Purchase Solution

Role of Propaganda in the 20th century

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Propaganda plays a significant role in the human history. Propaganda could create negative as well as positive impact in the lives of the people.

There was a massive use of propaganda in the 20th century than ever before. Some of the examples of such usage could be seen in both World Wars. Several mediums are used to inculcate ideas into the minds and hearts of general public. One such medium was art work. More and more artists began to incorporate their personal political beliefs in their art work. The propagandists knew very well that the minds of the masses could be touched especially during the time of war. Powerful political and cultural messages can evoke strong emotions among the people. Thus during the World Wars, art played a key role in propaganda. One of the classical examples of war time art was Picasso's famous anti-war art, Guernica which was produced in 1937. It portrayed the cruelties of war and created an anti-war hysteria. During the World War II, Hitler used art as a medium to inculcate Nazi ideas into the hearts of German people. The Third Rich organized two exhibitions; Degenerate Art and German Art exhibition.

War time posters also played a great role during the world wars. There were posters reflecting varied themes connected with recruitment and homefront. Another way of propaganda during the war time was by using gender characters. War posters depicted the enemy as beast or demon inorder to create unity in the nation. Posters of working women in the factories were used by the Allies during the time of World Wars. Different types of art forms were introduced as propaganda technique during the Korean War, Vietnam War and the Cold war.

Today, United States is circulating information through media for the cause of the Middle East. It has even created Global Communication to spread its ideas above every nation. Words and images are used to propagate their ideas. Today, propaganda is directed towards everyone; literate or illiterate. Different ways of propaganda are introduced through pamphlets, posters, magazines, books, music, movies and even cartoons. Today, Television is one of the powerful medium of propaganda. Even the everyday news is distorted by using certain words and phrases to meet the end.

There is no doubt that propaganda is an essential element in the lives of the people, but it becomes dangerous when one uses it for sinister purposes. The government in power could use propaganda to force certain impressions in the minds of the people. It is essentially a mind control technique. The only one solution to counter such kind of propaganda is to form independent and creative thinking. The art of propaganda is fruitful only when it is used for nationalism and common good.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

This solution pertains to the role of propaganda which played an important role in the affairs of 20th century.

Solution Preview

Propaganda plays a significant role in the human history. Propaganda could create negative as well as positive impact in the lives of the people.

There was a massive use of propaganda in the 20th century than ever before. Some of the examples of such usage could be seen in both World Wars. Several mediums are used to inculcate ideas into the minds and hearts of general public. One such medium was art work. More and more artists began to incorporate their personal political beliefs in their art work. The propagandists knew very well that the minds of the masses could be touched especially during the time of war. Powerful political and cultural messages can evoke strong emotions ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
The French Revolution

This quiz covers the first French Revolution of 1789-94.

United States History - America, The New Nation

This quiz will cover the establishment of America including the sources of the American Revolution, British policies and mercantilism and the establishment of the United States.

Atlantic Slave Trade

This quiz will test your knowledge on the Atlantic Slave Trade

America Joins the World 1900-1939

This quiz will test your knowledge on America's emergence into the world beginning from the 20th century until the start of WWII

US World History Test I

Discusses the events that happen during the 15th through the 19th Century.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Can government use of propaganda be beneficial?

    Reference the information in the background materials below, and then answer the following question: Do you agree that propaganda "has had an essential, and not always dishonorable, role in the conduct of affairs in the 20th century"?

  • Myth and propaganda used during the Holocaust

    564141 Myth and propaganda used during the Holocaust This is a succinct analysis of the significant role myth and propaganda played in the Final Solution or Holocaust during World War II.

  • Propaganda's Usefulness in America

    This developed an atmosphere where individuals were willing to work harder in order to, not only climb the economic ladder, but also ensure that the goods and services produced by this nation were second to none in the first half of the 20th century.

  • Mussolini's use of architecture as propaganda

    Title: The Role of History of Architecture in Fascist Italy Magazine: Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Volume 24, Number 1 (March 1965), Pages 53-59 5.

  • Economic Role of Women in History in 20th Century

    543111 Economic Role of Women in History in 20th Century Please demonstrate the economic role on Women from the beginning of the 20th century to present.

  • Public Images in Art of Lenin and Stalin

    Select one political leader from the past (prior to the 20th century) who used art to influence public perceptions of his/her power and image, and one leader of the 20th or 21st century who employed art in a similar manner.

  • Political Movements in the 20th Century

    In 19th century the child labor was the biggest problem of the society but it had been solved in 20th century (Littell & Littell, 1939).

  • Advertising as a source of societal unrest and unhappiness.

    This solution examines the role of advertising on society. American author and diplomat Clare Booth Luce claims that "Advertising has done more to cause the social unrest of the 20th century than any other single factor."

  • City Council

    You need to explain the role of the civil service commission in today's modern city. What were some of the reasons civil service came about at the turn of the 20th century? What were some of the historic movements that prompted these changes?

View More Related Solutions