Image Analysis Exercise

The two articles in which we have to compare and write a 500 word analysis on.

The uncle Sam Range (1876) advertising image by Schumcher and Ettlinger, New York

"Daddy what did you do in the great war?" - Savile Lumley (1915)

• The choice and organisation of font and style of illustration
• The purpose and meaning of the image
• The target / Potential audience of the image
• The social and historical contexts relevant to the production of the image.

The two pieces of graphic design at hand, are outlining two very different topics; 'The Uncle Sam range' poster is advertising a range of of ovens whilst the "Great war" is dealing with the topic of the World War; two very contrasting pieces  in subject matter, but both hold a key purpose; to persuade. 

The "Great War" poster holds many symbols relating to it's country. The chair holds a pattern which are symbols of royalty, the young boy is playing with figurines made to look like the palace guards which is symbolic of the pride for ones country, this relation is made due to the red attire, which is also worn by the boy. The general attire worn by the family is very British. The poster in itself is representing the idea that you have a duty to the queen and country, this is a guilt trip in an attempt to feel you have to serve in the war; a persuasive device.

Whilst the "The Uncle Sam Range" poster is attempting to sell a range of cookers through the use of a socio-historical context and a mass amount of American related symbols, similar to the "Great War" poster. It's using the idea that Americas superiority is above all other countries development; using the element of food to show this. An image of the globe, which holds the name of Europe, Asia and Africa (Africa represented by an idiotic face, potentially a racial statement), is reading a list of awful foods from particular countries. This paired with the image of Uncle Sam offering a vast range of glorious food, shows the attempts to boast about how America has such a high status. This in link with the type present "Uncle Sams Little Diiner Party 1876" and a clock showing this date, and 100 years previous (When America became an independent country), shows the intention of the poster, which is to sell the dream of American superiority, persuading people to buy this particular range of cooker as it is 'the best', being American.

Type has a massive affect on the persuasive devices used, within the "great war" poster, lower case, speech imitated type is used which gives a personal quality to the poster. In context, the little girl is saying this to her father. The "Uncle Sams Range"  poster uses a typeface which is designed to make you think its gold, again relating to America's apparent superiority. 

Propaganda is apparent in the "great War"poster, the image content used is clearly present tense, it's showing that all is well in the future after the war, that it's been remembered as a "Great War" (due to the text used), so much so its in children's books and figurines have been made in relation to it, it's trying to romantise the idea of joining the war, again another persuasive device at hand.

Although different in content, each poster has used persuasive elements based on individual opinions, elements including propoganda, sexism and racism in an attempt to sell a product, or get you to join your country at war.