The sporting stars chosen as poster boy and girl for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games were , swimmer Michael Jamieson or 400m
hurdler Eilidh Child . Both won silver medals in their events. ( Congratulations
both)
The Independent’s Robin Scott-Elliot wrote
“ It seems as if Jamieson and Child stare down at you from every billboard in this city”.
Clearly
the campaign’s visibility had been picked up by the journalist. Despite all the social components of the festival's Communications mix , conventional outside broadcast media still played a key role.
The purpose of the posters were focused at both sports fans and Glasgow citizens and perhaps the Scottish nation to rally support of the home nation in this multi-national festival of sport.
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| A poster exhibit form the special World War One exhibition at Farnham Museum , Surrey. Fashion being made to look unpatriotic and frivolous |
As our mind moves now towards the commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the first
World War another 'poster boy' , arguably one of the first poster boys in a design by Alfred Leete will feature.
Lord Kitchener
with
his iconic moustache ,
Military Hat,
pointing finger
and slogan
“ Your Country needs you”
It will quite likely be reproduced in the various commemoration supplements and the
TV programmes that will produced.
But it's an Urban Myth !:
But it's an Urban Myth !:
Recent research has
found that no such poster was actually produced during the war and that the
image was never used for official recruitment purposes.
In fact, it only became
popular and widely-used after the conflict ended.
*James Taylor, researched the history of recruitment posters,
said the popular understanding of the design and the impact it had was almost
entirely mistaken.
 |
| Local Recruitment Poster for October 1915 for Farnham. Exhibit at Farnham Museum Surrey |
At the start of the War the government’s priority was
recruitment.
There were no established agencies as such for propaganda so at Wellington House, in Buckingham Gate a group was set up to work on the task.
There were no established agencies as such for propaganda so at Wellington House, in Buckingham Gate a group was set up to work on the task.
What is interesting in retrospect is how the messages were
differently presented to the genders at the start of the War.
Conscription had not been introduced at that time so the messages had to be highly persuasive.
They often appealed to emotional motivators of national loyalty, sense of duty, joining the lads at the front of the British Expeditionary Force.
Conscription had not been introduced at that time so the messages had to be highly persuasive.
They often appealed to emotional motivators of national loyalty, sense of duty, joining the lads at the front of the British Expeditionary Force.
It would not be for long of course since
"it will all be over by Christmas”
 |
| Poster from the exhibition at London's British Library |
Of course the women had to be persuaded to let their boys
go.
They were told that they could manage and indeed were capable of taking on the role of men’s work while their men folk were away at the front.
They were told that they could manage and indeed were capable of taking on the role of men’s work while their men folk were away at the front.
With hindsight we now can see how this would sow the seeds
of considerable social change in just a few decades.
The impact of the poster as a means of communication in World War One was probably greater than at any other time during history.
 |
| Poster from London's British Library exhibition |
The ability of posters to
inspire,
inform,
and persuade
combined with vibrant design trends produced many interesting visual works
As mechanised warfare and the use of poison gas brought about huge casualties, it was increasingly difficult to get men to enlist.
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| Appeal for help from Exhibition at British Library |
Posters were used to inspire ........
 |
| Poster from London, British Library Exhibition |
...........or shame men to enlist.
Posters were employed widely to garner support, urge action, and boost morale
The poster was also a major tool for widespread dissemination of information during World War One.
Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, “ The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.” August 1914
On Monday 4th August, everyone in the UK is
invited to turn their lights out from 10pm -11pm leaving on a single light or
candle to mark the moment the UK entered the first World War 100 years ago.
Lights Out
Even Piccadilly Circus lights in London are joining #LightsOut
Related Links and further reading
*Your Country Needs You: The Secret History of the Propaganda Poster by
James Taylor
Farnham Museum
Enduring War Grief Grit and Humour British Library Exhibition
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