Comparing Images in Art and Propaganda
| Find a propaganda image in a museum that dates from at least over 200 years ago or more. Then, find a propaganda image from the last 150 years. You can find the more recent, non-museum image in your textbook, online, or in a scholarly journal. You can also look at mass media/public relations campaigns created to distort your perception of certain products. Remember, the propaganda can be positive or negative; it can be used to slander or aggrandize the subject Explain what propaganda is in your own words and also by using scholarly sources. Then, you are going to relate the two images (the older museum item and the newer found item) from your different time periods. For example: Heroic idealization: The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius (175 CE) vs. Statue of Lenin in Seattle (1988 CE). What is being valued in these images? What qualities are emphasized? What are these artworks trying to convey? Is the result positive, or negative? Use CSUN’s Oviatt Library online databases (click on “databases” for excellent sources such as: JSTOR, ARTSTOR, Art Index, Oxford Art Online, Humanities Full Text) as your sources for artist, image and artistic movement information. Then explain how propaganda can be created and be very effective in a visual form. Identify and discuss historical and contemporary propaganda. Do you feel that one era delivered a message more artfully than another? |
Art and propaganda
During political campaigns, contesters tend to use various slogans, gestures, songs, clothing, and postage stamps to pass their message to the electorate. The words used may either be true or false as long as they aid in achieving the goals of the user. Such luring methods are called propaganda. Therefore, propaganda refers to a mode of communication used to influence people to buy a certain idea to support a particular belief. According to Gutierrez, propaganda is a methodical effort used to manipulate the attitudes, beliefs, and actions of people through music, emblem, tributes, and others[1].
The two images entitled “Destruction of Pharaoh’s host” have been used to spread some kinds of propagandas and were both made in the 18th century[2]. Each of them was promoting a certain message which the author had in mind for different audiences. The two images were painted by John Martin[3]. In both images, the visual quality is highly emphasized to ensure that the audience can interpret the message correctly. The brown color is common in both images which are ideal for visual enhancement. The first image demonstrates the fight of the Pharaoh’s army and the Israelites. According to the book of Exodus in the Bible, Moses was ordained by God to lead the Israelites without fear as God would offer protection upon them. From the picture, the sea waves depict God’s powers against Pharaoh’s chariots while Moses and the Israelites stood safely at the seashore.[4] Pharaoh’s chariots are represented by the tiny dots in the waters as they are overturned by the waves which indicate the Israelites’ victory over them.
