Logan Gibb

P. 3
Propaganda
War propaganda has been an important political influence through all of history. It has been
used in every single country and place. Propaganda shows up in many forms of cartoons, newspapers,
radio, and TV. Artists are the ones who design all propaganda to persuade people to their point of view.
Some of the most influential propaganda was used during world war two to boast the people spirits and
to urge them to help the war by buying war bonds. Many pieces were produced by many prominent
artists like Dr. Seuss if efforts to aid the war.
During the Second World War many of the artists did pieces with pro-America themes. Artists
created posters telling the American people to buy War Bonds to aid the country. This was a key role of
propaganda artists during this period, like many of Dr. Seuss pieces to help the American government
to pay for the war and to lend to other countries involved in the war (Popova). These war bonds were
one of the most. Other purposes were for propaganda was to bolster the American spirit, to keep factory
workers happy, farmers productive, and women completely involved. The pieces like WE CAN DO IT
show that women were a key on the home front in the war. Women need to know that their work was
just as important as the men fighting it. So artists portrayed women as being just as strong as men in
capability and effort to the war (Power).
Other Artists used to portray the Axis powers and brutes and evil. The war was no longer a fight
between the Axis and the Allies, it was viewed as good vs evil because of the art movement. The ability
to make Hitler and the Nazis seem like the devil themselves and the ability to make American soldiers
perfect righteous men made the war a more justifiable. The artists abilities were very good to be able to
sway an entire nation to their views and causes. They also played on the fears of the American people.
They told them that one day Germany would invade America so that they had to act now. They played
on parents protecting their children and on things that could happen to them. This means the artists did
their job and showing fear and emotions in their propaganda pieces. This pushed American people to
buy war bonds and to get active in the war (Power). Other Artists invoked hatred for the Fascist rules
like Hitler, and Mussolini. Dr Seuss was one prominent artist in this, portrayed Hitler as a serpent, and
showed the Nazis influencing western society if we did nothing.
Dr Seuss during the war stopped producing children stories and focused on war propaganda
during the second world war. Dr Seuss was influenced by many things as a young boy. His love and
passion for America developed during the 1
st
World War and continued for the rest of his life. His love
of drawing came from his father because his father worked at a zoo and he as a young boy would go
and draw the animals in a weird and humorous way. His mother influenced his love of rhymes and
poems. With all this it lead and pushed him to become a cartoonist during college where he made
plenty of money (Who). When the rest of the world was in war Dr Seuss started to produce pro war
pieces trying to bolster American's opinion about joining the war (Popova). Then he joined the military
and he was placed in the Information and Education division where he made films and cartoons for
pro-America propaganda. This put him even further ahead in his career. He won a couple of awards for
the couple of documentaries made during his time in the army (Who).
Dr. Seuss style was a unique and critical one. He controlled every step of his art work, from the
beginning sketch to the final line he was there making sure everything was correct. His abilities to
covey story and emotion through his works are unparalleled. He could create motion and tensions just
with his drawings and lets not forget his use of unconventional cartoonist animals and peoples. His
choice of color also was a huge role. Artists had to hand pick every color to get exactly what they
wanted during this time period. He had to use a number wheel and many hours to get exactly what
color he wanted. He used specific color for the target Audiences. For his children books he used bright
and vibrant colors to keep the readers in attention (Art).
Dr Seuss contribution to the art movement of propaganda for the aid of America in the Second
World War is unforgettable. His use of his artist abilities to portray a story and his use of
unconventional animals make his works unique and good. His art work helped to sell war bonds and
help the feelings of the American's people towards the war. Dr Seuss skill will continue on forever in
everyones hearts for the love of his children books.
Work Cited
Popova, Maria. "Dr. Seusss World War II Political Propaganda Cartoons." . Brain Picking, n.d. Web. 21 May
2014. <http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/08/10/dr-seusss-wartime-propaganda-
cartoons/>.

"Powers of Persuasion." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records
Administration, n.d. Web. 21 May 2014.
<http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers_of_persuasion/powers_of_persuasion_home.html#>.

"Who Was Dr. Seuss?." About.com 20th Century History. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2014.
<http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/a/Seuss.htm>.

"Art of Dr. Seuss - Overview." Art of Dr. Seuss - Overview. The Chase Group, n.d. Web. 21 May 2014.
<http://www.drseussart.com/overview.html>.