However, it is when propaganda is used by
a certain political candidate or party itself that the truly brainwashing and
all-consuming effects visual imagery can have become evidently clear. Some of
the most prominent cases of which being concerning the regimes of Adolf Hitler
and the Nazi Party, as well as the communist Soviet Union and indeed the
current President of the United States, Donald Trump. In each of these cases,
when the basis of propaganda and the ideologies it strives to inflict are
grounded in a totalitarian set of beliefs, its motives being to progress from
the art of persuasion and into the realms of brain-washing. When we look back
upon history and question why on earth the masses chose to support leader’s
like Hitler and Stalin and adhere to their regimes, it is important to remember
that in the political moment they were being fed half-truths by these wolves in
sheep’s clothing. Such rulers package themselves in a mould that will present
them as someone that people can trust, rely upon and believe in, all of which
is perpetuated to society through the mode of propaganda.
Conclusion
Propaganda is an inescapable aspect of contemporary
life. Visual images and art works of persuasive intent penetrate our lives in every
way. Whilst propaganda has been a present element of society throughout history
it only seems to become increasingly corrupted and politically charged as time
goes on. As demonstrated in wartime posters, the main purpose of propaganda is
to influence people to adhere to or come to accept either an individual’s or an
institution’s own personal dogma. Despite being disguised in a variety of ways,
the motive remains constant, to try and convince people that the ideas or beliefs
that you promote are the right ones to be adopting. To try and project and in
turn sell your standpoint to the masses and gain some sort of following in
response. Even in the case of street artist Shepard Fairey, who is simply
communicating his own personal commentary on American politics, his is still
adhering to this concept of addressing and trying to attract the masses.