Hello, I need help creating a wartime-Esque propaganda piece. This can relate to any industry, subject, amendment, or topic you find in the reading.docx (attached). Some topics include the Selective
In the World War I era, federal government agencies believed they needed to promote certain industries, ideas, and decisions to ordinary Americans, in order to produce support for the war effort. They embraced the successful techniques of advertising executives to produce thousands of propaganda pieces that urged Americans to support specific wartime industries, including purchasing bonds, rationing supplies, and joining the armed forces. This continued throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, and undoubtedly contributed to the decision-making process of ordinary Americans. Government producers of propaganda believed it was possible to "sway the ideas of whole populations, change the habits of life, create belief, practically universal in any policy or idea" (Foner, 748). It was a powerful tool that encouraged many Americans to support the war politically, socially, and especially economically.
I love wartime propaganda. I find it fascinating that the federal government literally hired advertising executives to "sell war" to Americans throughout World War I (and other wartime eras, as we will learn about in the coming weeks). I did my entire MA thesis on the overlap of propaganda and advertising. So, this WA reflects my own selfish interests (but, in my opinion, is way more fun than answering long questions about this week's information).
You will be creating a wartime-sequel propaganda piece. This can relate to any industry, subject, amendment, or topic you find in the chapter or primary source documents assigned for this week (and it’s an information-heavy week, so I have no doubt that you will pick something awesome)! Some topics include the Selective Service act, liberty bonds, prohibition, Wilson's Fourteen Points, or anything else. You can also be super creative and choose to create a propaganda piece based on the Progressive Era. Think outside of the box!
Once you have chosen your topic, you will compose a 1-2 paragraph summary that explains the topic to the viewer. In this paragraph you should include background information on what the program/decision/topic is, why/how it came to be, and why it is an important part of the Progressive Era or World War I era, historically. You should also include any details that you believe are significant about your topic, including when/why it was established, who benefitted, or anything that is unique about it. Please plan to include 1-2 quotes from the assigned texts to support your claims.
Next, you will design a physical propaganda piece that sells your topic to the viewer. I want to look at your piece and think, "yeah, I would buy that." It does not have to be an item that you are "selling"--you could push an idea, promote a program, or aim to help Americans accept a change.
You can draw your piece by hand and upload a photo of it or scan it, print out a photo and add words to it, create your piece in a powerpoint or word doc and upload it, or make it on any type of photo editing program. It is completely up to you and how you want it to look. You just need to sell whatever it is you are presenting.
Your propaganda piece should include the following:
1. at least one large image
2. some type of slogan or short quote (brownie points if you can make me laugh)
3. the title or name of whatever it is you are advertising
See examples at the top of this page or check out the Library of Congress WWI Digitized Archives (Links to an external site.) for inspiration!
Once you have finished your propaganda piece, include the following on a Word Document:
1. a 1-2 paragraph summary that explains the topic to the viewer. In this paragraph you should include background information on what the program/decision/topic is, why/how it came to be, and why it is an important part of the World War I era historically. You should also include any details that you believe are significant about your topic, including when/why it was established, who benefitted, or anything that is unique about it. Please plan to include 1-2 quotes from the assigned texts to support your claims. (this is the same paragraph I have mentioned earlier in the assignment, I just want you to include it here).
2. How does your design promote or sell your topic from the World War I era?
3. Why did you choose to exemplify this topic in your submission? What is important about it?
4. In your opinion, is propaganda as prevalent today as it was in the World War I era?
