Propaganda uses words and images to convey a message. Its persuasive nature makes it powerful.
Historically, propaganda has been able to control what we think; we want to reckon with this power and expose its mechanisms, objectives, and forms in different contexts and purposes.
Instant access to images and media means we need to question what we see. This is evident with the emergence of terms like “fake news” and “post-truth.” Though propaganda is inescapable, by understanding its nuances, we can better identify its impact on our behavior.
Our goal is to lift off the facade; to reveal the multifaceted functions of propaganda. This exhibit explores the diversity of propaganda in varied forms. Are you under the influence?
“Mend Don’t Spend”
U.S. Government Printing Office
posters
English
Vanderbilt University Special Collections
The battlefront wasn’t the only setting for the war. At the home front, the government urged citizens to save and reuse to maximize resources available for troops abroad.