The Art of Interpretation

While conducting research for the upcoming poster project, it only seemed appropriate to examine the infamous World War II era of poster art.

Here we see graphic design at its most blunt, abrasive, and (sadly) successful. In this example of United States propaganda, Japanese stereotypes (right down to the typography) serve to support a "call-to-action" among American citizens.

As in this and many other war-time posters, exaggeration is the key element. Instead of simply stating the fact that American industry was the dominating factor to the allied success, this poster created an incredibly exaggerated enemy persona to stoke the emotional fires of a nation at war.