below this would certainly not have been able to afford such a stove... and higher than that would probably own it already.

The second image is a poster-advertisement used in First World War Britain to try to convince people to join the war effort... particularly men to join the army, in the period before conscription, as the numbers of people enlisting was continually dropping.
The typography, unlike in the previous image, is somewhat separate from the imagery, using white type on a black background for emphasis. The sentence is clearly the little girl talking to her father after the war has ended, almost like a projection into the future, speaking of the 'Great War', emphasized by the use of capitals, clearly showing that this war will go down in history... asking people if they want to be remembered as being part of it. The word "YOU" being capitalized also adds a threatening touch to the poster... almost as if it's trying to intimidate people into joining.
Similarly to the previous image, there is strong patriotism symbolized in the imagery, from the fleur de lys (strong British royalty symbol), the red roses on the curtains (symbol of the British rugby team) and the little boy playing with toy soldiers wearing red uniforms (those of the Queen's guard rather than the real muddy-green ones of the army).
Both of the men's children are showing interest in the war, this almost glamourises the idea of being a soldier more, using guilt as a means of getting people to sign out.
I feel that this poster is, once again aimed at the mid to upper-middle classes as people lower than this would most certainly already have enlisted.

These posters, however different the immediate meanings, have very similar themes flowing throughout, both using clear patriotism as a means of persuasion, aiming at similar-minded people. Both are highly effective and clearly get their messages accross simply, but at the same time add a subliminal context.