Question

1. study this poster and answer the questions. (7 points)

how does this propaganda poster from world war i portray the germans? (kultur means \culture\ in german.) what is it trying to get the viewer to do?

Explanation:

• Portrayal of Germans: The poster uses a gorilla - like figure to represent Germans. Gorillas are often associated with savagery and lack of civilization. The figure is shown carrying a woman (suggesting violence against civilians) and holding a club labeled "Kultur" (German for culture), which is an attempt to mock German culture and portray Germans as brutal and uncivilized, going against the positive connotation of "culture".
• Goal for the viewer: The word "ENLIST" at the bottom of the poster, along with the context of World War I (when the U.S. was involved in the war against Germany), shows that the poster is propaganda to encourage people to join the U.S. Army to fight against the Germans, framing them as the "mad brute" that needs to be destroyed.

Answer:

The poster portrays Germans as a "mad brute" (the gorilla - like figure), dehumanizing them to show them as violent, uncivilized, and a threat (carrying a woman, wielding a club labeled "Kultur" to imply their "culture" is brutal). It is trying to get the viewer to enlist in the U.S. Army (as seen from the "ENLIST" text and the context of World War I propaganda to recruit soldiers to fight against Germany).