Sunday, October 30, 2011

Australia and Propaganda

During the World War I period, propaganda was used by the government as a mean to attract young men to participate in the war. There were two types of propaganda: Conscription propaganda and Recruitment propaganda. It was a form of media that is aimed at influencing young men to become future soldiers. Various forms of media such as posters were very influential in relation to recruitment.


Recruitment posters were used to make young men feel that they should be a part of the war. The propaganda posters were very effective and enabled countries such as France, Germany and Italy to recruit many members for their army.


There were many categories in which these propaganda posters covered. These forms of media were cleverly presented in a way that utilised gender approach, included peer pressure, encourages the spirit of adventure, exaggerated the hatred and fear of the Germans and appeals to patriotism.

Some propaganda posters hoodwink us and contort and conceal the true facts.





For example, the following recruitment propaganda poster includes the use of peer pressure and gender approach. This poster is well thought out because the use of gender approach is very strong. The slogan, “We Can Do It!” influences them to join because if a woman can do it they can too. Giving the female large biceps is also an effective feature.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

World War I - The Background Story

If you are new to the First World War - or are rusty after many years since history class - the reasons for the so-called 'Great War' can be shrouded in confusion. The Second World War was rather more straightforward: no questions there who did what and who was at fault. But the First World War? I believe many students would find this topic rather boring compared to the Second. But its just gonna have to wait its turn.

World War I was, let's say, a huge argument, lasting from 1914 to 1918, which involved nearly all the biggest powers of the world. It involved two opposing alliances - the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance. The countries of the Triple Entente included France, British Empire and Serbia. The countries of the
Triple Alliance included Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.World War I was triggered on 28 June 1914 by the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (heir to the throne of Austria and Hungary) and his pregnant wife Sophie. The assassination was planned by a Serbian terrorist group, called The Black Hand. The man who shot Franz Ferdinand and his wife was a Bosnian revolutionary named Gavrilo Princip. This quickly led to a full-scale war as Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Both country's allies became involved in the war, and soon most of Europe became involved.

The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I, were over 35 million. There were over 15 million deaths and 20 million wounded ranking it among the deadliest conflicts in human history.

By the end of the war the four empires — the Russian, the Ottoman, the German, and the Austro-Hungarian had collapsed because of the war.