Hearts and Minds: Education kit
Propaganda poster. Depicts the national symbol of the kangaroo against a backdrop of advancing soldiers. Full title reads: 'Australia has promised Britain 50,000 more men. Will you help us keep that promise?' ARTV00021
Propaganda is a form of communication that promotes a particular perspective or agenda by using text and images to provoke an emotional rather than a rational response. Using images and text to influence or persuade, propaganda attempts to win “hearts and minds”, by shaping perception to gain support.
During the First and Second World Wars, posters were an ideal method of communicating propaganda. These posters were designed to be noticed, and could be printed and distributed quickly and in large quantities. The Australian War Memorial holds a collection of over 10,000 wartime posters, from government-issued campaigns to handmade creations protesting war. Many were created by a type of printing known as lithography.