This poster depicts an array of assorted household items arranged to form the face of Adolph Hitler. The artist, Vanderlaan’s goal was to incite the American populace to economize as much as practical and save, reuse, and recycle all possible materials. This was done to help the war effort by allowing the major industrial powers to concentrate on producing materials for the war-front (in this case, aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company) and not waste their resources on consumer products that need not be bought. This poster worked hand in hand with the many rations put in place on many commodities in the US during WWII. I think this poster, along with the thousands of other war-time posters, effectively succeeded in promoting individual frugality and helped stir the US into a more nationalistic, united country, better fit to win the total war that WWII brought upon the world.
This image is simultaneously humorous and frightening, while also delivering a good message: be more frugal with material items so that we have more to contribute to the war effort. This is an effective piece of propaganda when it comes to getting people to conserve materials, but I think that without an already inherent passion for the war a person would not be deeply affected by this poster. However, with all the powerful propaganda floating around at the time and all the pro-war sentiment, I’m sure this piece of propaganda was successful.
I agree with Rovenna. I believe the material does a good job at delivering the message to conserve. During this period it was vital to conserve to support the war efforts. This specific piece of propaganda seems almost more effective than many other pieces seen during this time being that it suggests that if your wasteful the enemy only becomes stronger.
The image is quite interesting and clever. It’s message is simply to ration, as if you waste something, it could have went to the soldiers abroad instead.
The way how the enemy is portrayed is very clever. You have the brush I believe appear as the Hitler’s famous mustache, needles appearing as a angry lip and lower face. The razor, circle metal piece and rubber band as his eye, and the folded page as his haircut.