Propaganda is a communication act aimed at influencing the audience to adopt a certain point of view. The word has acquired a negative connotation given that it could amount to lying by omitting some details or truth even though it initially had a neutral connotation.
“Triumph of the Will”
Plot
The movie starts with some texts on the screen showing that Germany had been at war for quite a long period than it had been at peace. This is partly true because the period between WWI and WWII was too short. Apart from the world wars, Germany also had its own internal problems. Everyone in the movie, however, has a feeling that things will soon be alright given the kind of a leader they have in place. Clouds are shown moving above the people in the city waiting for Hitler and other dignitaries to arrive (YouTube Episode I).
It is a spectacular view and Hitler soon arrives in a plane. Not many people at that time could travel in a plane. This gives the people the message that they have a powerful leader and that everything will be fine. This, however, is just propaganda because Hitler is not telling them the truth of what they were to expect in the future, especially WWII. Later in the evening Hitler goes and sleeps in a hotel.
The following morning, he officially and formally launched the congress party. The launch is attended by many people and Hitler gives a lengthy speech (YouTube Episode II). Hitler, to be specific, gives reassuring speech that he would bring peace, food, and power- both economic and military- to Germany.
He then congratulates the German labor force for their good work of rebuilding the country. This is propaganda because the development of Germany was not based on the efforts of the labor force alone, but also on all German citizens and the world at large.
We are shown the dignitaries as they arrive and Hitler addressing a youth rally. This gives the youths a feeling that they are together as men (YouTube Episode II). That evening, Hitler gives a speech to the Congress party officials. He is often heard saying that the party and the country are one and the same thing. This is partly false because the party, though national, was to serve his interests to the greater extent.
On day 3, Hitler starts by inspecting the country’s security troops parade (YouTube Episode III). In his speech to the security troops, Hitler said that all the crimes that they had committed had been forgiven and forgotten. This is not true because he is taking the role of God to forgive sins. The party’s flag is also shown on several occasions. In his closing speech, Hitler says that only the loyal Germans will become national socialists and only the best national socialists are party comrades.
Techniques of Propaganda
Idea
It was Hitler’s idea to produce the movie. He did not want an accurate movie. He wanted to spread propaganda; the sweet lies and not the bitter truth. The movie was to interest the people who were not Hitler’s political followers. He did not want the true nature of politics shown, but only that which is good in the eyes and ears of the viewers.
Religious Implications
The movie has many scenes with some religious implications. There are church bells being heard and there is also the image if Bishop Ludwig and his descending from the plane like a god while even the cat stops to look at the plane (YouTube Episode I). In his speech, Hitler compares the party to a holy order.
Therefore, the party is holy with the best of intentions. There is also the use of candles and fireworks as he speaks to show a sense of some light at the end of the tunnel. All these scenes are to make his regime seem good whereas this was not the case. It was just to gain the support of the people.
Theme
The theme of the film is unity. The film spreads a unified propaganda showing just how good the country and its people were doing. There is unity among the people as they cheer Hitler. The soldiers are shown to live in neatly arranged tents. They also do not wear shirts when in their residential areas as this makes them unequal since shirts reveal their ranks. They also carry their spades that represent guns in the same way.
Issue of Labor
The issue of labor was also addressed. Hitler in his speech assures the workers that there will be no class divisions and discrimination in the labor force. This is all propaganda as we well know that this has never and will never happen. There will always be social class stratification and discrimination among social classes.
Unity
Unity is also shown between the party and the country. The poor are shown greeting Hitler. The old German flag is also shown to show that there is the unity between the old and the new Germany. Hitler even goes ahead to pay respect to the soldiers who died in WWI. He goes ahead to say that those who are not of the Aryan race, the sick, the weak, and the handicapped should be wiped from the country so as to remain with the strong hence a strong and a pure nation (YouTube Episode III).
Works Cited
YouTube. Triumph des Willens (1935) – Triumph of the Will. YouTube, n.d. Web.
Norman Rockwell’s propaganda images served as the inspiration for the people, struggling in World War 2. As the imagination of Roosevelt’s speech, had an immense effect on the public, and still, it may be regarded as the imagination of happiness and welfare. In the background of the Great Depression, and the Second World War this poster was the embodiment of the unification of generations, which takes place at the feast table. “The Four Freedoms” speech, proclaimed by Roosevelt was the greatest inspiration for the Americans to live for the future, and restore the country after the disasters.
Introduction
The idea of the posers was taken from Franklin Roosevelt’s 1941 speech to Congress, the “Four Freedoms” Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear. This speech became the key program of the actions by the USA for the period of World War 2. (Coe, 2007) Painter Norman Rockwell created four images to illustrate the concepts. One of them “the Freedom of Want” is aimed to analyze in the current paper.
Discussion
This work was selected because of the actuality of the current events in the worldwide financial system. The “Fight for freedom of Want” symbolizes the natural wish of every nation, of every family to live in freedom, and have everything that is significant for everyday life (Segal, 1996).
The poster of the times of the World War 2 appeared to be rather topical nowadays, as the financial world crisis may lead humanity to the deep indigence, as the wave of staff reductions has already touched the industrial objects and financial institutions. The current situation in the USA reminds the thirties of the twentieth century, when America needed Franklin D. Roosevelt, as someone, who could solve the matters of the Great Depression. Currently, the new depression is approaching, so, the new president’s administration should focus on the matters of solving the internal financial and social problems.
It is also necessary to mention that the poster, emphasizing the issue of unification (the unification of the family), maybe related to another one – “United We Win” by Alexander Liberman. This one claims the people of the US to unite, and work jointly for the common good. Unfortunately, this poster was not so popular as by Norman Rockwell, as it called people to forget about racial prejudices and work jointly. Some people clearly realized this necessity, while others could not imagine working jointly with Afro-Americans. Anyway, both posters call for unification: the unification of generations, and the unification of peoples.
Ours…to Fight for—Freedom from Want is the poster, which calls people to struggle for their own happiness, as president is not someone almighty, consequently, it is possible to overcome the crisis (or any other disaster) only jointly. In spite of the fact, that the poster shows the happy family at dinner, and there is no hint at warfare, it still reminds us of the disaster, which tore the world into the parts. The war was in the heads of the humans, and the pictures of a happy future reminded them of the necessity to struggle, to work double tides, with blood sweat, and tears.
The picture clearly shows the American Dream, which, according to the painter’s point of view, will be available for everyone, who takes part in the joint overcoming of the crisis.
Studying this image, the following features should be mentioned: a large family gathered for the feast dinner around the table in the dining room. The first association that arises is that it is the celebration of Thanksgiving day, as huge Turkey is served. The family silver is on the table, and the head of the family is going to make a speech. Children and grandchildren look happy, as the whole family has united.
The image is painted with the great feeling of family love, and the watcher may feel that he or she is at that feast table. The image also induces hunger, as the turkey is painted rather mouth-watering.
Analyzing the historical context of the paper, it is necessary to mention, that the series of the posters “The Four Freedoms” was not popular at first. The fact is that these freedoms were not required to visualize, as the people, suffering from war crises, could imagine these freedoms more vividly. Soon, the government decided to choose the pictures as the official propaganda of the happy after-war future. (Markowitz, 1973)
Here are the four freedoms, reproduced in the congress speech by Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech and expression — everywhere in the world.
The second is the freedom of every person to worship God in his own way — everywhere in the world.
The third is freedom from want, which, translated into world terms everywhere in the world.
The fourth is freedom from fear, which, translated into world terms, means a worldwide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression… (Welles, 1943).
Rockwell himself could not serve in the army because of the age frames, but he aimed to help his country, and he decided to keep the competitive spirit of the nation by painting propaganda pictures. He selected to illustrated Roosevelt’s speeches. Getting inspired by the Four Freedoms, Rockwell created the greatest masterpieces of his entire career (Larson, 2001).
Propaganda
The economy of the USA, after overcoming the consequences of the Great Depression, faced another challenge – The Second World War. The government needed to satisfy minimal social requirements, and maintain the Military Machine in order to defeat the Yamamoto’s Japan, and then, after defeating Japan help the allies to defeat Hitler’s Germany.
Economic propaganda was essential for the warfare period, as people needed hope and inspiration. The fact is that inspiration was sought at every point, which reminded me of soon victory, happiness, and blossom.
Wartime propaganda prevailed in every element of American life in schools, churches, shops, offices, plants and factories, transports, and theaters. People found propaganda messages coming home, reading newspapers, magazines, on every page.
Many propaganda posters included clear enlightenments of how and why exact wartime regulations and plans were required. Most played on pride, patriotism fear, hatred, racism, revenge, and, surely, emotions. Actually, all these messages may seem naive and simple, but in the context of the contemporary financial crisis, the Four Freedoms may inspire people to struggle the drastic affairs, as their ancestors fought against the tyranny and despotism of Japan and Germany during the Second World War.
The cultural value of the posters by Norman Rockwell can not be overestimated, however Terry Teachout (2001) states the following on Norman Rockwell and his propaganda art: The greatest irony of all, of course, is that at his occasional best, Rockwell really was worthy of comparison to the Dutch genre painters of the seventeenth century, such as Pieter de Hooch, whose work he admired and emulated. In such poignantly understated Post covers as “Shuffleton’s Barbershop” (1950) and “Breaking Home Ties” (1954), Rockwell managed to shake off the easy, jokey charm of his better-known canvases and cut straight to the heart of the matter. (Teachout, 2001)
The regarded opinion fully corresponds the genius art by Norman Rockwell. The fact is that, he really became Picasso of his generation, as he managed to give hope for the whole nation by playing on their hopes, feelings and emotions. Originally, these emotions were called by the disaster, but it is necessary to mention, that these propaganda art joined people in their aspiration for happiness and blossom. The same should be stated on the matters of the current financial crisis. People should unite, forget all the racial prejudices, and aim to overcome the crisis, as the Soviet Union United States, Great Britain and France defeated the Nazi world disaster in 1945.
Influence of Posters
Actually, the images themselves could not influence the economy or the welfare of the citizens. Alone, these posters were only the burden for the economy (paper, paint, printing, sticking etc), and required essential resources. However, the final effect of the posters was aimed to mobilize people’s pride for their country, and make it blossom, in spite of the economic or politic disasters. The propaganda images by Norman Rockwell made people give away without asking back, as their country could not afford give back at that time. Everyone realized, that the struggle with the World Evil was much more essential and significant, than the current needs. It was the struggle not only against evil, it was the fight for the future, for the following generations, who would inherit this world. The matter of further generations is clearly shown in the “Ours…to Fight for—Freedom from Want”. The elder generation, children, grand children: all of them are happy, and welcoming. They do not mind to share their Turkey with the guests. The happy family at the feast table – is the essential part of the American Dream, which is the goal of every citizen, who is proud of living in the Superpower of the USA (Larson, 2001).
Conclusion
In the conclusion, it is necessary to mention, that propaganda rarely lives for so long time. Often, the propaganda posters turn to be the museum exhibits, or fill someone’s collection. The images by Norman Rockwell may be called the eternal inspiration, as still they may be used as the encouragement for American nation in the current financial crisis.
The “Ours…to Fight for—Freedom from Want” image is not only propaganda. It is the image of happiness itself, as people often forget about simple human happiness. It is claimed to remind, that happiness may be quite near, it is just necessary to look around, and smile at the surrounding people.
References
Teachout, Terry. “Norman Rockwell.” Book Magazine 2001: 71.
Coe, Kevin. “The Language of Freedom in the American Presidency, 1933-2006.” Presidential Studies Quarterly 37.3 (2007): 375
Larson, Christina. “Norman Rockwell.” Washington Monthly 2001: 51.
Markowitz, Norman D. The Rise and Fall of the People’s Century: Henry A. Wallace and American Liberalism, 1941-1948. New York: Free Press, 1973.
Segal, Eric J. “Norman Rockwell and the Fashioning of American Masculinity.” The Art Bulletin 78.4 (1996): 633
Welles, Sumner, and Nicholas Murray Butler. The World of the Four Freedoms. New York: Columbia University Press, 1943.
Socialist realism is a type of art style typically associated with the USSR. The communist doctrine stated that all art is political to one degree or another, and the promoted art style was meant to be enslaved to such a purpose entirely. One of the more common definitions of socialist realism is that it comprises all works of art officially sanctioned by the communist party that promote the socialist message. One example of this style is “The Motherland Calls” statue in Volgograd. This essay will elaborate on the statue’s message while comparing it to the most recent political art piece dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., titled “Embrace.”
“The Motherland Calls” is a massive piece of art, presenting a statue of a beautiful woman wielding a sword as if leading others to battle. The statue is meant to commemorate the Soviet victory in the Second World War, represent the soviet might, and serve as a message to all enemies of the USSR (Lahusen 63). The statue is part of the tri-partite composition – the sword Motherland wields is forged in the Ural Mountains (Rear-Front Memorial), lifted up in Stalingrad (The Motherland Calls), and brought down in Berlin (Warrior-Liberator monument) (Lahusen 64). One piece of the political message relates to the Cold War.
The statue was purposefully made to be much bigger than the Statue of Liberty; standing at 91 meters tall, it is almost twice as tall as its American counterpart and about equal if one counts the base on which it stands. “The Motherland Calls” conveys the message through aesthetics and impressive engineering alike. The woman looks aesthetically beautiful while also being fierce, and the sheer size of the monument makes the onlookers experience the Soviet might (Lahusen 71). Its messages to its own people and to foreigners are clear – respect the sacrifices made by the nation, stand in awe of its achievements, and beware.
Modern political art is not quite as imposing as the finer examples of socialist realism. Martin Luther King Jr.’s statue, titled “Embrace,” shares some of the elements of socialist realism. It is a rather large monument on its own, around 20 feet high and 40 feet long (Gamble and Chavez). It shows two people embracing one another, one of them being MLK himself. The statue is supposed to represent the triumph of the human rights movement, freedom from enslavement and segregation, and hope that the world moves forward to a better, equal future. In connection to socialist realism doctrine, the place for the statue’s presentation was chosen accordingly – on Boston Common, where MLK spoke to the crowds on April 23rd, 1965 (Gamble and Chavez). The statue’s composition was inspired by the photo taken of MLK receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
However, instead of uniting people in admiration and promoting the political message of peace, equality, and inclusivity, the statue served as fuel for the pyre of the existing political and racial divides in the US. One particular piece of controversy was related to how the statue appeared to onlookers, with some individuals seeing an erotic context to the imagery, with hands being intertwined the way they are. Art, in general, tends to be divisive when addressing internal political situations rather than external and generates discussion and social friction. There is a difference in how art was used politically then versus how it is nowadays. Since the fall of the USSR and the decisive victory of the capitalist system over socialism, art started pointing inward instead of outward. Now that a new socialist grassroots has emerged within Western countries, socialist realism might make a renaissance, even if adapted to modern realities, where race and gender become as important as class allegiance.