Examples

Propaganda examples

Twelve of the clearest examples on the site, one per turn of the century, each annotated pin by pin. Start here, then follow a theme.

12 examples4 groups

Each poster below opens to its annotated page, where numbered pins name the technique at work at that spot. Four themed hubs follow: examples in history, in advertising, in social media, and a classroom-safe set for students. Every example on the site is cited, and every technique named has its own entry.

The First World War

The state learns to print.

Your country needs you 12345 Your country needs you United Kingdom · 1914 · 5 techniques The pointing finger that every later recruiter copied. Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War? 123 Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War? United Kingdom · 1915 · 3 techniques Shame as a recruiting sergeant. Destroy this mad brute 1234 Destroy this mad brute United States · 1917 · 4 techniques The enemy drawn as an animal.

Revolution

The Bolshevik poster, 1918 to 1931.

Have you volunteered? 12345 Have you volunteered? Soviet Union · 1920 · 5 techniques Kitchener in a red shirt. Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge 1234 Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge Soviet Union · 1920 · 4 techniques A civil war as two shapes. Comrade Lenin cleanses the earth of filth 12345 Comrade Lenin cleanses the earth of filth Soviet Union · 1920 · 5 techniques The leader as giant, the enemies as filth. Stalin's pipe 1234 Stalin's pipe Soviet Union · 1930 · 4 techniques A purge as a puff of smoke.

The Second World War

Total war, total message.

Keep calm and carry on 123 Keep calm and carry on United Kingdom · 1939 · 3 techniques Five words under a crown, never posted. We Can Do It! 1234 We Can Do It! United States · 1942 · 4 techniques A two-week factory notice that became an icon. Someone talked! 1234 Someone talked! United States · 1942 · 4 techniques Guilt assigned to everyone. Everything for the front! 1234 Everything for the front! Soviet Union · 1942 · 4 techniques Photomontage as a production order.

After

Is this tomorrow? America under Communism 1234 Is this tomorrow? America under Communism United States · 1947 · 4 techniques The red scare, as a comic book.
More examples
  • Propaganda examples in historyPosters and passages from 1898 to 1964, grouped by period, each tied to the technique it uses and the source it comes from.
  • Propaganda examples in advertisingThe same devices, sold by the column inch: borrowed authority, numbers that mislead, words that do the work, pictures that promise, and the crowd that is already buying.
  • Propaganda examples in social mediaFake people, fake crowds, fake pictures, and a feed built to reward anger: the documented cases behind the digital-era techniques.
  • Propaganda examples for studentsFourteen classroom-safe examples arranged by the seven devices of 1937, two for each, with the questions to ask of them.