A major off the battlefield part of World War One was propaganda. The clever ads were created to persuade the at-home Americans to give the support for the war across the ocean whether it was their emotional support or physically contributing. The main goal of these propaganda ads is to persuade. Based on Aristotle's Rhetoric, there are three main keys to persuasion: ethos, logos, and pathos. (Michelstaedter, 21) When dealing with propaganda, pathos is the main factor in it's persuasion goals.
Pathos in persuasion is the emotional factor. The pathos factor drives to its audience's emotions to get its results. In most propaganda, the ad contains an image along with a simple tag line. There were numerous propaganda ads created during this World War One time frame, but one in particular features Joan of Arc. The question is, how would Joan be used as an effective propaganda ad?
The ad is obviously targeting women. Joan was a popular figure in popular culture back then. Her image and story would be well known amongst the American public. The message is pretty straight forward; Joan saved her country through her efforts, the women of America can help assist in the saving of the country by buying war stamps. Joan's patriotism is supposed to inspire patriotism in American women. The Joan of Arc propaganda ad is just a small part in a successful war effort on the American home front.
Works Cited
Michelstaedter, Carlo, and Russell Scott Valentino.
Persuasion & Rhetoric. New Haven:
Joan of Arc Propaganda Ad. 1918.
Aaron-
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the discussion of Aristotle's Rhetoric- what a great lens to view Joan propaganda through! The WWI motif is an interesting use of Joan, especially the "empowerment of women" campaign. Interesting to consider that the target audience of these posters were women who were being encouraged to get involved in the war in perhaps the exact opposite way Joan went about it.
Rachel
Aaron, I also think the connection between pathos or the emotional factors and Joan's role in WWI propaganda is really interesting. At the same time, Rachel, you make a fascinating point that Joan represents a woman making war, not simply supporting a war from the sidelines. Is the way in which pop culture in America conceived of Joan the reason for why propaganda was able to successfully translate Joan in a way not even very reflective of her actual deeds? Although your explanation of pathos makes it easier to understand how the propaganda worked as well.
ReplyDeleteLinked to class Monday, an excellent example of a rare image when women, swords, and armor are culturally acceptable. In this way, to Save America through purchase, in desperate times. It is interesting to be a viewer and look at Joan to get the "essence" of who she was mid-War. What is the white behind her, do you think? Ideas?
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