| u0003_0004200_0000048 |
| Title | British Subjects It is Your Duty to Enlist |
| Creator | British Recruiting Mission |
| Date | 1914 |
| Format | 21 x 24 in |
| Description | This poster asking for expatriated citizens living in America to enlist in the British or Canadian Army neatly demonstrates how cultural subtleties in communication do not always translate in different media. The image was printed in 1914, roughly three years before the U.S. would officially join the war, and as the New York address printed on the bottom indicates, the poster was modified to impart regional information to viewers interested in volunteering. Although the British fought in WWI much longer than the U.S., American propaganda posters were far more plentiful and visually oriented. British artists produced many memorable and innovative posters, but the cultural bias for words over images meant that many British posters did not fully utilize visual communication to persuade audiences. While this poster contains a significant amount of information, it is difficult to imagine this poster standing out in a cluttered bulletin board or in a bustling train station. Regardless of the compelling reasons to enlist contained in text, the poster does not fully satisfy the foundational requirement for all propaganda: grab attention. |
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