Does this image scare you? It sure as hell scares me. The impact that propaganda has on the public is often underestimated, as many do not realize just how impactful propaganda can be on shaping and forming their beliefs about a person. This image for example projects Adolf Hitler as a family man; hugging children and exemplifying the honest, trustworthy values Germany hoped to establish throughout their country. You wouldn't trust a psychopath, a maniac, a power-hungry lunatic with your children now would you? Well obviously Hitler can't be so, as this propaganda shows us his loving, friendly, nationalist spirit! |
This is the danger that propaganda brings. The power of this work is so strong, so convincing, especially when you are constantly surrounded by it, that after a point it is hard to differentiate between your own feelings about a situation and those that have been forced into your head through images of nationalism and unity and devotion. Often, propaganda isn't even specifically recognizable as propaganda--rather it is so integrated into society that it is hardly noticeable, rather a part of everyday life. Some elements of propaganda have been integrated into fine art as well, blurring the line between the two. Would you hang propaganda in a museum? Many have been asking this question, as propaganda is typically associated with a more personal connection with the people--painted on the walls of buildings, hung around schools and offices, and printed in the papers. In comparison, one often has to go seeking fine art by traveling to a museum or visiting a gallery. Perhaps this is one explanation for why propaganda has such an impact.