The Rise and Primacy of War Propaganda

The Power of Propaganda, Persuasion, and Information Dissemination

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About this Exhibit

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?

World War I saw an unprecedented rise in propaganda. Industrial developments meant the war’s outcome depended not only on military performance, but also on capital and weapons production. Therefore, agencies such as the Canadian Wartime Information Board and the U.S. Office of War Information sought to rouse citizens back home to work for their country. Since then, through information and ideology, propaganda has bridged the gap between individual and state. Imagine you lived in the midst of war. Would you perceive these items differently?