Week 1: Propaganda

Image of the week

Recap of the Dynamic Defence Display (D3), which showcased Singapore's response in the event of a terror attack. ST PHOTOS/VIDEO: ARIFFIN JAMAR, MARK CHEONG, TIFFANY FUMIKO TAY

The word propaganda concerns the dissemination(distribution) of the message rather than it's content and it has been defined as information that is designed to mislead or persuade. The selective use of information alters the target audience and the best has an element of truth which, with additional content, enhances the desired message.

Every year during National Day, everyone suddenly becomes patriotic, waving their flags all over place, followed by celebrations. What piqued my interest in this image is that the entire celebration was a live telecast and the performance was alright but i noticed that they had a segment which was called Dynamic Defence Play where they showcase the readiness of Singapore in adopting a whole-of-government approach by tackling increasing security threats such as terrorism and cyber attacks. Well, it's an act but i find it rather cringe-y because that is what they want us to think. To feel safe, to have a sense of security because we are 'well prepared'. Nothing wrong with being well prepared that's for sure. I personally feel that this segment finds it's way in rather timely on National Day because it's convenient to gain social control with the televisions as a tool to manipulate the human psyche while everyone's just mindlessly happy and patriotic during the celebrations.

In this world today, there is no need for the media to manipulate the already brain washed public. We need to be very alert and careful on what information we choose to absorb because of the way the media choose to filter the information the way they want the unsuspecting public to consume.

I'll be sharing images of propaganda through the course of the history in Photography.

First World War (1914-1918)

Propaganda was widely used during the First World War to attack the morals and ethics of foreigners, their leaders and their armies. It was used to encourage morale and promote recruitment through patriotism and nationalistic fervor. In Great Britain the "Your Counry Needs You" image of Lord Kitchener pointed directly at the viewer was both powerful and direct.

Alfred Leete (artist, 1882-1933), London Opinion "Your country needs you", 1914

The Times (3 January 1915) wrote: Posters appealing to recruits are to be seen on every hoarding, in most windows, in omnibuses, tramcars and commercial vans. The great base of Nelson's Column is covered with them. Their number and variety are remarkable. Everywhere Lord Kitchener sternly points a monstrously big finger, exclaiming 'I Want You'

Home > Contents > Visual indexes > Alfred Leete (artist, 1882-1933)

Second World War (1939-1945)

Propaganda can be used as a two-edged sword as in this photo of a dead German airman with photographs of Adolf Hitler and others.

Unidentified photographer: German airman lies dead with photos of Hitler and Luftwaffe officers strewn next to his body (1939-1949)

Home > Contents > Visual indexes > Unidentified photographer

Adolf Hitler 1933-1945

Unidentified photographer (Possibly Heinrich Hoffman) , No. 130 [Adolf Hitler] [Adolf Hitler, Sammelwerk (Collection) No. 15, Gruppe (Group) 64] 1933-1945

There was an immense output of books about Hitler using photographs by his personal photographer Heinrich Hoffmann. Sets of postcards and smaller images were widely available promoting adoring crowds, industrial and military strength, the construction of autobahn, party rallies and cheering German youth. This was a well orchestrated visual assault to establish party credibility and strong government with an appeal to nationalist sentiments based on deep-rooted myths of German cultural supremacy. Combined with radio, and the undeniably talented film footage and photographs of Leni Riefenstahl, this was a highly sophisticated propaganda campaign.

Home > Contents > Visual indexes > Unidentified photographer (Possibly Heinrich Hoffman)

"Nixon's the one" 1968

"Nixon is the One' by Dick Tuck, 1968

Richard Nixon ran a campaign that asked voters who they would want to lead the country, which resulted in the slogan ‘Nixon is the One’. A political strategist and prankster, Dick Tuck, hired groups of pregnant women to go to Nixon rallies wearing buttons sporting the slogan, which indicated he was ‘the one’ for a number of other areas as well.

Source: https://designschool.canva.com/blog/examples-of-propaganda/

Barack Obama "Hope" poster 2008

Barack Obama "Hope" poster by Shepard Fairey, 2008

The Barack Obama "Hope" poster is an image of Barack Obama designed by artist Shepard Fairey, which was widely described as iconic and came to represent his 2008 presidential campaign.This iconic image represents Obama’s presidential campaign. It shows him as a symbol of hope, and is very reminiscent of the Che Guevara poster – which is a reflection of the revolution of the young generations who supported Obama’s campaign.​

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_%22Hope%22_poster

https://designschool.canva.com/blog/examples-of-propaganda/

Image manipulation as war propaganda 2012

There are many examples of how newspapers around the world photoshop images of war in order to influence public opinion. All sides in a conflict will do this as propaganda, so it is important to remember this when consuming news on international conflicts and to be alert for phonies. The images below of the recent conflict in Syria show how easily images are manipulated for the purposes of propaganda:

Source: https://www.activistpost.com/2014/03/6-examples-of-media-manipulation.html