Support Your Troops, Grow Some RootsDuring World War II the United States government and many other governments around the world commissioned and produced propaganda for encourage citizen support for the war effort. “War Gardens For Victory: Grow Vitamins At Your Kitchen Door” is an example of such a piece. This poster depicts an American woman holding a hoe and a large basket of vegetables with text above, behind and below her. This text is large and bold; it is easy to read from a distance and is the first thing the viewer's eyes are drawn to. The image seems easy enough to reproduce although it has detailed vegetables, clothing and facial features. The poster follows the style of many US propaganda pieces. Much like “I Want You for the US Army” and other wartime posters, “War Gardens For Victory: Grow Vitamins At Your Kitchen Door” calls for action on the part of the American citizen. Propaganda implies that war is a national effort in which everyone must participate for it to be successful. If every citizen does not pledge to support their country, then they will be guilty of any loss. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. The text and the woman's dress are red, white and blue, the colors of the American flag. They evoke a feeling of patriotism in the viewer, a common propaganda tactic used to convince average citizens to support the war because of their love for their country. This particular poster encourages people to grow gardens at home so that more food can be sent to the troops. Furthermore, the food grown in the home garden did not need to be transported, thus saving petrol and trucks for the military. The woman in the poster is attractive and wears overalls and a garrison hat (a military cap). She is ready to plant a victory garden to support the troops in war. The lady stands and looks ready to fight making it seem like planting a victory garden is like going to war, a real contribution to the effort. He holds the hoe at his side like a gun. His position is unmistakably determined and strong. Even the basket in his hand is overflowing with healthy-looking vegetables, proving that vegetable gardens achieve truly tangible results. Furthermore, the artist's text implies that people do not need to move beyond the threshold of the kitchen door to support the friends, family and neighbors they know at war. It almost works to the point of making the viewer feel guilty for not doing more to support the war effort when it's so simple. Furthermore, the word vitamin is strategic. The citizen does not just grow vegetables, but rather nutritious sustenance to make the United States invincible to any adversary. This poster does exactly what the government and military intended it to do: call the common citizen to action. The woman in the poster supports her country by taking the initiative and planting a garden and it is effective because her message is so clear. Every woman can see herself as the woman standing in the graphic; they think of their husbands, brothers, sons and friends at war and feel the urge to take action. Their families back home should not take food out of the mouths of brave European soldiers. Food rations were harsh during World War II, and the thought of being able to supplement the household diet with vitamin-rich vegetables would have been appealing to any mother or wife. The propaganda poster evokes only positive thoughts, so anyone who looks at it/11.
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