The U.S. Marines Want You

u0003_0004200_0000036
Title The U.S. Marines Want You
Creator C.B. Falls
Date 1917
Format 20 x 30 in
Description The poster “The U.S. Marines Want You” by C.B. Falls is noticeably similar in design to James’s Montgomery Flagg’s iconic “I Want You” image except that Falls has substituted Uncle Sam with an generic Marine sternly pointing at the viewer. The recruitment poster works by combining gesture and language to make the audience feel as if they are being spoken to directly. Framed by the colors of red, white, and blue, the eye is directed immediately to the face of the young man, as he looks straight at the viewer with a challenging stare, as if daring the viewer to ignore this calling to join the Marines. Surrounding the image are the words “THE U.S. MARINES” above, and “WANT YOU” below in a dark blue, making the gesture, and glare of the young man, impossible to misunderstand. The dark blue of the marine’s dress is contrasted by both the bright white, red, and blue framing him in the background, as well as the brilliant yellow buttons and decorations of his uniform.
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