I am aiming to look at work that is very clear and has a strong message.
Propaganda (the intentional use of imagery to create a feeling of anger and hate towards an enemy) is a great place to start analysing the powerful methods of communication and it is interesting to see if the findings can be applied in a positive context as effectively.
Propaganda is a powerful weapon in war; it is used to de humanise and create hatred toward a supposed enemy, either internal or external, by creating a false image in the mind.
In North Korea there is a clear anti-American agenda, which is the main component of their current widespread use of propaganda posters.
From these three images, the one that spoke most powerfully to myself and others is the last image, which strikes up a powerful emotional response.
What I see in the image?
This image portrays a North Korean hand smashing a US soldier.
This symbolises the destruction of America, and in the background there is what looks like an explosion or movement.
What is it trying to make you feel ?
This image is intended to evoke the feeling of power, strength, pride, desire and hope in the eyes of a North Korean's (NK). It does this to create a feeling of dominance and power over other countries and to establish a culture of self preservation. The communist leadership and self empowerment ethics and beliefs the country hold are evident in the propaganda posters . This is achieved through the use of gesture and stanza and construction of the image through the use of colour.
For the rest of the world (mainly the West and USA), this poster provokes feelings of anger, fear, doubt and despair. It is designed to make the enemy of NK feel powerless and asserts dominance over them, through the use of its content and structure.
All of these assumptions are based solely on the visual impact of the images as opposed to understanding the text and context of the situation. I feel this is an advantage for me, when visually analysing the work, as I am not affected by language or prior knowledge.
Adding the context :
This Poster is on a large billboard in a public place in NK. The likely audience is the local people, to assert the notion that the government has power over 'Multi-nationalist' countries such as the USA.
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| the poster in its intend place and use. |
Scale
The size of the fist and arm is very unrealistic compared to the country and the person. The affect of this changes the meaning and exaggerates the message.
Having a hand taking up very little room on the page and having more of a background has less affect that a larger one however if you increase the size of the hand to much it will cover to much of the context up and the background is important in deciphering the context of the image.
Light and Tone
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| looking at the direction of light |
There is an even balance between the tone used in the image, which makes it easy on the eye . There is a strong and clear definition of where the light and the dark areas of the image are making a holistic and sound image.
Structure and composition
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| structural use of triangles |
Looking at the vanishing points and basic structure of the image and the basic shapes that come from the image it is easy to pick up on the use of triangles used in the image.
'I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way—things I had no words for' (Georgia O’Keeffe, )According to Molly Bangs the use of triangles in design, often represent 'tension,action and aggression. Triangles as a shape have energy and power and can suggest either conflict or steady growth and as well as movement . I can see how the use of triangles in this poster shows power and aggression. |
| molly bangs picture this how pictures work . |
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| Molly bang picture this how picture work |
Looking at how changing the direction of a triangle can affect how you read it with an upside down triangle representing instability.
The hand is central and taking up most of our focus we are drawn to the closed fist not only by the use of light and size but through the clever placement of the background which sections of part of the hand the fist is strong and isn't dissected by the background. This helps to separate and highlight the important part of the image - the clenched fist, and gives a horizon to work along putting it in context.
The edge of the world is in line with the wrist and is not all a black line the white line outlining the world on the left side of the hand which could be representing the light but also breaks up the power of the background over the foreground.
- Gives the effect of haloising
- Sharp points like teeth
- Explosion
- Fire
- Earthquake
- anger
- Force
- a heart rate line
This type of Shape and line Can be Found in many North Korean Propaganda Posters where Falames and Explosions are used to express Power.
This image is a mureale outside a school encouraging people to aim at the Americans as a Target practice. The way the People are draw makes them seem funny and humourous as if it where a game
However these Shapes although help to define the content is not the only thing that dictates this. As in the Case of Molly bangs simplified images for the story of hansel and gretel the Jagged edges of the Blue Represents the towering tree tops of the wood.
Through looking in to the Meaning of Shapes and Backgrounds in Comics It is easier to begin to understand the reason behind them and how they communicate a sense or emotion
Note the similarities between the image bellow and the image above and how the feeling of anger is exentuated through the colour red and the action of steeping down as well as the direction of focus looking up at the person and the use of diagonals creating movement.
Colour
Looking at the basics of the shape taking out tone and replacing with similar colour used although the colours are a little brighter It is now easy to notice the feeling of comparison there is between foreground colour which is skin tone the in-between which is blue and the background which is red .
The colours used in the image strike up a very natural feel, the hand in very realistic colours makes the gesture very real and powerful.This compared to the unrealistic colour of the USA soldier makes him seem distant and unimportant and not a real human it dehumanises the situation.
The large amount of blue in the image makes the subject hand stand out more being a contrasting colour to the skin colour tone and represents the world with its variations of the colour blue indicates the countries
The second colour in the background the burnt red and orange can be seen to add to the understanding of what the
Through looking at more Korean propaganda posters red and blue are used consistently and in a very representational way with the force and power and communism always being portrayed by the red colours.
Understanding the political power in colour . parties use colours to represent there party views for example the green party represents itself with the green where as communism is often seen as red
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| Red Korean Soldier In an attacking gesture |
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| the colour red along with the harsh and rough tone and the perspective of looking up at the person gives the image power and gravitas. |
The use of the colour red and the use of a closed fist and gesture help to portray a believed power over non communist nations .
Gesture
The clenched fist Gesture
The use of a tightly clenched fist which is obvious due to the muscle and tendons drawn in the poster
what effect does the use of gesture have on this image.
it is used repetativly in propoganda and has be rehtoric
A hand is something we can all identify with and recognise all have rather that having a face which is less easy to identify with however hands rarely looks to different to one another the hand used in the poster is predominantly masculine looking by its size and with a muscly veiny arm.
Looking at the difference of a female or male or child hand on the image.
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| A masculine hand has a stronger powerful dominance seems more harsh and viscious. |
If it where a Childs hand in a fist it would have a more vulnerable feel and would not seem right in the extreme scale used on the poster.
style
The style of the image is quite Graphic and photo realistic the comic line style with elements of photo realism particularly in the hand and harsh black edges only around the gestured hand make it stand out and seem indestructible like a solid form on the page .
Interesting looking at propaganda when it is a slightly different message. When a more positive and gentle message is being made towards the women of the country different colours and styles are used. However the red still makes and appearance on the tie and in the sunflowers.
The use of a sturdy base triangle from the watering can asserts a positive growth.
The Following posters used to promote women's activity during in World War II following America's entry into the War.
These are a lot softer images although showing power by using more muted and almost pastel colours. The use of Gesture in the above picture suggest it is aimed at encouraging women and reassuring men of women's strength.
Where as the gesture used in the image bellow is a more liberal and Happy image showing positive encouragement to the forces as they leave the factories.
Evaluation.
So far this has been really great to understanding what makes an image have a powerful message and understanding what makes it powerful !Looking a little at how it makes you feel .
Propaganda is always used to portray a message powerfully one of the ways it does this the best is that it has a really clear agenda as to what it is communicating ,there is a clear and obvious and concise message trying to be put across .
The message is made clear through its content and is not subtle it communicates in an extreme and overt way.
The use of scale is a significant part of the images communication with the over sized fist compared to the size of the world the country or even the American . It shows power assertion of the North Koreans dominance and gives a high egotistical presence . The size also draws your attention to the hand along with the use of colour,and most importantly Gesture:
The use of gesture and the direction of the gesture is a big part of communicating the clear Powerful message of hatred to Americans and the 'Crush them' attitude.
Re analyse
Testing what i have identified alongside what others have done when making there own propaganda posters :
These images That have been made using the devices that i have identified In my research in particular the colour red and the use of gesture and direction.
Use of an iconic Image That sparks a response It needs to be something that people can relate to be it a gesture or an object that strikes up a feeling . Also It is the use of Size that gives the effect of a Grandious Power and there is also
Creating a Headshoot for a campaign that is powerful and simple in its message.
The use of the Colour Blue for america was a must in Obamas campaign subconsciously playing on the patriarchism of the country and that the colour blue helps represent democracy and helps to evoke the feelings ,control, Loyalty and calmness.
The use of fading of colour and having a headshot that is cut out helps not to detract from the face you want to be noticed.
Using a colour that contrast clearly with the background makes reading clear and concise. Also changing the colour and weighting of a subheading make it easy to know what to read first.
This image try's to bring the propaganda badge design together however i feel this detracts from the face , it is also hard to read the writing over the photo the colour white is also quite hard.
Making the Love heart smaller is pointless as the #votejoy is lost so the reason behind it is lost.
The background Colour of pink helps run alongside the colour of my campaign as the Students Union who i am campaigning to become a part of uses the colour pink for T-Shirts . Pink also helps to represent my happy and approachable nature, the Love hearts I will be handing out are also the colour Pink .
I think that the pink writing is more in keeping and easier to read than the Grey/blue.
I then Implemented this Colour Scheme through the rest of my Campaign .
Looking at ways of showing Joyful and happy emotions through backgrounds by looking at how these emotions and senses are communicated in comicbooks.
Through looking at Videos Used in war time propaganda and Political campaign videos I analysed what sort of communication devices are used and how they are put together in order to create my own Campaign video.
Here are some examples and points that i noticed.
The use of a voice over helps to grow the interest of the viewer and doesn't bore them by having some one talking at the screen . Having images that are relatable to the subject matter and recognisable to the intended audience making them feel apart of the movement.
My Campaign video:
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