Russian Propaganda Posters

Overthrowing a government isn’t all that hard, but keeping the new government running is the real challenge. To keep the new government running, the government needed the people on their side. Propaganda is the use of messages, pictures, or other media to change the people’s opinion about something. It is used to influence people to believe in something they didn’t, and there is usually one main and powerful message. To persuade people, facts are distorted, shown only the good sides, or they may be lies altogether. Propaganda during the time of the Russian Revolution mainly focuses on the teachings of Marx, the greatness of their leader, socialism, and communism. By looking at propaganda posters, we can see how basic psychology works on people and how the government tried to control people’s thoughts.

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The translation of the poster is “The symbol of peace – the symbol of socialism.” In it, there is a picture of Lenin in the middle of a red flag. The poster uses yellow with rays to make Lenin seem like the sun or a god. The red flag symbolizes the Red Army. Under the flag is the Parliament building, and beside it is Spasskij, one of the Kremlin Towers. This tower used to be the resident of the Tsar before the Winter Palace. This poster clearly shows the red star on top of the tower put there by the Soviets to show their dominance. This poster is suggesting that with Lenin and the Soviet as the ruler, peace will be achieved like it never had during the Tsar’s rule. The text is saying that Lenin brought peace to the country, and socialism is the one way to peace. The poster is effective because it does not need a scholar to see that Lenin is depicted as a holy man and HE is the symbol of peace, along with socialism, all for the good of the state.

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The poster says “She was born in the hard year of 1918.” The she in this poster is assumed to be the army, since “army” in Russian is a feminine word. In the year 1918, the Russian Civil War started between the Reds and the Whites. This poster shows a woman in an army costume with red on both her and the background, indicating that she is from the Reds. The text indicates that the woman (army) was created due to the war, and created to stop the war. The main attraction for this poster should be the woman. In addition, the bright red will attract passersby to come look.

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This poster says “We promised to the workers and peasants to do everything for peace - and we WILL do it.” It could mean that Lenin is going to do anything to win the war against the Whites. Standing in front, big and tall, is Lenin, holding the newspaper “Pravda.” Behind him is the Soviet symbol, which is golden, emphasizing importance. Though it does not say this, but it is obvious that it shows Lenin as the leader of the Soviet Union. Here, Lenin looks stern, steady, serious, and looks like the type of guy to solve the country’s problems. The theme of this poster is red, the color of the Red Army. Lenin holding Pravda guarantees that what he said will be the truth. Lenin’s prominence on the poster will be the thing that catches people’s eyes.

The posters I saw when I searched on the internet mostly had Lenin, Stalin, workers, and soldiers on them. They were mostly the Reds trying to take the people over to their side by showing victory of their soldiers, rights of workers, and righteousness of their leaders. It is obvious to me that during the totalitarian regime, lots of propaganda was used to brainwash people to help make the revolution successful. It is clear that the government’s propaganda was used to address almost anyone due to the message being quite clear. Even if people were illiterate, the pictures alone could obviously convey the message across.

Credits:

"Soviet Posters 1-6." Russian Posters, Cuban Posters, and other Posters. Propaganda Posters.. 20 Oct 2008 .

"Kremlin Towers." Wikipedia. 19 Oct 2008. Wikimedia Foundation. 20 Oct 2008 .

Kelly, Nigel, and Paul Shuter. As It Was Lived. 8th ed. Singapore: Pearson Education South East Asia, 2005

Babylon Dictionary