| u0003_0004200_0000104 |
| Title | Make the World Safe |
| Creator | Arthur N. Edrop |
| Date | 1917 |
| Format | 30 x 40 in |
| Description | Arthur N. Edrop’s recruitment poster for the Mayor’s Committee on National Defense, an organization dedicated to war related activities in New York, calls for young men to “ENLIST” in order to “Make the World SAFE,” a slight revision to President Woodrow Wilson’s argument that U.S. involvement in the conflict was necessary to make the world “safe for democracy.” The poster shows a line of soldiers armed with rifles and bayonets, charging toward an enemy that is outside of the frame. While the soldier silhouettes are clearly visible against a backdrop in which the sky is transformed into an enormous American flag, the soldiers and terrain are cloaked in complete darkness. Most war propaganda posters target white audiences, thus omitting the participation and accomplishments of minority communities, but because the facial features of the soldiers are obscured, the poster allows a diverse range of viewers to imagine themselves in the action. Also unique to the poster is the appeal for applicants to “go with your friends,” a subtle warning to the viewer that they may be socially ostracized if they decide not to fight overseas. |
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