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Delivering the Message
Because Canada was not under attack on
its own soil, posters generally avoided
depicting the real horrors of war in favour
of dramatic symbols. One example is the
lone man dying because "someone
talked" seen in posters that implied
spies were everywhere and even small amounts
of information might aid the enemy. With
dark colors and frightening imagery such
posters brought the realities of war closer
to home. Other requests for public discretion
and secrecy used a story format to illustrate
how careless talk about troop movements
can lead to acts of sabotage.
Studies indicated that emotional appeals
were an effective way to reach the target
audience. While many posters were meant
to stir feelings of patriotism, others were
calculated to provoke hatred and the desire
for revenge. Caricature was used to ridicule
and vilify the enemy or to de-humanize the
target of attack. Examples of  enemy
atrocities were utilized to promote outrage
and call for retribution, as seen in the
many American posters that appeared
following the bombing of Pearl Harbour.
A commonly held sentiment was that everyone
could contribute something to their country
from working in war industries and food
production to donating blood and conserving
and recycling in the home. With the
rationing of fuel, posters called for carpooling
and the reduction of unnecessary travel.
Salvage efforts included saving waste paper,
old tires, scrap metal, bones and fat to
be used in the munitions production, and
tons of materials were collected during
scrap drives.
Posters played a major role in convincing
Canadian men and women of their duty
to enlist in the armed forces by focussing
on the adventure and excitement of war.
The Second World War saw an increased involvement
of women both in the military and wartime
production industries. With slogans like
"do the job he left behind", posters
encouraged women to seek employment in defence
industries, positions previously considered
to be suited only for men. Female war workers
were typified by the fictional "Rosie
the Riveter", confident, determined
and with her sleeves rolled up, ready to
do the work required. Homemakers, farmers
and munitions plant workers were all urged
to help "finish the job",
the posters' euphemism for destroying the
enemy.
Exhition Areas:
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