Final Post

In summary, propaganda was a major part of recruiting soldiers for World War 1. Propaganda is still used nowadays, to change the public’s opinion. To recap on what the blog Weiyu and I have created, I will elaborate on the concept of propaganda. Propaganda is the manipulation of peoples’ outlook through the use of visual and aural media.  Here are some fun facts about propaganda.

1.     Propaganda has various forms. It can be advertised on the television, on a poster, via radio etc.

2.     In World War 1, usually propaganda used society’s expectations to pressure men into being recruited. They also exploited families, by generalising the beliefs that all families were happy and proud of their father/son/brother were fighting in the war etc.

3.     It is debated whether propaganda is the altering of political opinions or whether it is just persuasive communication, either way they both revolve around persuading an audience.

4.     It can be said that the propaganda that was used in World War 1 was very effective as it brought many soldiers in to the war. They had even young men, too young to try out eager to sign up.

5.     However the idea of war that was portrayed to the population glorified the idea of war and thus many men were give n a false impression of what it was actually like.

This concludes Weiyu‘s and Monica’s Blog on Propaganda.
Thankyou for reading!

Propoganda in Modern Media

Propaganda was blatantly used in WW1 to manipulate the decisions of society then and is still used today. Australia was no exception then.

The video above is an American Army advertisement called, ' I am an American Soilder' or alternatively ‘U.S Soldier’s Creed’. It targets comradeship (0:10) where they all chant in unison, ‘I will always place the mission first’ and then later as they mimic what is said of the creed by various members of the army. It often intercuts the message of the creed with film of them doing practical and arduous tasks which targets the audience’s involvement and questions their strength. ‘I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.’ is an example of targeting patriotism.

It ends with a slogan, ‘There’s strong and then there’s army strong’ indicating there’s a difference in strength between a normal civilian and a soldier.

Arthur Thomas Smilliams - Last Entry

It had been raining all week yet the miserable downpour was nothing compared to the chilling atmosphere among us Australians back home.  The war had been raging now surpassing all kinds of weathering and toil.  The only thing that hadn’t changed moved or even stirred in the slightest was the status of the war.

If you asked me yesterday what I thought of war my answer would simply be, ‘It’s stupid.’ And if you asked me yesterday whether I would consider enlisting I would answer with the same nonchalance, ‘You’re stupid.’

But it wasn’t yesterday. It was Thursday and suddenly the presence of danger seemed more imminent than ever.  I don’t know what put the idea in my head. It could’ve been anything or everything from the constant chatter to the several headlines that reminded us that the consequences of a war so far away still applied.

‘If you are physically fit and between 18 and 44 years of age, are you really satisfied with what you are doing to-day?’ a poster stated.

I was fit but I wasn’t satisfied. All I really did was complain but now things had changed. How rotten this feeling felt to know that a threat approached us and I – a capable adolescent male – had not done the best I could for our nation. The disappointment my family would feel and to fight by the side of brothers who had come to their senses long before me. The solution to my problems was clear.  I enlisted first thing this morning.

‘If you are physically fit and between 18 and 44 years of age, are you really satisfied with what you are doing to-day?’ a poster stated.

http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww1/homefront/5ques.html

What is Propaganda?

Propaganda manipulates the mind of the audience. This can be done by provocation or plain brain washing patriotism. It is usually advertised through media and is portrayed with various techniques. However, the various forms of propaganda are still effective in influencing the majority. Although highly debated on what the correct or actual definition of propaganda is, essentially it is persuading the public to shift its view towards one particular opinion.

In World War 1, propaganda was used to help gather support for the soldiers. It was used to also recruit soldiers by either appealing to their patriotism or pressuring them by using society’s opinions and by their own family.  The government wanted to portray the war as a place to gain notoriety and glory. Many men were lured into enlisting because of their ambition and also due to peer-pressure.

Anyone and everyone who saw the posters and advertisements of propaganda were influenced.

The various techniques of propaganda created different aspects to look at the war from. And because of these many men were recruited due to their own personal reasons. Most men who participated in the war were there for their own reasons. Some of these included trying to prove their masculinity. The idea of war incited adventure as well. Soldiers who came home alive were paid well and had stories both pitiful and heroic. Reputation and wealth was another reason men were (and still are) tempted to go to war.

Propaganda in World War 1 furthermore portrayed families to be proud of fathers and sons fighting in the war. Here is an example in poster form.

The Beginning of World War I

World War I, was essentially started by a group of Serbian conspirators, the Black Hand, who planned the assassination of a political leader. This secret society had about 10 members to start with. The idea of the Black Hand was to unite all the serbs in an attempt to create Greater Serbia.

On the 28^th July 1914, Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated. It was committed by a Black Hand member who was later discovered to be a teenager, Gavrilo Princip. This murder started multiple arguments, causing fights between the many countries in the Europe and the world.  This resulted in the world dividing into two sides. The reason behind the war was because of the many different countries forming allies and defences such as the Triple Entente and Triple Alliance.

Triple Entente included France, Russia and Britain while the Triple Alliance included Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy (who later deferred to the Triple Entente).

This started a domino effect, causing one of the greatest wars of our time. Russia gave an ultimatum to Austria-Hungary not to invade, in turn the German Empire (who had a treaty with Austria-Hungary) threatened Russia, Britain and France threatened Germany as Britain and France had a treaty with Russia. Australia became involved because of it's ties with Britain.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/index.htm

http://rjdhistoryteaching.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/europeanalliancesystemmap1.gif