"Step Into Your Place"
Propaganda by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee
About the Artist
At the beginning of World War I, there was a lack of recruiting and drafting organizations within the British Isles. Seeing a lack of military strength within British Empire, the British Parliament set up the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee (PRC), in August 1914 to bolster the armed forces by distributing materials and create recruiting opportunities with leaflets, posters, rallies, processions, and other drafting measures. Although these events and materials were to serve a for a military purpose, the audience was the civilian population. After only one year in operation, the PRC was absorbed into a larger organization, becoming the Parliamentary War Savings Committee. EDH
Relation to "Becoming an Adult"
One of the most important parts of growing up and being a man or woman, is leaving the safety of home to discover their place in society. In some cases, that place is serving in the military, and this poster exemplifies the call that each man and woman feels to need to go out into the world and step into the world and find their role in society. EDH
"Step Into Your Place
EDH
Discussion Questions and Activities
1. Teachers, have students list some of the professions they see exemplified by the men in the picture then discuss how they become soldiers in the end. Would all of these men be successful soldiers?
2. What are some of the effects war can have on an ordinary, untrained male soldier? Think about the consequences for a man's sanity, or the tough decisions he will make in a time of war.
3. Is a propaganda picture more effective than commercials or billboards? Have students explain themselves and provide an example for their reasoning.
4. What does this piece say on the ideal of conformity? Is this mindset beneficial in times of crisis, or can it be a downfall? RLS
2. What are some of the effects war can have on an ordinary, untrained male soldier? Think about the consequences for a man's sanity, or the tough decisions he will make in a time of war.
3. Is a propaganda picture more effective than commercials or billboards? Have students explain themselves and provide an example for their reasoning.
4. What does this piece say on the ideal of conformity? Is this mindset beneficial in times of crisis, or can it be a downfall? RLS
Essay and Response Questions
1. What is the artist of “Step Into your Place” trying to insinuate through showing civilians mixing in with soldiers? What change is it portraying in the people? Look at the psychology behind the message and think about how this type of propaganda is affecting the readers.
EDH
2. How does this poster portraying a woman sailor compare to the poster which shows civilians marching in the ranks of soldiers? Compare contrast the two different posters’ messages and undertones of how they are trying to get individuals to join the war effort. Which is a better form of propaganda? Why?
3. Why does “Step Into your Place” portray all kinds of individuals joining the ranks instead of one generation or type of individual? How does this type of propaganda help garner support? Think about how this type of propaganda affects the young men. What kind of pressure is this propaganda using?
4. Look at the modern “propaganda” people see in advertisements every day and compare/contrast modern messages with the messages the propaganda piece in the book is presenting. What differences or similarities are there? Is one form of propaganda more convincing than another? How has propaganda changed over time? EDH
3. Why does “Step Into your Place” portray all kinds of individuals joining the ranks instead of one generation or type of individual? How does this type of propaganda help garner support? Think about how this type of propaganda affects the young men. What kind of pressure is this propaganda using?
4. Look at the modern “propaganda” people see in advertisements every day and compare/contrast modern messages with the messages the propaganda piece in the book is presenting. What differences or similarities are there? Is one form of propaganda more convincing than another? How has propaganda changed over time? EDH
Formatting by: RLS