Comparative Essay

The two images that I have been given to compare are “The Uncle Sam’s Range” (1876) and “Daddy what did you do in the great war” (1915).

The first poster, the Uncle Sam’s range is an advertisement for an oven; though this is not clear because of the busy page. The basic message in the image is that American will feed the world, shown by Uncle Sam’s Dinner Party that the world is invited to. The illustration portrays a lot of symbolism. The scroll is showing how much better and advanced American is than the rest of the world. One of the countries mentioned on the scroll is china, 1000’s of years old and still eating rats, as shown through the clock American is 100 years from its independence day and so much more superior than the rest of the world. 

The second poster, “Daddy what did you do in the Great War?” is a UK World War I propaganda poster pressuring and quilting young men to join the army. The poster is very positive that we will win the war and they men will return safely to a comfy life. From the man in the image you can see shame in his eyes and that he is a coward, the children represent how it is a man responsibility to protect their family and country.

The fonts in the two posters are very different. The first has a very bold dramatic look to it; the type looks like something off a Wild Weston film. The handwritten style type on the second poster has a much more friendly personal feel to it, as if it were just directed to you.

The colours that have been used in the two posters are the complete opposite of one and other. The first is full of very bold and bright colours, the red white and blue seen within the American flag. The second is made up of more muted simple colours giving the poster a more realistic feel.

Both of the posters have been aimed at men. In the first as it is the men who control the families money the oven advertisement has been aimed towards them. In the second poster men are again the primary audience as it is to do with signing up to war.

Both posters are shown to be very patriotic. The first is made up of red, white and blue; the colours in the American flag, Uncle Sam is sat at the table with an eagle perched on his shoulder; both big American symbols. The second has a very simple British feel as shown though the red rose in the curtains and the fleur de lis pattern in the armchair.

Both posters see to be very big headed of their own countries. In the first poster it shows how in only 100 years after its independence America has is much more advanced and superior than the rest on the world. In the second poster it shows Briton to be very optimistic that we will win the war, in the title they call the war “the great war”. Also they seem to be sure that the men will return home to have a family.