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Ads That I Like: #60


Propaganda from the outside looks like a pretty cushy gig, working up the masses with simplistic slogans has never been too hard, let’s face it. Consequently, this blog has featured its fair share of it. Some of my favourites include:Above is a new one to add to that list. Here we have a novel bit of propaganda on a postcard, dating from the Spanish Civil War (an interesting time for those interested in propaganda). This one here is from the Zona Republicana and dates around late-1936.

On first glance I expected this to be the work of pesky anarchists, but then I realised that this is covered with the names of socialist unions: Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT), Partido Socialista Unificada (PSU); and there is no sign of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo, the key anarchist group. Yet their colours – the red and black – are there for all to see. That and the rather sad imagery tell me that the work of anarchists is afoot!

Now, of course you want to lionise sacrifice and mobilise the punters to the point that they’re willing to pick up a rifle and risk their necks for the cause. I guess guilt is a good lever to do that, but how many timid Nigels out there are you going to scare off with this message? The dude has a hole in his head! It’s not exactly encouraging.

Besides, what’s this guy got to be stroppy about? The dude got shot in the head! ”I got shot in the head you prick! What have you done?”

“Err... I haven’t been shot in the head...?” (and all the while in your head, you’re like, “dude, you’re not really selling it to me...”).

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Debbie Courson Smith said…
So, how does this compare to today's propaganda. I don't keep up on it, but I'm sure there are some interesting parallels.
22 September 2008 at 11:59
USelaine said…
Where on earth do you find these things?!
22 September 2008 at 18:00
Kris McCracken said…
Boise Diva, well I think that today a lot of propaganda is a little more subtle. Thus you get something like the US Army computer game, which is in a lot of ways filled with ideas reminiscent of the older posters, but not as explicit in "demanding" recruitment. That said, you don't have to look far to find crude examples. Some of the HAMAS posters, literature and multimedia (to chose one obvious example) is for my money even cruder than anything seen in the Spanish Civil War. The "art" of advertising (or "persuasion") has advanced somewhat since the mid-twentieth century.

USelaine, a lady never tells...
23 September 2008 at 14:38
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