These are pictures of WWI propaganda posters to enforce food preservation. An American poster (left), and a Canadian poster (right) . I chose to compare these posters for this blog because I find the differences between them very interesting. The American poster is incredibly dark, suggesting starvation for women and children. With haunting expressions of fear and pain, this poster encourages food preservation by strongly targeting ones empathy. The Canadian poster is much different in tone, colour and technique. This poster has a very bright and cheerful tone, and unlike the American poster, it doesn't even hint at a deadly consequence of wasting food but instead gives a replacement for the food that must be given up. The expressions of the butcher and his customer also show their joy in supporting the war effort. I think that these posters suggest that perhaps Canadians were more easily supportive of the war effort on the home front, whereas Americans had more so had to be encouraged to give up food for others. Also, showing fish as an alternative for meat in this poster may allude to the strength of Canada's fisheries during the war. I find the optimism in the Canadian propaganda reflective of its identity as a nation shown in its skill as a fighting force during WWI, in that it endures strongly through hardships. The harsh images in the American propaganda suggest that America was more focused on the consequences of failure in the war rather than the joy of victory.
Josh, this is a thoughtful and sophisticated post. I especially like how you tied the propaganda poster to the Canadian identity.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think that instead of selling both meat and fish and sending the profits overseas and having farms overseas, they sent the meat that has been sitting for days overseas even through it might spoil on the trip over? Also why would they not just stop selling meat and send it right overseas? i do agree that Canadians and Americans on the home front had different perspectives on the war effort and on lives while the men were gone.
ReplyDeleteI think they kept the option of meat open for Canadians as a luxury, and fish as an alternative. Not much meat was available for purchase, as this poster just suggests fish as an option when it actually would've been basically the only option. Also, it must have been much cheaper and easier to farm/raise animals in Canada and send products to the front rather than set up farms overseas.
ReplyDeletethat is a good point Josh I agree that it probably would be cheaper to grow animals here. Also there would be more farms on the home front to provide more meat then in the war torn areas they are fighting in
ReplyDelete