Sunday, April 06, 2008

Top 5 Ranking

In order, and in my opinion, my top 5 rankings for historical (20th Century) propaganda posters is as follows:

1. Spanish Civil War. (Many famous and talented artists produced works for the Republican effort. It really raised the bar in terms of quality.)
2. Soviet Union. The only game in town (at least until the 1980s) for talented artists was the state. It was that or work in a factory, or be shot, or starve etc.
3. Chinese Communist. Same as for Soviet Union above.
4. (Tie) US and UK propaganda during both world wars. These countries had the resources and artists that had to compete.

6. "Honorable" Mention (so to speak): North Korean. Same as #2 & 3 above.

No matter where other efforts would be ranked, the Nazis are dead last. An example is as follows:

"Young Men, Serve the Fuhrer."

Not to beat a dead horse, but the Nazi's propaganda poster art (their efforts were spent on pageantry and tailoring their uniforms) is almost always second rate. This is one of the better from an "artistic" point of view. Perhaps failed artists did not like anyone more talented? The sample above cannot have been very "inspirational." Master race indeed. (Of course, what else could one expect from a ideology that managed to unite capitalists and communists as allies?)

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