propaganda posters 1980s

Famous propaganda posters from the last 100 years

Propaganda is defined as thoughts, ideas, or facts that are disseminated in order to further a cause or movement—or hinder an opposing one. The history of propaganda is rich, dating all the way back to the 15th century. However, it didn't become mainstream, at least in the U.S., until 1914 at the start of World War I.

A couple of propaganda posters that have really stuck to the wall include the image of the woman commonly mistaken for Rosie the Riveter, which came out in the 40s but later took on a feminist connotation, and the iconic image of Che Guevara that has been associated with so many famous protests. These posters have stood the test of time and remain woven into our society, some of them more than 100 years after their initial creation.

Stacker highlighted 50 famous propaganda posters associated with major wars and political movements throughout history, including those from different countries and time periods. Read on to see the origins of Uncle Sam, and where the phrase "loose lips sink ships" came from.

You may also like: D efining historical moments from the year you were born

I Want You for US Army

This American poster is widely regarded as the most famous poster in the world , although it was inspired by a British poster bearing a similar slogan. It made its debut on the cover of the publication Leslie’s Weekly in 1916, depicting “Uncle Sam” urging Americans to enlist in the army as America entered World War I. 

Rosie the Riveter

On the heels of a cultural phenomenon (including a popular song of the same name ), Norman Rockwell created this image of “Rosie the Riveter” in 1943 to represent American women working in munitions factories during World War II.

This poster of former President Obama is largely associated with his 2008 election campaign, and also exists in different versions with words like “Change” and “Progress” beneath the same image. It has been the subject of legal controversy when it was revealed that its creator, Shepard Fairey, was accused of usurping the image of Obama from a former Associated Press photographer. Nonetheless, the poster is entwined with Obama’s campaign message at the time.

We Can Do It

This iconic poster from 1943—often confused with the original Rosie the Riveter—made quite a splash in the U.S., but not necessarily during World War II. Though widely associated with the feminist movement, its original intention was to improve morale for the female employees of Westinghouse Electric . It resurfaced in the early '80s, at which point it gained popularity and acquired its woman-power connotation.

Destroy this Mad Brute, Enlist

Printed in 1918, this WWI-era image depicts German militarism embodied by a ferocious gorilla standing on the ground (labeled “America”) carrying a bloodied club as well as a young woman. The poster served as another call for American men to fight in the war.

"Guerillero Heroico"

Alberto Korda took this iconic photo-turned poster of Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara in 1960. The image gained substantial cultural traction by the end of the '60s when Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick used it to create a poster. It first appeared in the U.S. in 1968 on New York City billboards and has come to symbolize rebellion on a large scale. The image title means “Heroic Guerilla Fighter.”

Handicapped

One of the most popular symbols of the British Suffragette Movement , this poster depicts a woman struggling to get by in a rowboat, while a man sails smoothly in his sailboat—symbolizing women’s struggle to achieve the right to vote.

Britons Wants You: Join Your Country's Army

This poster featuring British war minister Lord Kitchener —pointing for the sake of military recruitment—served as the inspiration for the American version, which reads “I want you for the U.S. Army.” It was first printed for the cover of the London Opinion magazine in 1914, but came out as a poster shortly after. However, there isn’t much photographic evidence of it having been hung up in public.

Daddy, What did You do in the Great War?

Britain’s army was relatively small at the start of WWI because there was no mandatory enlistment, so the Parliamentary Recruitment Committee was in charge of recruiting the general public to join the army. This was one of their more famous posters, created around 1914 to 1915. The obligation for men to earn money to support their families dissuaded many of them from volunteering, but the PRC used that angle to suggest that children would think that their father’s duty in the army was a more noble calling.

Kultur-Terror

It was not uncommon for Nazi propaganda posters to incorporate the likeness of the monster , which typically symbolized nationalities and philosophical beliefs that deviated from Nazi ideology. This particular poster depicts a monster that represents different aspects of American culture as a whole through its different body parts—one arm holds a money bag, symbolizing greed, and a KKK hood on its head represents nationalism and extremism.

Kep Calm and Carry On

This now-ubiquitous poster originated as a slogan printed by the British government in 1939 to increase morale among the British people at the onset of WWII. It was one of three similar posters with the same design scheme and different wording, all of which incorporated the Tudor Crown. Though it wasn’t necessarily popular in its time, it resurfaced about 15 years ago free of its previous connotation; its slogan was reproduced and parodied on posters, notebooks, and other commodities.

Stamp out the Axis

Dating to 1941, this image of a giant stamp hovering over a Nazi swastika quite literally conveys the U.S. military’s intention of wiping out the Germans in WWII.

Workers of the World Unite!

This Dimitri Moor poster from around 1920 calls for Russian workers to unite against imperialism, juxtaposing the enemy against the bold protagonist. Moor’s classic red and black palette pervades the poster.

Women of Britain Come into the Factories

The U.K. saw many posters encouraging women to take on factory jobs during both World Wars. This 1941 poster calls for women to join the workforce during World War II, in consideration of the men serving in the army who had left their jobs available.

Emancipation of Russian Women

Women appeared prominently on Soviet socialist posters in the early 20th century. Promoting women’s liberation through the lense of socialism, this 1926 poster reads “Emancipated woman—build up socialism.” These words imply that communism cannot thrive without equality among men and women—the woman’s masculinized appearance further symbolizes gender equality.

Become a Nurse: Your Country Needs You

The need for military nurses was high during wartime, so women were widely encouraged to take up the profession. This 1942 image of a young American woman receiving a nursing cap intended to beckon all American women to serve their country by helping wounded soldiers.

Loose Lips Might Sink Ships

The American War Advertising Council created this phrase during WWII, which took the form of a 1945 poster designed to discourage American citizens from talking about sensitive information that could be leaked to war enemies. The image of the sinking ship was the most common pictorial accompaniment to the phrase, which was initially produced for the Seagram Distillers Corporation as an aid to the war effort.

'Kick out the Americans the Unite the Fatherland'

This Korean War-era poster depicts a North Korean soldier literally punching away American soldiers, urging them to pull out of his country.

Help Keep Your School All-American

This Superman-centric poster was distributed in the ‘50s by a version of the Anti-Defamation League for the purpose of advocating for racial and religious tolerance. The poster is dated 1956, but a 2008 auction listing on the Hakes Americana & Collectibles website indicated the copyright is from 1949. It had a small resurgence in the American news a few years ago when Muslims and other minorities were experiencing fairly widespread racism among politicians, corporations and the general public.

It's Our Flag: Fight for it, Work for it

The British Parliamentary Recruiting Committee produced this poster in 1915. The message is pretty clear—it’s a call for men to join the British army at the start of WWI, using patriotic language in conjunction with the Union Jack.

Mao Zedong Cultural Revolution poster

This pro-Mao Zedong poster from the Chinese Cultural Revolution translates to “Long live! Long live Chairman Mao, the reddest and the reddest sun in our hearts!”

Let's Catch Him with his Panzers Down

Dating back to around 1942 , this WWII-era poster depicts a cartoonish version of Hitler in his swastika-print boxers, a literal interpretation of the poster’s slogan. Needless to say, it seeks to inform the American public that the U.S. intends to defeat Germany in the war.

'Did You Volunteer'

This 1920 poster from the Russian Revolution calls for Russian citizens to volunteer for the Red Army , as Lenin had not yet installed a formal military. It is based on the British poster calling for enlistment in the army during WWI. The artist, Dimitri Moor, incorporated a lot of black and red into his work, and typically used red to connote socialist images like flags.

He's Watching You

This 1942 American poster was created to let the public know that the Nazis were watching them. However, some of the public misinterpreted the poster , thinking that the soldier’s helmet symbolized the Liberty Bell. Some factory workers thought that the “he” of the poster represented to be “the boss.”

Step into Your Place

The British Parliamentary Recruiting Committee certainly generated a lot of propaganda posters during both world wars. This one from 1915 communicates a clear message—men are strongly encouraged to join the army to serve their country.

This poster came out in Ireland in 2004 in response to George W. Bush’s move to invade Iraq. It called for a protest attended by Mary Black, Christy Moore, and Damien Rice.

I Want You for the Navy

  Just like men, women were needed to serve in the military during the major wars. This WWI poster calls for women to enlist in the U.S. Navy .

Don't Let that Shadow Touch Them, Buy War Bonds

During World War II, war bonds and war savings stamps provided a source of income for the U.S. government, and Americans were encouraged to purchase them. Buying war bonds also boosted morale among the public. This 1942 poster was particularly emotionally powerful because it depicts children playing in the path of the Nazi swastika. One of the young boys holds a miniature American flag and the other holds an American fighter plane, further symbols of patriotism.  

Save the Wheat and Help the Fleet

During WWI, the British public was encouraged to seek out white bread substitutes so the wheat crop could be used to make bread for the soldiers. In America and Britain, much of the public resorted to bread with wheat substitutes, like corn or barley. This was taken so seriously that eating white flour was likened to helping the enemy.

'To Defend USSR'

Valentina Kulagina was one of few female propaganda artists of the 20th century. Translating to “ To defend USSR ,” this 1930 cubism-esque design depicts the larger-than-life Red Army leaving the factories to fight in the war. The white royalist airplanes flying around them seem not to deter them at all.

For Your Country's Sake Today, for Your Own Sake Tomorrow

Throughout WWII, American women were strongly encouraged to become involved in the war effort. This poster from the early to mid 1940s shows four women dressed in uniforms of the four armed forces units in which they were able to serve: the Women’s Army Corps, the Navy Women’s Reserve, the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, and the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve.

Women of Britain Say—Go

This 1914 poster advocated for British women to contribute to the overall war effort. Women’s traditional roles became blurred during wartime, as they started to work in munitions factories or in various roles at the front.

We the People are Greater Than Fear

Shepard Fairey, who created the iconic posters for Obama’s 2008 campaign, also created a set of three posters to coincide with Donald Trump’s 2017 presidential inauguration. This image of a Muslim-American woman wearing a hijab printed with the American flag, in conjunction with the text, represents a powerful message that “We the people” includes individuals of all races and religions. The other two posters in the set feature Latina and African American women with similarly inspiring phrases.

Together We Win

James Montgomery Flagg designed about 46 posters for the U.S. government during WWI. Here’s one from 1917 aimed at instilling patriotism and positivity in the American public. His posters encouraged men to enlist in the Army, women to join the Red Cross, and members of the general public to make sacrifices for the sake of the war effort.

All Power to the People

Douglas Emory, who helped with the layout of the Black Panther newspaper , created this 1970 poster. The party frequently used the slogan “All power to the people.” This phrase also famously accompanied images of the raised fist, which has mainly symbolized African American rights.

Women in the War: We Can't Win Without Them

Another poster geared toward American women during WWII , this piece dates back to 1942. It bears the image of a female worker riveting a weapon, and calls for women to take up jobs in munitions factories during the war.

Recycle Nixon

This anti-Nixon poster from the Vietnam War era was made as part of Berkeley’s Political Poster Workshop between 1968 and 1973.

Dig on for victory

Dating back to 1941, this poster was created by the British Ministry of Agriculture , whose “Dig on for Victory” campaign encouraged citizens to grow their own crops during wartime rationing. Many public spaces, like parks and public gardens, were allotted as vegetable patches during that time.

'Your Father Is in Danger: Register!'

This German poster from WWI translates to “Your father is in danger, register,” and came out shortly after the war ended. It calls for German citizens to join the Garde-Kavallerie-Schutzen-Division, or Horse Guards Rifle Division , one of the post-defeat units that offered military stability after soldiers returned from the war. 

Free Labor Will Win

Printed in 1942, this poster of a welder standing in front of an American flag promotes free labor in the U.S.—as opposed to the slave labor used by its fascist enemies.

Girls Say Yes to Boys Who Say No

Folk singer Joan Baez and her sisters Paulien and Mimi are at the heart of this anti-draft poster from 1968. Baez was very active politically in the '60s, and openly encouraged men to avoid the draft at her shows. Larry Gates created the poster to debunk the notion that resisting the draft was unmanly, and to raise money for the Draft Resistance Movement.

If the Cap Fits, Wear It

Like so many other World War propaganda posters, this one from WWII calls for citizens to join the  Canadian Army .

Of Course I Can! I'm patriotic as can be—and ration points don't worry me!

During WWII, the U.S. government initiated rationing of food to ensure soldiers had enough supplies (and that civilians had equal access to scant resources). This 1944 poster serves to remind Americans not to waste food during the war.

American Red Cross: Our boys need sox, knit your bit

This American Red Cross poster from around 1918 calls for citizens to donate knitted items to U.S. soldiers for when they entered France. Knitters eagerly responded to this call, though they had to adhere to knitting patterns that followed Army and Navy regulations.

Is This Tomorrow? America under Communism

This design serves as the cover of a 1947 comic book written to teach the public about communism’s inflammatory nature. The text on the opening page reads, “Is this Tomorrow is published for one purpose—to make you think! To make you more alert to the menace of Communism.”

Free All Political Prisoners

This famous image depicting the raised fist with a loose chain is another product of the Political Poster Workshop at Berkeley. It clearly opposes the unjust imprisonment of civil rights activists and other American political martyrs. 

Save Bones for Aircraft Production

Similar to posters urging citizens not to waste food, this WWII poster encourages the British public to save bones and scraps , which could be used in the production of military planes and ammunition.

Andre the Giant Has a Posse

Here’s another iconic design by Shepard Fairey, who created the Andre the Giant has a Posse sticker campaign somewhat haphazardly in 1989. It later transformed into simply “Obey the Giant.” While neither design has any inherent meaning, Shepard intended them to be a study in phenomenology, inspiring people to react and question the world around them. Both images have been widely disseminated throughout the world.

'Freedom for Angela Davis'

Angela Davis was a prominent voice in the late 1960s and early '70s protest movement in America, having actively participated in the Black Panther and Communist parties . This famous poster sprang up when Davis was wanted by the FBI for a crime she did not commit. After her arrest, grassroots organizations started popping up both in America and abroad to fight for her release.

United We Stand Divided We Fall

This famous phrase has roots with the ancient Greeks, but it appeared on this U.S. WWII propaganda poster in 1942. Fundamentally, the phrase denotes the idea that if members of a group with cohesive beliefs work individually instead of as a team, they are destined for failure. This concept certainly applies to the American army’s fight to defeat the Nazis during the war.

Trending Now

Best sitcoms of all time.

propaganda posters 1980s

Top 100 country songs of all time

Country musician Tim McGraw performs onstage during 2015 Stagecoach.

50 best colleges on the East Coast

Dunster House, a dorm at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the fall.

100 best films of the 21st century, according to critics

Actors Cillian Murphy and Tom Glynn-Carney in the 2017 movie 'Dunkirk.'

History Defined

Iconic Propaganda posters throughout history

Propaganda posters have long served as powerful tools for shaping public opinion and rallying support for various causes, particularly during times of conflict and political upheaval. These visually striking and emotionally charged artworks blend artistry with persuasive messaging, aiming to influence perceptions, inspire action, and convey ideologies.

From the iconic wartime posters of the early 20th century to contemporary digital campaigns, propaganda posters offer a unique lens into the socio-political climate of their times.

propaganda posters 1980s

Related Posts

propaganda posters 1980s

Henry Lee Lucas: The Self-Proclaimed Greatest Serial Killer

propaganda posters 1980s

Why Are the Early Middle Ages Called the Dark Ages?

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Emlii

25 Most Powerful Propaganda Posters That Made All The Difference

Photo of Ivana Belegisanin

These propaganda were an influential attitude change initiative. They were powerful reminders of reality and our responsibility towards society. From war to welfare to social issues and plain sanity…these posters made all the difference.

1. “Daddy, what did you do in the Great War?”, (1915).

propaganda posters 1980s

In 1915 British illustrator Savile Lumley designed this famous guilt – inducing poster. Paul Gunn later explained the background to the poster: “One night my father came home very worried about the war situation and discussed with my mother whether he should volunteer. He happened to come in to where I was asleep and quite casually said to my mother, If I don’t join the forces whatever will I say to Paul if he turns round to me and says, What did you do in the Great War, Daddy? He suddenly turned round to my mother and said that would make a marvellous slogan for a recruiting poster. He shot off to see one of his pet artists, Savile Lumley, had a sketch drawn straight away, based on the theme projected about five years hence, although by the time it had taken shape the questioner had become one of my sisters.” This poster was produced before conscription was introduced in 1916 and aimed to encourage men to join the armed forces through emotional blackmail. Depending on your opinion of the “great war” itself, this could also be viewed as a positive use of the powers of propaganda.

2. “Barbarism vs. Civilization”, (1900).

propaganda posters 1980s

This poster depicts of the The Boxer Rebellion or  Boxer Uprising which was a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian movement which took place in China towards the end of the Qing dynasty between 1898 and 1900. It was initiated by the Militia United in Righteousness (Yihetuan), known in English as the “Boxers”, and was motivated by proto-nationalist sentiments and opposition to foreign imperialism and Christianity. The Great Powers intervened and defeated Chinese forces.

3. Anti – Smoking Propaganda.

propaganda posters 1980s

A very simple, yet powerful anti-smoking poster. Sometimes dubbed as one of the most clever anti-smoking advertisement ever.

4. “You Can Be Someone’s Superhero!”, Hellenic Association Of Blood Donors, (2013).

propaganda posters 1980s

A very creative and appealing ad to attract blood donors towards needs for donation. Advertising Agency: Spot JWT, Athens, Greece Creative Director / Illustrator: Alexandros Tsoutis Art Director: Alexis Alifragkis Copywriter: Anastasios Lessis Published: January 2013

5. “I Want You”, (1917).

propaganda posters 1980s

Originally published as the cover for the July 6, 1916, issue of Leslie’s Weekly with the title “What Are You Doing for Preparedness?” this portrait of “Uncle Sam” went on to become–according to its creator, James Montgomery Flagg–”the most famous poster in the world.” Over four million copies were printed between 1917 and 1918, as the United States entered World War I and began sending troops and material into war zones.

6. Fate of Ukraine, (2014).

propaganda posters 1980s

The unfair colonization of Ukraine by the Russian troops and the decision of Crimea being shifted under Russian control describes the fate of Ukraine and how it has just become a hanging nation in between Asia and Europe. This propaganda poster truly depicts of the Ukrainian pain and violence that has been going on a while now.

7. “Help Keep Your School All American”, (1940s – 50s).

propaganda posters 1980s

This anti- racism, superhero oriented poster came around in a children’s comic series and proved to be very powerful in conveying its true social message. With racism being at its peak in America that time, there was a dire need of an attitude change and this poster was a great example of a powerful initiative by making it “Un-American” to be racist.

8. “We Can Do It”, (1942).

propaganda posters 1980s

We Can Do It! is a WW II era American wartime propoganda poster produced by J. Howard Miller in 1943 for Westinghouse Electric as a tool to boost worker morale. Surprisingly, the poster did not enjoy wide popularity during World War II. It was rediscovered in the early 1980s and widely reproduced in many forms, often called “We Can Do It!” but also mistakenly called “Rosie the Riveter” after the iconic figure of a strong female war production worker. The “We Can Do It!” image was used to promote feminism and other political issues beginning in the 1980?s. After its rediscovery, people often assumed that the image was always meant to be a call to inspire women workers to join the war effort. However, during the war the image was strictly internal to Westinghouse, displayed only during February 1943, and was not for recruitment but to inspire already-hired women to work harder.

9. “Thief!”, (1920s-30s).

propaganda posters 1980s

“The worst thief is he who steals the playtime of children” A very very powerful propaganda poster against then prevalent child labor. More and more children were forced to work in factories that were equipped with heavy, dangerous machinery and they were forced to work for hours at a stretch, thus stealing away their innocence and anytime they had for playing and other wonderful stuff that children do.

10. “Sex is No Accident”, MTV.

propaganda posters 1980s

An initiative from MTV to encourage the use of condoms for safe sex through these strips were a smart propaganda. With increase in the number of teen pregnancies in America, it has become evident to bring about awareness regarding protection measures during sex and the hazards of avoiding them. Another important factor was the spread of AIDS and other STD’s through unprotected sex which has infact become a widespread concern worldwide. This ad takes a strong attitude makeover initiative to encourage the use of condoms and prevent any sexually transmitted diseases and their after effects on population.

11. Che Guevara, (1968).

propaganda posters 1980s

Jim Fitzpatrick was a well-known Irish Celtic artist of his time, but he is probably best known for his iconic 1968 Che Guevara poster. It is said that Fitzpatrick took the death of the revolutionary personally. He had once met Guevara when the revolutionary flew into Ireland in 1963 and checked into the Marine Hotel pub in Kilkee. Fitzpatrick was only a teenager at the time and had been working there over the summer.                                                                                                                            The poster became globally famous during the anti-Vietnam war protests and is now the symbol of F.A.R.C. in Columbia, a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization, which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict. Zapatista Army of National Liberation (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, EZLN), a revolutionary group based in Chiapas, the southernmost state of Mexico, uses this symbol as well. The image was also used during the violent Paris student riots in 1968. Across the rest of the West, the Marxist Che Guevara image is overused by any kid suffering from teenage angst.

12. “The Guarantee of German Military Strength”, (1932).

propaganda posters 1980s

In Germany in the 1930s, propaganda was in full swing and being used by Hitler’s advisers to call the German people to arms and spread lies about the Jews. One of the most famous artists behind Nazi propaganda was Hans Schweitzer, known as “Mjolnir.” This poster by Hans Schweitzer shows the typical pro-Nazi theme of the German army’s strength, depicting an S.A. man standing next to a solider. The text reads, “The guarantee of German military strength!”

13. Ning Hao: China, (1954).

propaganda posters 1980s

Seemingly along the lines of Rosie the Riveter, this Ning Hao piece reflects women being asked to work in the factories alongside men, partially to support their emancipation, but mostly to increase the labor force in China.

14. “Workers of The World Unite!”, (1920?).

propaganda posters 1980s

Dimitri Moor (or Dmitry Stakhievich Orlov) changed the face of graphic design in Soviet Russia back in 1918. His work dominated both the Bolshevik Era (1917–1921) and the New Economic Policy (1921–1927). The main theme of Moor’s work is the stark contrast between the oppressive evil and the heroic allies. A lot of pressure was put on Russian workers to rise up against imperialism.

15. Pyramid of Capitalist System, (1911).

propaganda posters 1980s

The Pyramid of Capitalist System is a common name of a 1911 American cartoon caricature critical of capitalism. The graphic focus is on social stratification by social class and economic inequality. The picture shows a literal “social pyramid” or hierarchy, with the wealthy few on the top, and the impoverished masses at the bottom. Crowned with a money bag representing capitalism, the top layer, “we rule you”, is occupied by the royalty and state leaders. Underneath them are the clergy (“we fool you”), followed by the military (“we shoot you”), and the bourgeoisie (“we eat for you”). The bottom of the pyramid is held by the workers (“we work for all… we feed all”). The basic message of the image is the critique of the capitalist system, with its hierarchy of power and wealth. It also illustrates that the working class is supporting all others, and if it would withdraw their support from the system it could, literally, topple the existing social order. This type of criticism of capitalism is attributed to the French socialist Louis Blanc. The work has been described as “famous”, “well-known and widely reproduced”.

16. “Open Trap, Make Happy Jap”, (1940?).

propaganda posters 1980s

Reflecting the ugly racism of the times, many US produced propaganda posters from World War II would typecast the Japanese as goofy and cartoonish stereotypes. Buck teeth, big ears and an exaggeration on the eyes were recurring features. This incredibly racist image reflects our powerful need to dehumanize the enemy before we slaughter them, making the carnage not seem so evil.

17. Xu Ling: China, (1950).

propaganda posters 1980s

Details about Chinese artists are hard to come by, but we can focus on what they intended to convey with their artwork. This piece is a caricature of the American commander in Korea at that time, General Douglas MacArthur. It shows the US as an abhorrent evil, and MacArthur is shown stabbing a Korean mother and child. Bombs labeled US are being dropped on cities in China in the background as the US invades Korea.

18. “Beat Back The Hun”, (1918).

propaganda posters 1980s

This intense, frightening presence featuring the head of a “Hun” with blood-stained fingers and bayonet, is the work of Frederick or F. Strothmann. The poster was meant to literally scare Americans into buying the war bonds known as “Liberty Bonds” during WW I as a patriotic duty. These bonds are debt securities issued by the American government for the purpose of financing military operations. The creation of this capital not only helped to control inflation during war time, it also gave the public who invested their money in the bonds a feeling of involvement in the war without having to serve in the military. They were available in a wide range of denominations, and thus affordable to most citizens.

19. “Liberators”, (1944).

propaganda posters 1980s

The Nazi’s had a very imaginative approach when it came to producing posters during the Second World War. Designed by Norwegian cartoonist Harald Damsleth, this particularly famous image depicts the Americans as a domineering force and characterizes many of their supposedly negative aspects, such as being money grabbing, racist, over-sexualized and all-empowering.

20. “American Invaders Will Be Defeated!”, (1951).

propaganda posters 1980s

Completed at the height of the Cold War, this poster depicts two People’s Liberation Army soldiers holding two books. The left book read “Soviet Army Defeated 1,200,000 German Nazi, Italian, Japanese and other countries’ soldiers during World War Two” and the right reads “Chinese People’s Liberation Army defeated 8 million soldiers from American Imperialist sponsored Chiang Kai-Chek’s army. At the bottom, defeated Americans hold dollar sign flags, and in writing it says “Next year we can accumulate 3 million soldiers”.

21. Rosie The Riveter, (1943).

propaganda posters 1980s

Based on a familiar song of the time, this is Norman Rockwell’s famous Rosie the Riveter poster. Unlike the “we can do it” poster this image actually represents the American women who worked in the munitions and war supplies factories during World War II.This was a call to arms for the women of America to become strong capable females and support the war effort. Rockwell often found himself at odds with the more conservative the politics of the Saturday Evening Post, so in his later years, he took up the controversial subject of racism in America. He became respected as a painter for these hard-hitting pieces of American culture, much more so than for his work for the Saturday Evening Post.

22. Huey P. Newton, Minister of Defense, (1968).

propaganda posters 1980s

Huey P. Newton, Minister of Defence, done by an unidentified artist, 1968. When organizers of the Black Panther Party set up this scene for a photographer in 1967—enthroning the young “minister of defence” Huey Newton in a wicker chair and arming him a rifle and spear, they showed their determination to follow Malcolm X creed, “by any means necessary”. And the poster of course, transforms Newton into a larger than life, king-like figure.

23. “To Defend USSR”, (1930).

propaganda posters 1980s

Valentina Kulagina was one of the few female poster artists to emerge from the 20th century. This poster, called “To Defend USSR” was created by Kulagina in 1930. It takes a cubist perspective in its multi-dimensional shapes, and it shows the Red army as huge almost robotic figures, marching from the factories to fight the war. They are surrounded by the tiny white airplanes of the royalists, which appear to have no effect on them at all and in fact seem to be flying through the figures. Chilling!

24. “Lest We Forget” : UK, (2010).

propaganda posters 1980s

The artist behind this one could not be identified, but this had to be included for its clever use of old Tory values and the play on the Scooby-Doo gang’s unveiling of the monster. This poster shows the lack of faith in Prime Minister David Cameron’s promise to be a force for change and not just another Margaret Thatcher clone.

25. Unusual, rare anti-Nazi propaganda postcard from 1934

propaganda posters 1980s

Related Posts:

  • 40 Most Powerful Social Issue Ads That'll Wake You…
  • 49 Most Powerful, Rare and Intoxicating Images From The Past
  • Russian Mother Picked Up "Feelings" For Photography…
  • 23 Nostalgic Things You Grew Up With That Are…
  • 29 of The Most Influential Images of All Time
  • 38 Most Inciting and Inspirational Romantic Photos…
  • What’s the Difference Between 2D and 3D Animation
  • What’s The Difference Between Braces and Veneers? -…
  • Cremation vs. Memorial Jewelry: What's the Difference?
  • What's The Difference Between Vaping And Smoking Weed?

26 Photos That Captured Ghosts By Mistake And They Will Not Let You Sleep Tonight

35 completely useless facts you need to know right now, related articles.

propaganda posters 1980s

5 Key Elements For Better Time Management – 2024 Guide

propaganda posters 1980s

35 Insanely Quick Tricks That Make Life So Much More Easier

propaganda posters 1980s

31 Soul Stirring and Absolutely Touching Images From 2013 That Will Make you Cry

propaganda posters 1980s

Presenting Your Photos After a Photo Walk – 2024 Guide

Prohibition, Soviet style: Propaganda posters from the 1980s

  • Show more sharing options
  • Copy Link URL Copied!

Vodka and Russia. The former is so ingrained in the identity of the latter, it’s hard to imagine restrictions on its sale and production. But in 1985, the Soviet Union’s newly appointed general secretary, Mikhail Gorbachev, did just that when he ramped up a nationwide campaign against alcohol.

Artists were tasked with creating propaganda posters to sober up citizens, warning them of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. Now, 260 of those previously unpublished posters from the 1980s as well as others dating to the 1960s have been collected in the new book “Alcohol: Soviet Anti-Alcohol Posters,” by Damon Murray and Stephen Sorrell of Fuel Publishing.

Vibrant images show hung-over, bleary-eyed, red-nosed boozers trapped in a bottle or being hauled away to an institution. One poster shows a bottle morphing into scissors, cutting a family photo in two.

A 1977 design from "Alcohol: Soviet Anti-Alcohol Posters" reads, "Much evil and wrongdoing to the family." The text on the bottle says vodka. (I. Fridman / Fuel Publishing)

Russian historian Alexei Pluster-Sarno outlines a history of Soviet drinking and the proliferation of illegal home brewing in the book. Some bootleggers distilled organic waste or contaminated their brew with toxic oils; addicts resorted to dangerous substitutes, in some cases chugging perfume, drain cleaners and brake fluid. Distillers and breweries — forced to manufacture nonalcoholic beverages — eventually shut down.

“It was a failure,” Pluster-Sarno said. “The results of Gorbachev’s campaign were the disintegration of the country’s economy and the mass drinking that followed.”

SIGN UP for the free Essential Arts & Culture newsletter »

A 1985 image from "Alcohol: Soviet Anti-Alcohol Posters." The text at the bottom reads, "His palette is rather broad, from kerosene to varnishes. And no one has been able to figure out so far how to talk sense into such a ... 'connoisseur'!" (V . Kyunnap / Fuel Publishing)

Support coverage of the SoCal arts scene.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Beverly Center as art gallery? How big-name artists are behind those construction barricades

The exhibition that has art fans in a fury: Our critic's take on MOCA's Carl Andre retrospective

A groundbreaking show to confront the gender bias in art: 'Women of Abstract Expressionism'

It's a date

Get our L.A. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

HIGHLAND PARK CA-FEBRUARY 15, 2024:Danny Bowman, left, and Alex Grunbeck are photographed at entrance to their art gallery, BOZOMAG, a converted garage located at their home in Highland Park. The current exhibition is called, "Nouveau Bozeaux." (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Looking for L.A’s art cool kids? They’re hosting exhibits in laundry rooms and garages

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 22, 2024 - - Rodrick Dixon performs as the lead character in Alexander Zemlinsky's, "The Dwarf," during a dress rehearsal at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles on February 23, 2024. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Entertainment & Arts

Review: One fled Nazis; one was an overlooked Black talent. Together at L.A. Opera, composers shine anew

Feb. 28, 2024

Julio Torres, in shiny silver pants, green tank and orange shirt, stands with hands in pockets before empty shelves

Julio Torres survived the visa office and the art world. His first film skewers both

Seattle's Space Needle was built as part of the 1962 World's Fair. It anchors the Seattle Center area of the city.

Travel & Experiences

15 things to do in Seattle, like soak in a hot tub boat or step inside dreamy glass spheres

  • Bahasa Indonesia
  • Slovenščina
  • Science & Tech
  • Russian Kitchen

10 most iconic Soviet propaganda posters (PICS)

propaganda posters 1980s

From the very early Soviet age, the authorities understood the importance of propaganda. And posters agitating people for something were incredibly popular. The best artists were involved in creating them and they are so well known even today, with many of them becoming memes. 

1. ‘To have more, you have to produce more. To produce more, you need to know more.’ (1920)

propaganda posters 1980s

One of the most important goals of the Bolsheviks was to overcome illiteracy. They forced even grown up people to go to schools, learn how to read and write and get new jobs that would provide for the country’s development. The poster above depicts one of the main Soviet symbols, the sickle, and a book - and it’s an obvious call for peasants to study.

2. ‘Have You Volunteered?’ (1920) 

propaganda posters 1980s

This is considered the most famous poster of the Civil War, calling to join the ranks of the Red Army. It was illustrated by Dmitry Moor, using a British poster from World War I as the template. 

3. ‘Fight against religion. Fight for socialism!!!’ (1930)

propaganda posters 1980s

The USSR was actively fighting religion and there was an entire magazine for anti religious posters called ‘Bezbozhnik’ (‘The Godless’). This poster was illustrated by Mikhail Rabinovich and it depicts how the proletarians are heading up to run over the clergy with a rolling machine.

4. ‘How have you helped the battlefront?’(1941)

propaganda posters 1980s

 Twenty one years after his epic ‘Have You Volunteered?’ poster, Dmitry Moor illustrated another one reminiscent of that. 

5. ‘Motherland is calling’ (1941)

propaganda posters 1980s

One of the most famous posters of World War II for Soviet people. It was created by Irakly Toidze and depicts a middle-aged woman reminding soldier’s mothers of the military oath. She has her left arm raised as if she were calling the bayonets seen behind her.

6. ‘Don’t Chat!’ (1941)

propaganda posters 1980s

A war-time poster illustrated by artists Nina Vatolina and Nikolai Denisov. A little poem in the top right-hand corner above quotes Samuil Marshak’s poem: “Be aware, these days, the walls are listening. It’s a fine line between chatter and gossip… and treason.”

7. ‘Glory to the Red Army!’ (1946)

propaganda posters 1980s

Once the Soviet troops finally defeated the Nazis and hoisted the Victory Banner over Berlin’s Reichstag, it was time to celebrate. The poster above by Leonid Golovanov depicts his own earlier poster ‘We will reach Berlin’ with the writing “We’ve done it!” on the wall (most likely left by the Soviet soldiers on the Reichstag wall) and a subheading stating: “The Red Army - Glory!”

8. ‘No’ (1954)

propaganda posters 1980s

Post-war posters, meanwhile, raised issues in the new peaceful Soviet life. And one of them was alcoholism. Soviet authorities were struggling to fight this outbreak and initiated the creation of all the possible works of art to promote a sober lifestyle. In the above poster, illustrated by Viktor Govorkov, a man refuses to drink a shot of vodka. 

9. ‘A healthy mind requires a healthy body’

propaganda posters 1980s

Propaganda of a healthy lifestyle was one of the most popular topics for Soviet posters. Because, the Soviet country required strong people, who could work properly for the common good. The above poster quotes a popular Soviet slogan said by Kliment Voroshilov that was a variation of the same in Latin: “Mens sana in corpore sano.”

10. ‘There is no god’ (1975)

propaganda posters 1980s

Another wave of antireligious policy started in the 1960s. One of the most famous posters depicts Yury Gagarin flying in space and saying: “There is no God”. It was illustrated by Vladimir Menshikov and is based on the popular aphorism, ‘Gagarin flew and never saw God’.

Dear readers,

Our website and social media accounts are under threat of being restricted or banned, due to the current circumstances. So, to keep up with our latest content, simply do the following:

  • Subscribe to our Telegram channel
  • Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter
  • Enable push notifications on our website
  • Install a VPN service on your computer and/or phone to have access to our website, even if it is blocked in your country

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

  • 15 most famous Soviet posters of the Great Patriotic War (PICS)
  • 20 Soviet food and drink posters (PICS)
  • 10 Soviet propaganda posters that ridiculed the West (PICS)

propaganda posters 1980s

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

1980s Propaganda

Anti-alcohol propaganda.

Propaganda in the 1980s reflected an on-going public health crisis: Soviet citizens began consuming alcohol in concerning amounts. The USSR's government officials viewed alcohol (and its abuse) with disgust, expressing impatience, contempt, and anger for those who indulged (Field and Powell 1981, 41). With the turn towards viewing citizens more as individuals, Soviet officials believed that alcoholics had put themselves in that position, and it was their job to get themselves out of it (Field and Powell 1981, 41). Those treated for alcoholism had to either do compulsory work therapy (engaging in social work) or  compulsory hospitalization (Field and Powell 1981, 42). The latter was negatively viewed because it was perceived as citizens taking a "paid vacation" instead of seeking help (Field and Powell 1981, 42). All together, citizens felt pressure to be the Ideal Soviet Citizen, but when struggling to achieve this image, they were judged and discriminated for getting help for alcoholism.

The USSR was ranked fourth among 30 countries in the number of alcoholic beverages consumed by someone 15 years and older (Treml 1982, 487). Yet, the majority of the alcohol consumed per person was in the form of a strong beverage, therefore ranking the USSR as the highest in the world  for alcohol (Treml 1982, 487). The Soviet Union began to notice this trend, and feared its affect on labor, productivity, and mortality rates. 

Prohibition Campaign.jpeg

Image is of a red-faced man dancing with a bottle of alcohol. The text translates to: "This is a shameful union - a slacker + vodka!" (1981)

Gorbachev's Alcohol Policy (1985-1988)

Other leaders of the Soviet Union made attempts to reform and address the issues of alcoholism, but none were as radical or as extreme as what took place in the mid-1980s.

The last President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, launched sweeping reforms when he took office in 1985, such as glasnost (open government) and perestroika (economic reform). But, included in this agenda was a "moral recovery" focusing on goals such as ending corruption, restoring basic human rights, and ensuring healthy lifestyles for its citizens (Tarschys 1993, 7). Part of this agenda was a "quest for sobriety" due to the growing consumption of alcohol posing health hazards and economic inefficiency/productivity (Tarschys 1993, 7).

Nicknamed the "Mineral-Water Secretary," Gorbachev had a radical stance on alcohol to address the issues stemming from alcoholism (Tarschys 1993, 7). In his first legislation on alcohol in 1985, Gorbachev prohibited alcohol sales in restaurants before 2 PM, set higher prices for wines and spirits, banned liquor from public functions, and reduced the access to commercial outlets that sold alcohol (Tarschys 1993, 8).

This initial legislation sparked the "teetotaller movement" that had 12 million members (Tarschys 1993, 8). All together, the attempt at reducing alcohol consumption was met with some success and approval by its citizens.

With the restrictions on alcohol sales, the Soviet Union lost an estimated 37 billion rubles over the next three years, changing the business cycle and affecting the health of the economy (Tarschys 1993, 10). This demonstrates how important alcohol was to the USSR, and how impactful it was on government revenue.

Alcohol Affects the Family.jpeg

Example of an anti-alcohol campaign poster from 1983

The caption translates to: "Either Or" This poster is implying that life is a choice between alcohol and family; both cannot coexist. One cannot be a good family member (mother or father) if they decide to partake in Vodka

Effects and Results of Gorbachev's Anti-Alcohol Campaign

These restrictions did not lead to a steep decline in alcohol consumption. Instead, people began to turn towards home production (Tarschys 1993, 8). The number of moonshine producers rose to 397,000 in 1987 (Tarschys 1993, 20).

By 1988, Soviet Union citizens began to complain about the lack of alcohol availability. The government began to allow more oulets to sell alcohol, and to operate for longer hours (Tarschys 1993, 21). The rising production of moonshine was often correlated to increasing crime rates and financial insecurity (Tarschys 1993, 22).

Alcohol Causes crime.jpeg

An example of propaganda from 1986 that demonstrates that the Soviet Government linked alcohol to rising crime rates

Yet, data demonstrates that Gorbachev's campaign had some success. Sale of alcohol fell*, life expectancy for both females and males increased, fewer people were diagnosed with alcoholism or alcohol-related illnesses, and the number of workplace and traffic accidents and deaths were greatly reduced (Tarschys 1993, 22-23). 

*It is important to keep in mind that while sale of alcohol fell, this data does not reflect or include the number of citizens who turned to moonshine production or purchase to get their alcohol fix

10.2307_community.24747897-1.jpg

Russian propaganda image against alcohol in 1990. Portrays alcohol drinkers as aggressive, and people who would let their family starve. The family on the right is virtuous because they drink tea and not alcohol

What do you think? Leave a respectful comment.

The victory of communism is inevitable, says this 1969 propaganda poster by Konuhov. Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images

Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko

  • Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/these-soviet-propaganda-posters-meant-to-evoke-heroism-pride

These Soviet propaganda posters once evoked heroism, pride and anxiety

Propaganda during Soviet times came in poster form. Some messages stirred patriotism in the fight against Adolf Hitler’s invading forces, while others slammed illiteracy and laziness.

They also bashed the greed associated with capitalism:

Soviet propaganda poster depicts capitalism in 1923. Photo by Photo12/UIG via Getty Images

Soviet propaganda poster depicts capitalism in 1923. Photo by Photo12/UIG via Getty Images

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution in 1917, which overturned the tsars and led to the Soviet Union. Posters at the time showed positive images of workers and the promise of a new future.

"Let us bring in a rich harvest of new territory!" says a Soviet propaganda poster by Oleg Mikhailovich Sawostjuk in 1927. Photo by Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images

“Let us bring in a rich harvest of new territory!” says a Soviet propaganda poster by Oleg Mikhailovich Sawostjuk in 1927. Photo by Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images

The posters also shamed the lazy worker:

"We smite the lazy workers," says a 1931 propaganda poster that was found in the collection of the Russian State Library in Moscow. Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images

“We smite the lazy workers,” says a 1931 propaganda poster that was found in the collection of the Russian State Library in Moscow. Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images

And urged support for the Red Army and socialism:

A Soviet recruitment poster from the time of the Russian Revolution in 1917 says, "You! Have you signed up with the volunteers?" Photo by Sovfoto/UIG via Getty Images

A Soviet recruitment poster from the time of the Russian Revolution in 1917 says, “You! Have you signed up with the volunteers?” Photo by Sovfoto/UIG via Getty Images

After the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks instituted a literacy campaign:

A propaganda poster from 1920 by A. Radakov says, "The illiterate is like a blind man." Photo by Photo12/UIG via Getty Images

A propaganda poster from 1920 by A. Radakov says, “The illiterate is like a blind man.” Photo by Photo12/UIG via Getty Images

Another inspirational poster promoted healthy exercise:

Propaganda poster from 1930 by Alexandre Deineka says, "Kolkhosians, let's do some exercise!" Photo by Photo12/UIG via Getty Images

Propaganda poster from 1930 by Alexandre Deineka says, “Kolkhosians, let’s do some exercise!” Photo by Photo12/UIG via Getty Images

During World War II, as German forces battled to take control of Moscow, posters depicted Soviet forces putting the squeeze on Hitler:

Propaganda poster by Koukrynisky says, "Napoleon was wiped out, Hitler will be wiped out" in 1941 during World War II. Photo by Photo12/UIG via Getty Images

Propaganda poster by Koukrynisky says, “Napoleon was wiped out, Hitler will be wiped out” in 1941 during World War II. Photo by Photo12/UIG via Getty Images

"The Motherland Is Calling," says a World War II Soviet military recruitment poster by Irakly Toidze featuring Mother Russia holding out the Red Army Oath of Allegiance in 1941. Photo by Laski Diffusion/Getty Images

“The Motherland Is Calling,” says a World War II Soviet military recruitment poster by Irakly Toidze featuring Mother Russia holding out the Red Army Oath of Allegiance in 1941. Photo by Laski Diffusion/Getty Images

As the Space Race raged between the USSR and United States in the 1950s and 1960s, images showed high-flying patriotism:

The Space Race was a 20th century competition between two Cold War rivals, the Soviet Union and the United States. Photo by Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images

The Space Race was a 20th century competition between two Cold War rivals, the Soviet Union and the United States. Photo by Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images

The Soviet Union was the first to launch a satellite, Sputnik 1, and a human into space, Yuri Gagarin. With Apollo 11, the U.S. landed the first humans on the moon in 1969. Crews from the two countries now work together aboard the International Space Station.

Editor’s Note: The PBS NewsHour is airing a series this week called  Inside Putin’s Russia . Tuesday’s installment describes how propaganda is used in Russia today .

Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan , Pakistan , Iraq , Haiti , Sudan , Western Sahara , Guantanamo Bay , China , Vietnam , South Korea , Turkey , Germany and Ireland .

Support Provided By: Learn more

Educate your inbox

Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.

Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.

propaganda posters 1980s

Propaganda Vault

our triumph in space a hymn to the soviet union.jpg

bring propagnada art into your home with these large wall posters (18" x 24") FREE SHIPPING

Best selling.

Myth and Reality (1984 Soviet Union)

Myth and Reality (1984 Soviet Union)

The Dream of a United Europe (1950)

The Dream of a United Europe (1950)

I will be a chemist! (1964 Soviet Union)

I will be a chemist! (1964 Soviet Union)

There's no God! (1960's USSR)

There's no God! (1960's USSR)

Pour It On ! (USA 1942)

Pour It On ! (USA 1942)

Space for Peace (USSR - 1980's)

Space for Peace (USSR - 1980's)

Welcome to the propaganda vault, your go-to place for propaganda posters. As a history enjoyer, I've always been drawn to these posters, as they're more than just pieces of paper - they're snapshots of moments in time. They give us a peek into what people thought, felt, and believed in different periods. This fascination led me to start this store. Here, you'll find a range of posters that I've  picked out, each with its own story to tell.

soviet-space-program-propaganda-poster-17-small.jpg

Newly Digitized Posters Trace 70 Years of Soviet Propaganda

James Browning

Like Poster No. 8 below, this image is from the 1977 series "Capitalism Unmasked”; it blames the West’s fuel shortages of the time on “robbery by monopolies” rather than crises in the Middle East. Part of the Davis Center Library’s newly digitized poster collection.

The online collection, including about 200 prints from the Davis Center Library, vastly expands opportunities to study a legacy of state-backed messaging and disinformation that reverberates worldwide today.

Editor’s note: It’s been more than a century since the Soviet project tore forth from imperial Russia, bloody and screaming. And it holds our attention still. Scholars keep writing new books on Soviet Communism, from its birth to its  long-lasting impacts ; writers and filmmakers draw on  the Soviet past for  their work ; the  legacy of Soviet militarism  echoes through Russia’s war against Ukraine, sometimes  in unexpected ways .

The Davis Center Library has recently digitized close to 200  Soviet propaganda posters in its collection. Together they form a visual history of official efforts to influence the USSR’s people throughout the country’s 70-year lifespan — from militant  appeals against capitalism to the iconic “ Motherland calls! ” of World War II to little known gems supporting Mikhail Gorbachev’s  perestroika efforts .

In our age of misinformation by meme, as history is again manipulated to justify violence and soft power still matters to Moscow, this poster collection sheds new light on the means and ends of propaganda — and the present digitization vastly expands access. The posters can now be  browsed in Harvard Library’s  digital image catalog . The images are accompanied by text in the original Russian and in English translation, making them keyword-searchable in both languages. 

The following selection of 10 posters, ordered chronologically, with illuminating commentary by Davis Center alum and Harvard Slavic department Ph.D. student  James Browning , gives a taste of the collection’s breadth. 

The links in the poster titles lead to full-size images and additional information .

James Browning

Ph.D. Candidate in Slavic Languages and Literatures

Subscribe to the Davis Center Newsletter

Be the first to know about events, programs, and news.

propaganda posters 1980s

  • History Classics
  • Your Profile
  • Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
  • Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
  • Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)
  • Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)
  • Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)
  • This Day In History
  • History Podcasts
  • History Vault

Just Say No

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 21, 2018 | Original: May 31, 2017

Washington, DC. September 1987: First Lady Nancy Reagan accepts on behalf of the 'Just Say No Club' a check from the Proctor & Gamble company for $150,000.

The “Just Say No” movement was one part of the U.S. government’s effort to revisit and expand the War on Drugs. As with most anti-drug initiatives, Just Say No—which became an American catch phrase in the 1980s—evoked both support and criticism from the public.

The 80s Crack Epidemic

In the early 80s, a cheap, highly addictive form of cocaine known as “crack” was first developed.

The popularity of crack led to an increase in the number of Americans who became addicted to cocaine. In 1985, the number of people who said they used cocaine on a routine basis increased from 4.2 million to 5.8 million. By 1987, crack was reportedly available in all but four states.

Emergency room visits for cocaine-related incidents increased four-fold between 1984 and 1987.

The crack epidemic particularly devastated African American communities—crime and incarceration rates among this population soared during the 1980s.

Reagan and the War on Drugs

When President Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, he vowed to crack down on substance abuse and reprioritize the War on Drugs , which was originally initiated by President Richard Nixon in the early 1970s.

In 1986, Reagan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act. This law allotted $1.7 billion to continue fighting the War on Drugs, and established mandatory minimum prison sentences for specific drug offenses.

During the Reagan years, prison penalties for drug crimes skyrocketed, and this trend continued for many years. In fact, the number of people incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses increased from 50,000 in 1980 to more than 400,000 by 1997.

Say No to Drugs

President Reagan’s wife, Nancy Reagan , launched the “Just Say No” campaign, which encouraged children to reject experimenting with or using drugs by simply saying the word “no.”

The movement started in the early 1980s and continued for more than a decade.

Nancy Reagan traveled the country to endorse the campaign, appearing on television news programs, talk shows and public service announcements. The first lady also visited drug rehabilitation centers to promote Just Say No.

Surveys suggest the campaign may have led to a spike in public concern over the country’s drug problem. In 1985, the proportion of Americans who saw drug abuse as the nation’s “number one problem,” was between 2 percent and 6 percent. In 1989, that number jumped to 64 percent.

D.A.R.E. Program

In 1983, the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Daryl Gates, and the Los Angeles Unified School District started the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.

The program, which still exists today, pairs students with local police officers in an effort to reduce drug use, gang membership and violence. Students learn about the dangers of substance abuse and are required to take a pledge to stay away from drugs and gangs.

D.A.R.E. has been implemented in about 75 percent of U.S. school districts.

Despite the program’s popularity, several studies have shown participating in D.A.R.E has little impact on future drug use.

A study funded by the Department of Justice, which was released in 1994, revealed that partaking in D.A.R.E led to only short-term reductions in the use of tobacco but had no impact on alcohol or marijuana use.

In 2001, the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. David Satcher, put D.A.R.E in the category of “ineffective primary prevention programs.”

Proponents of D.A.R.E have called some of the studies flawed and say surveys and personal accounts reveal that the program does in fact have a positive effect on future drug use.

In recent years, D.A.R.E has adopted a new “hands-on” curriculum, which advocates believe is showing better results than more outdated approaches to curbing drug abuse.

Support and Criticism for the Anti-Drug War

Determining whether the War on Drugs movement was a success or failure depends on whom you ask.

Supporters of the strict drug initiatives say the measures reduced crime, increased public awareness and lowered rates of substance abuse.

Some research does, in fact, suggest that some aspects of the tough policies may have worked. A study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed that in 1999, 14.8 million Americans used illicit drugs. In 1979, there were 25 million users.

However, critics say the 1980s version of the War on Drugs put too much emphasis on deterrence tactics and not enough focus on drug treatment and substance abuse programs.

Another common criticism is that the laws led to mass incarceration for nonviolent crimes. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, more than 2.3 million people are currently being held in the American criminal justice system. Nearly half a million people are locked up because of a drug offense.

Many people also felt the Reagan-era policies unfairly targeted minorities. Part of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act included a heftier penalty, known as the “100-to-1 sentencing ratio,” for the same amount of crack cocaine (typically used by blacks) as powdered cocaine (typically used by whites). For example, a minimum penalty of five years was given for 5 grams of crack cocaine or 500 grams of powdered cocaine.

Minority communities were more heavily policed and targeted, leading to a disproportionate rate of criminalization. But the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA), which was passed by Congress in 2010, reduced the discrepancy between crack and powder cocaine offenses from 100:1 to 18:1.

There is perhaps one thing both supporters and critics of the 1980s drug war can agree on: The policies and laws put into place during the Just Say No era created a drug-focused political agenda that still impacts many Americans today.

propaganda posters 1980s

Sign up for Inside History

Get HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details : Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Contact Us

Harvard International Review

Creating China Visually: Collecting Chinese Propaganda Posters

Ubiquitous and impossible to avoid, Chinese propaganda posters were mass-produced, easily and cheaply available at the Xinhua (New China) bookstores. Posters carried normative or political messages, but they also brought some color to the places where people lived. Posters reached all levels of society: they adorned offices and factory workshops, houses and dormitories. Schools used posters for teaching; factories, Party offices, People’s Liberation Army meeting rooms, shop floors, community rooms, etc., all had posters on their walls. Some images were turned into bookmarks, appeared on biscuit tins, mirrors, cigarette packages or matchboxes; a few even were made into postage stamps.

I became interested in Chinese propaganda posters in the early 1970s for their use of art for propaganda purposes, and Chinese propaganda happened right before my eyes. Chinese propaganda had appealed to Westerners from the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. Some sympathized with the new regime, while others saw the poster art as something deliciously alien, subversive and mysterious. However, it was difficult to get hold of propaganda posters outside of China. Only foreign “friends” who were officially invited to visit and witness the changes the nation was going through had the opportunity to acquire them first-hand. Posters served as a kind of souvenir from revolutionary China, as opposed to the more traditional handicrafts (silks, silk screens, calligraphy scrolls, carvings, etc.). Later, in the late 1960s, the People's Bookstore ( Renmin Shudian ) branches in Western countries and other shops specializing in printed materials put out by European Maoist and similar politically “progressive” fringe groups made them available. Also, I got in touch with the Chinese international distributor, the Guoji Shudian Company in Beijing, directly. Guoji Shudian sent out type-written lists of posters, which I could order.

Collecting Posters

Although the propaganda poster dominated the political and public reality of the PRC, propaganda art was not a new medium. Throughout its long history, the Chinese political system has actively presented and spread its ideas of correct behavior and thought. It used paintings, songs, high- and low-brow literature, stage performances and other artistic forms, such as New Year prints, to make sure that the cultured elite and illiterate masses behaved as they should. After Imperial rule ended in 1911/12, both the Nationalist Party and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) employed visual art as a weapon to spread their messages, and gain adherents and power. Propaganda posters played a major role in the many campaigns that mobilized the people after 1949, and became the favored medium for educational purposes; they could easily reach the large number of illiterate Chinese in the early decades of the PRC. The government employed the most talented artists, many of them former commercial designers, to design the posters. The poster images did not show “life as it is,” but “life as it ought to be,” stressing the positive and glossing over anything negative.

propaganda posters 1980s

After 1949, pursuing hobbies like collecting came in for criticism as “wallowing in petty bourgeois amusements.” The omnipresence of the posters in public and private also held many Chinese back from collecting them, because they appeared to have no value whatsoever. This changed when the nation embraced the policy of reform and opening up to the outside world in the early 1980s. Some Chinese started collecting “calendar girl” posters, advertising posters from the 1920s and 1930s in an Art Deco-inspired style. Posters from certain eras however, such as the Great Leap and the Cultural Revolution, brought political risks to the collectors; the leadership was still debating the official verdict on these events. Collecting such materials could land the collector in political trouble.

Once China allowed visitors from the West in the late 1970s, collecting became easier. I and other Western poster collectors merely needed to find the nearest local Xinhua bookshop in every city or town we went to. Each Xinhua bookshop had a poster section, with all available posters on display. When I went into a Xinhua bookshop during my first visit to China in 1980, it was like entering poster heaven.

The Xinhua bookstores no longer sell posters. After 2000, nationally produced poster campaigns largely came to an end and television became the medium of choice to spread propaganda. Presently, other media and formats are also employed, such as popular music, films, and computer games. The Internet offers a large number of online promotional clips, animated video clips and music videos extolling government policies and their successes. The posters have been relegated to open antique markets like Baoguosi and Panjiayuan, both in Beijing, where collectors, foreign and Chinese, young and old, converge during the weekends. Most Chinese seem to collect something these days, and growing numbers of them are interested in posters, rationing coupons, Mao buttons, Red Guard uniforms, and other objects, mostly because of their potential, future value. Private sellers, often collectors themselves, have emerged as the most valuable source for buying posters. The Internet also is now a major source for acquiring posters. A number of Chinese sites specialize in posters, although it is risky to ascertain the authenticity and quality of posters on the basis of a digital scan.

IISH/Stefan R. Landsberger Collection

Together with the Chinese poster holdings of the International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and the collection of an unnamed private collector in Amsterdam, my collection is one of the most comprehensive collections in the world outside of China, totaling more than 10,000 items. A considerable number of images from these combined collections are accessible online , with information about date of production and the designers. The two sites aim to make as many high-quality scans of Chinese propaganda posters as possible available in the public domain. The three collections collaborate in the Chinese Posters Foundation and are still expanding.

I picked up 30 to 40 percent of my collection from the Xinhua bookstores in the period 1980-1995. Later additions largely came from private sources. After my first study on the subject appeared in 1995, the circles of collectors that had emerged in China in the 1990s classified me as a collector and not a dealer; this enabled me to develop relations with many Chinese collectors all of over China. Presently, I collect through Internet offers from these collectors and by going to China, to maintain contacts and scour antique markets. My earliest posters date from 1937, a series devoted to the Anti-Japanese War that I acquired outside China. My most recent ones are posters from 2015, published for official use on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese Anti-Japanese War and the Global War Against Fascism in August 2015.

Collecting Posters: The Market

The increased demand for posters has driven up prices in recent years, while the number of interesting posters on offer has decreased dramatically. The posters one could pick up in the 1980s for only two mao (approx. US$0.03 in January 2019 prices) now fetch up to 2,000 yuan or more (US$281 based on January 2019 prices). On many urban street corners, cheap fake posters, mainly recent reprints, are on offer. For those not in the know, and even for those who are, with ever improving printing and copying techniques and facilities, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish the real from the fake.

Chinese collectors have an advantage over non-Chinese collectors because they speak the language, know the culture, and often have extensive contacts or networks sourcing interesting materials for them. While the widespread use of the Internet has made it easier for Western collectors to identify and communicate with potential Chinese poster sellers, it has also made collecting more complicated. It is difficult to establish the authenticity of posters offered on the Internet, and shipping them, clearing (Chinese and Western) customs, payments, etc., can also pose problems.

The market for posters exists only in China, even though Western collectors participate in it. Incidental Western auctions aside, the market for posters outside of China is very small. There is no set price for a poster and the pricing policies and strategies are opaque: one seller may sell a poster for a lower price than another; today’s price may be higher than yesterday’s; buying in quantity may get one a better price; a Chinese customer may pay a lower price than a foreign one, etc. The absence of an objective, binding pricing system makes poster appraisal extremely difficult.

Despite rising prices and dwindling supplies, every time I go to China I encounter posters I did not know existed beforehand—posters that I am desperate to add to my collection. I know that other collectors have the same experience. The chance to stumble upon an unexpected find, to haggle for a better price, to scour markets—all these aspects urge me on in my quest to bring together the most comprehensive Chinese poster collection possible.

propaganda posters 1980s

The Chinese Dream

Not much is left of a genre, then, that once set out to inspire the Chinese people, to mobilise them, and to point them the way to a future Communist utopia. However, since Xi Jinping has come to power in 2012, propaganda has returned with a vengeance, largely informed by the concept of the Chinese Dream. Xi introduced his vision of this Dream shortly after he was elected into office. The Dream initially sounded elusive and nobody seemed to know what it entailed beyond “realizing a prosperous and strong country, the rejuvenation of the nation and the well-being of the people.” By now, it has been fully embraced in political and popular culture and the urban landscape again is festooned with official imagery in a way that has not been seen for a long time. Most of these images come from a single source, the China Civilization Office under the CCP Central Propaganda Department, and are available in high resolution from the Internet for reprinting or for use on various media. China Dream posters are not for sale. Unfortunately, not all of the later additions encountered in the streets can be found on the Civilization Office’s website, which seems not to have been updated since its inception in 2013.

The posters produced for the Dream-campaign do not attempt to mobilize into action at all. They consciously hark back to an often idealized, harmonious and caring past, explicitly referencing the Confucian tradition that was combatted so fiercely during numerous earlier periods. As before, many people find the posters quite pleasing, relatively unobtrusive, familiar and non-confrontational. The Dream posters are easily taken for granted because they seem unavoidable; there is no reason to assume that their messages are not passed on. Moreover, the images often hide the less desirable aspects of urbanization, as when and where they obstruct the view on building sites or inhabited, but run-down housing stock occupied by migrant workers or slated for demolition. Because of their official nature, they moreover seem to be largely protected from the activities by graffitists, thus contributing to the more colourful, more orderly impression that the street scenes make.

Yet there are also considerable numbers of urbanites from all walks of life who resent this renewed propaganda bombardment, stating that it is just “garbage.” They insist that they do not like the images, that the funds involved in rolling out the campaign could be put to better uses benefitting the ordinary people, and that the more frequent and persistent the exhortations, the falser the sentiments expressed are. This may be the most interesting and unexpected effect of more than six decades of propaganda dealing with political, social, and normative issues: that the people are able to express their ideas about it, both positive and negative, and have the freedom and vocabulary to do so.

Stefan R. Landsberger is the Emeritus Professor of Contemporary Chinese Culture at the University of Amsterdam and an Honorary Fellow at the International Institute of Social History. The IISH/Stefan R. Landsberger/Private Collection collection of Chinese propaganda posters is perhaps the largest collection outside of China itself.

All photos credit the IISH/Stefan R. Landsberger/Private Collection at chineseposters.net .  

Interviews and Perspectives

Recent posts, remember us: a peek into childhood autism in ghana.

propaganda posters 1980s

Buying Chemyeon: The Commodification of Face in Korea

propaganda posters 1980s

Uncovering the Secrets of the Global Food Industry

propaganda posters 1980s

A Changing Atmosphere: Abkhazia, Taiwan, and the Intersection of Environmental Sustainability and Territorial Conflict

propaganda posters 1980s

A Brighter Future for the Benin Bronzes: Interview with Master Sonita Alleyne

propaganda posters 1980s

You Might Be Interested In

Is beijing creating a new sino-russian world order the russian invasion of ukraine might change beijing’s calculus for taiwan and the united states, defying dictatorships: an interview with garry kasparov, cambodia’s triumph and tragedy: the un’s greatest experiment 30 years on.

Composite illustration of oil ads from 1962 to 2020

The forgotten oil ads that told us climate change was nothing

Since the 1980s, fossil fuel firms have run ads touting climate denial messages – many of which they’d now like us to forget. Here’s our visual guide

Why is meaningful action to avert the climate crisis proving so difficult? It is, at least in part, because of ads.

The fossil fuel industry has perpetrated a multi-decade, multibillion dollar disinformation, propaganda and lobbying campaign to delay climate action by confusing the public and policymakers about the climate crisis and its solutions. This has involved a remarkable array of advertisements – with headlines ranging from “Lies they tell our children” to “Oil pumps life” – seeking to convince the public that the climate crisis is not real, not human-made, not serious and not solvable. The campaign continues to this day.

As recently as last month, six big oil CEOs were summoned to US Congress to answer for the industry’s history of discrediting climate science – yet they lied under oath about it. In other words, the fossil fuel industry is now misleading the public about its history of misleading the public.

We are experts in the history of climate disinformation, and we want to set the record straight. So here, in black and white (and color), is a selection of big oil’s thousands of deceptive climate ads from 1984 to 2021. This isn’t an exhaustive analysis, of which we have published several , but a brief, illustrated history – like the “sizzle reels” that creatives use to highlight their best work – of the 30-plus year evolution of fossil fuel industry propaganda. This is big oil’s PR sizzle reel.

Early days: learning to spin

Humble Oil (now ExxonMobil) was not self-conscious about the potential environmental impacts of its products in this 1962 advertisement touting “Each day Humble supplies enough energy to melt 7 million tons of glacier!”

Life Magazine, 1962

Life Magazine, 1962

The truth behind the ad: Three years earlier, in 1959, America’s oil bosses had been warned that burning fossil fuels could lead to global heating “sufficient to melt the icecap and submerge New York”.

Their knowledge only grew. A 1979 internal Exxon study warned of “dramatic environmental effects” before 2050. “By the late 1970s”, a former Exxon scientist recently recalled , “global warming was no longer speculative”.’

‘Reposition global warming as theory (not fact)’

In 1991, Informed Citizens for the Environment, a front group of coal and utility companies announced that “Doomsday is cancelled” and asked, “Who told you the earth was warming … Chicken Little?” They complained about “weak” evidence, “non-existent” proof, inaccurate climate models and asserted that the physics was “open to debate”.

Informed Citizens for the Environment, 1991: “Who told you the earth was warming... Chicken Little?”

Both ads from the Informed Citizens for the Environment, 1991

The truth behind the ads: Instead of warning the public about global heating or taking action, fossil fuel companies stayed silent as long as they could. In the late 1980s, however, the world woke up to the climate crisis, marking what Exxon called a “critical event”. The fossil fuel industry’s PR apparatus swung into action, implementing a strategy straight out of big tobacco’s playbook: to weaponize science against itself.

A 1991 memo by Informed Citizens for the Environment made that strategy explicit: “Reposition global warming as theory (not fact).”

‘Emphasize the uncertainty’

Mobil and ExxonMobil ran one of the most comprehensive climate denial campaigns of all time, with a foray in the 1980s, a blitz in the 1990s and continued messaging through the late 2000s. Their climate “advertorials” – advertisements disguised as editorials – appeared in the op-ed page of the New York Times and other newspapers and were part of what scholars have called “the longest, regular (weekly) use of media to influence public and elite opinion in contemporary America”.

New York Times, 1984: “Lies they tell our children”

Left: New York Times, 1984. Right: New York Times, 1993

Between 1996 and 1998, for instance, Mobil ran 12 advertorials timed with the 1997 UN Kyoto negotiations that questioned whether the climate crisis is real and human-made and 10 that downplayed its seriousness. “Reset the alarm,” one ad suggested. “Let’s not rush to a decision at Kyoto … We still don’t know what role man-made greenhouse gases might play in warming the planet.”

New York Times 1997 ad from Mobil: “What we don’t know”

Left: New York Times, 1997. Right: New York Times, Wall Street Journal and other publications, 2000

The truth behind the ads: “Exxon’s position”, instructed internal strategy memos from 1988-89, was to “ extend the science” and “ emphasize the uncertainty in scientific conclusions” about the climate crisis. Or as a 1998 “Action Plan” by Exxon, Chevron, API, utilities companies and others declared : “Victory will be achieved when average citizens” and the “media ‘understands’ (recognizes) uncertainties in climate science”.

ExxonMobil continued to fund climate denial through at least 2018. One of their 2004 advertorials claimed “scientific uncertainties” precluded “determinations regarding the human role in recent climate change”. That was untrue. Nine years earlier, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had concluded a “discernible human influence on global climate”. ExxonMobil’s chief climate scientist was a contributing author to the report.

Economic scaremongering

“Don’t risk our economic future,” implored the Global Climate Coalition, a front group for utility, oil, coal, mining, railroad and car companies. This 1997 ad also targeted the Kyoto negotiations and was part of a $13m campaign that was so successful that the White House told GCC: President Bush “rejected Kyoto, in part, based on input from you”.

Global Climate Coalition, 1997 ad: “Americans work hard for what we have, Mr. President. Don’t risk our economic future.”

Global Climate Coalition, 1997

The truth behind the ad: Put “emphasis on costs/political realities”, instructed a 1989 Exxon strategy memo . Just as the fossil fuel industry funded contrarian scientists to deny climate science, it also touted the flawed economic analyses of industry-funded economists.

The best predictors of fossil fuel industry ad spending are media scrutiny and political activity. Today, economic scaremongering has gone digital , with huge spikes in television and social media ad spending by oil lobbies each time climate regulations loom. In the runup to the 2018-20 US midterm and presidential elections, ExxonMobil spent more on political advertising on Facebook and Instagram than any other company in the world (except Facebook itself).

It’s not our fault, it’s yours

From 2004 to 2006, a $100m-plus a year BP marketing campaign “introduced the idea of a ‘carbon footprint’ before it was a common buzzword”, according to the PR agent in charge of the campaign. The targets of this campaign were the “routine human activities” and “lifestyle choices” of “individuals” and the “ average American household”. In 2019, BP ran a new “Know your carbon footprint” campaign on social media.

BP ad in various publications, 2003 to 2006: “What on earth is a carbon footprint?”

Both ads were published in various publications from 2004 to 2006.

The truth behind the ads: Big oil’s rhetoric has evolved from outright denial to more subtle forms of propaganda, including shifting responsibility away from companies and on to consumers. This mimics big tobacco’s effort to combat criticism and defend against litigation and regulation by “ casting itself as a kind of neutral innocent, buffeted by the forces of consumer demand”.

Greenwashing: talk clean, act dirty

“We’re partnering with major universities to develop the next generation of biofuels,” said Chevron in 2007. This is also a top talking point of BP , ExxonMobil and others.

The New Yorker, 2007, Chevron ad: “We’re partnering with major universities to develop the next generation of biofuels.”

The New Yorker, 2007

ExxonMobil has been trumpeting its research into algae biofuels for more than a decade – from black-and-white print ads (2009) to digital commercials (2018-21).

New York Times, 2009 ad from Exxon Mobil on algae biofuels

New York Times, 2009

New York Times 2018 algae ad

New York Times, 2018

The truth behind the ads: Greenwashing confers companies with an aura of environmental credibility while distracting from their anti-science, anti-clean energy disinformation, lobbying and investments. The goal is to defend what BP calls a company’s “social license to operate”.

One way fossil fuel companies give themselves a green sheen is to establish – then boast about – what a 1998 API strategy memo termed “cooperative relationships” with reputable academic institutions. Big oil’s colonization of academia is pervasive. Shell’s ongoing sponsorship of the London Science Museum’s climate exhibition comes with a gagging clause prohibiting the museum from discrediting the company’s reputation.

As for algae: America’s five largest oil and gas companies spent $3.6bn on corporate reputation advertising between 1986 and 2015. ExxonMobil has spent more on advertising than on algae research.

‘We’re part of the solution!’

BP “developed an ‘all of the above’ strategy” for marketing energy from 2006 to 2008, “before any presidential candidates spoke of the same”, according to BP’s PR lead.

Big oil continues to promote this narrative of “fossil fuel solution-ism’, including its “all of the above” language, on social media , in Congress and in paid-for, pretend editorials in the Washington Post. To make this spin stick, fossil fuel companies have been calling methane “clean” since at least the 1980s . “Natural gas is already clean,” said API Facebook ads and billboards last year.

BP’s ‘all of the above’ ad

One of BP’s many ‘all of the above’ ads grouping oil and natural gas with renewable sources

American Petroleum Institute native advertising in the Washington Post, 2021

American Petroleum Institute native advertising in the Washington Post, 2021

The truth behind the ads: In contradiction to the science of stopping global heating, big oil asserts that fossil fuels will be essential for the foreseeable future. The “all of the above” energy mantra was – as BP’s advertising creative put it – “co-opted by politicians in 2008” and became a centerpiece of the Obama administration’s energy policies. The campaign also positioned methane as a “ clean bridge ” fuel.

Like “clean coal”, calling methane “clean”, “cleanest” or “low-carbon” has been deemed false advertising by regulators.

Distorting reality in the 2020s and beyond

A Shell TV ad last year featured birds in the sky, fields of wind and solar farms, the CEO of a Shell renewables subsidiary saying she’s “made the future far cleaner and far better for our children”, and not one reference to fossil fuels.

The truth behind the ad : Between 2010 and 2018, 98.7% of Shell’s investments were in oil and gas. Such misrepresentations are industry-wide .

Today, we’re all inundated with ads that leverage a combination of narratives, including those illustrated above, to present fossil fuel companies as climate saviors . It’s way past time we called their bluff.

The narratives highlighted here are a selection of “discourses of climate denial and delay” previously identified by the authors and other researchers. The advertisements selected to illustrate these discourses were identified by the authors based on a review of dozens of peer-reviewed studies, journalistic investigations, white papers, ad libraries, newspaper archives, social media reports and lawsuits.

  • Climate crimes
  • Fossil fuels
  • Advertising
  • Climate crisis

Most viewed

  • Newsletters
  • Account Activating this button will toggle the display of additional content Account Sign out

Pretty Environmental Propaganda Posters from 1980s China

The Vault is  Slate ’s history blog. Like us on  Facebook , follow us on Twitter  @slatevault , and find us on  Tumblr.  Find out more about what this space is all about  here .

The great site ChinesePosters.net offers deep thematic coverage of Chinese propaganda posters from the collections of the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam . The images below are from their collection of environmental posters of the 1970s and 1980s .

In introducing the images, the curators of the site point out that this group of posters, produced at a time when Chinese authorities “became more aware of the impact of environmental problems on the country’s economic performance,” don’t represent negative outcomes of industrialization (pollution, blight, acid rain). Instead, citizens are asked to attend to their immediate personal environments—to pick up litter and plant trees.

Steven Zhang , who has researched environmental attitudes among factory owners in China, wrote last year in the Atlantic that his interviewees espoused a vision of environmentalism that “focused almost exclusively on the effects of environmental damage to personal health.” Zhang found that instrumentalism—the preservation of environmental balance in the service of one or another human good—dominated discussions about environmental protection.

The posters below exemplify that approach, focusing on hygiene, regulation, and morality. 

International Institute for Social History, chineseposters.net

Thanks to Amy Offner for the tip.

comscore beacon

The New York Times

Americas | castro’s revolution, illustrated.

Advertisement

Castro’s Revolution, Illustrated

By SHREEYA SINHA NOV. 26, 2016

Show up to work. Learn to read and write. Harvest more sugar. In the years after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, thousands of posters were commissioned by the government to communicate his vision of a socialist society. Some came to be regarded as works of art.

' class=

When he was 26, Mr. Castro led a “ crazy attempt against the armed forces ” of Cuba’s military dictator, Fulgencio Batista, at the Moncada barracks in Santiago de Cuba. Many in his ragtag group of guerrillas were killed, and Mr. Castro and his brother, Raúl, were captured. Fresh out of law school, Mr. Castro delivered his own defense, which would become famous as his “History Will Absolve Me” speech.

The caption on the poster above of a young, beardless Castro – by the Cuban artist Felix René Mederos Pazos – invoked the speech on the 20th anniversary of the uprising:

On the other hand, except for the .22 caliber rifles, for which there were plenty of bullets, our side was very short of ammunition. Had we had hand grenades, the army would not have been able to resist us for 15 minutes.

Mr. Castro was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but Mr. Batista released him as a show of good faith.

The attack on July 26, 1953, came to be known as the birth of the Cuban revolutionary movement and inspired many posters like this one.

On Jan. 8, 1959, after two years of fighting, Mr. Castro rode into Havana in a jeep to a “ delirious welcome ” from Cubans as their new leader. The 32-year-old looked “exhausted but happy” alongside 5,000 exuberant rebels who had forced Mr. Batista to flee the country.

Images of Mr. Castro donning a peaked fatigue cap, rifle slung over his shoulder, became a symbol of revolution worldwide.

This poster was commissioned by the government to mark the 10th anniversary of the rebellion. It reminds Cubans that “we’re rebuilding a country,” said Lincoln Cushing, a Havana-born political art archivist and author of “ Revolución!: Cuban Poster Ar t.”

His father helped coordinate the interview in 1957 between Mr. Castro and Herbert L. Matthew , the New York Times correspondent and editorial writer whose articles helped introduce the world to Mr. Castro. Shortly after , a CBS News team traveled to Cuba to film “ Rebels of the Sierra Maestra: The Story of Cuba’s Jungle Fighters .” The image of Castro depicted in the poster above is from a photograph taken during its trip.

By now, many hopes that the revolution would lead to democratic reforms were dashed. The f ree elections that were promised never occurred .

Yet Mr. Castro remained popular, affectionately referred to as Fidel. That spirit was captured in this rare poster by t he Cuban painter Raúl Martínez, an artist who influenced the Havana art scene with his abstract work and his own version of Pop Art. The star from the Cuban flag represents national identity, and the number 26 commemorates the attack on the Moncada barracks.

Sandra Levinson, executive director of the Center for Cuban Studies , who has collected such posters for decades, argued that Mr. Castro himself did not like the idea of his image depicted on statues, idols, walls and billboards, unless it was used to make a more substantive point.

Many of the images were works of art, Ms. Levinson said, “ but they were treated as posters and they were literally slapped up across the city.”

After diplomatic relations with the United States were broken off in 1961 and Cuba allied itself with the Soviet Union, Mr. Castro and the United States sometimes seemed to become obsessed with each other’s downfalls. Through the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, assassination plots and the decades-long economic embargo, Mr. Castro endured and continued to antagonize the West.

An unknown conservative group commissioned this poster around 1980, depicting Mr. Castro as a fanged bogeyman.

“One more arroba [25 pounds] per man every day. Nothing and no one can ever hold us back again,” reads a 1969 poster of Mr. Castro encouraging the nation in a failed effort to reach a record 10 million ton sugar harvest by the following year.

After President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s economic and diplomatic retaliation nearly a decade earlier, Cuba had become solely dependent on sugar and its only major buyer, Russia. Mr. Castro personally set the goals for sugar harvests.

Posters encouraged Cubans to get cutting with milestones along the way, recalled Ms. Levinson, who said she was taught to cut sugar cane by Mr. Castro himself. (She said he even drove her to the hospital after she was injured.) But the harvest never got beyond 8.5 million tons.

“That kind of visual imagery was employed for every major push of the revolution,” Ms. Levinson said.

“Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.” The title of this colorful, energetic limited-edition print from 1973 is another reference to Mr. Castro’s famous four-hour speech at his trial 20 years earlier. Here, at the Plaza de Mayo in Havana against a backdrop featuring revolutionary figures like Che Guevara, he is depicted more as a leader than a revolutionary.

“As portraits get more contemporary, there are less about his fatigues and carrying a pistol and it moves to him being more of a statesman,” Mr. Cushing said.

“We celebrate the 26th of July – In solidarity with the struggle of the Nicaraguan people, and in favor of ending the blockade against Cuba,” this poster reads.

The print was produced in the San Francisco Bay area by the American-born Chicano poster artist Malaquías Montoya, for an event marking the Cuban revolution held by a consortium of Latin American solidarity organizations.

Mr. Castro extended his support to other Latin American revolutionary movements, including the Sandinista National Liberation Front , which overthrew the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979 and fought for years with the American-backed rebels who become known as the contras.

This poster commissioned by the Cuban government shows, from left to right, Daniel Ortega , leader of the Sandinistas in Nicaragua; Maurice Bishop , who became leader of Grenada in a coup in 1979; and Mr. Castro.

Mr. Castro’s bushy beard, long Cuban cigar and green fatigues became a global symbol of rebellion. This oil pencil sketch by the graphic artist Rafael Enríquez was intended for distribution all over the world. It was commissioned by a Havana-based group, the Organization in Solidarity with the People of Africa, Asia and Latin Americ a, and published in its Tricontinental magazine.

This officially sanctioned poster shows the odd pairing of an aging Communist leader meeting an aging anti-Communist pope, John Paul II , during his visit to Havana in early 1998. It was meant to present Mr. Castro, who abandoned his military uniform for the occasion, as a dignified world leader.

Unexpected Reads

Fidel castro, cuban revolutionary who defied u.s., dies at 90.

Mr. Castro brought the Cold War to the Western Hemisphere, bedeviled 11 American presidents and briefly pushed the world to the brink of nuclear war.

My Three Days With Fidel

My Three Days With Fidel

Fidel Castro, Cuban Revolutionary

Fidel Castro, Cuban Revolutionary

The Times’s Coverage of Fidel Castro

The Times’s Coverage of Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro: 1926-2016

Fidel Castro: 1926-2016

Cuba on the Edge of Change

Cuba on the Edge of Change

Soviet Propaganda Posters are Undervalued. Here's Why

propaganda posters 1980s

Thirty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, its legacy lives on through propaganda posters. These posters are more than just propaganda; they reflect the cultural narrative and values of the Soviet era, providing a glimpse into the Soviet mindset. Despite their creativity and historical significance, these posters are often undervalued when compared to Western posters from the same time period. Here’s why that’s so. 

Socialist Realism: The Repression of artists

​One of Stalin’s first actions as leader of the USSR was to take control of the artist unions. He then imposed strict controls on artistic expression. Socialist realism was a realistic (photographic) and idealised art. And it was the only officially approved art in the USSR.

Since Soviet artists were all employed by the state, they had no other option but to create this style of art. Socialism Realism’s reach is widespread. You’ve probably seen paintings of Stalin surrounded by happy children in a field, or joyful workers ploughing a field. But this style of art is boring. There’s a lot of red, and a lot of Stalin. These posters are valuable - usually because they have a limited print run and were created by renown artists. In my opinion, these posters are not undervalued.

The dawn of a New Era: Unofficial Art

After Stalin’s death, the state loosened their grip on art and artists. What followed was a period of rapid experimentation - in message and medium. Politically and socially charged, Unofficial Art sought to subvert the dominant State narrative and upend preconceived notions of what art was. Artists used art to commentate on society at large. This new type of art was in stark contrast to official art, sanctioned by the state.

Artists still had to be careful. experimental art was permitted only in private. Artists who tried to show their art in public were ridiculed. The KGB would regularly imprison Nonconformist artists and destroy their art. In the famous Bulldozer exhibition , artists were shot at with water cannons, and bulldozers were used to destroy their artworks. One policeman is famously quoted as saying: “ You should all be shot! Only you are not worth the ammunition!”.

These artists were still employed by the state. And the posters they created for the state were heavily influenced by Nonconformist art. Some hid symbols which were critical of the USSR in plain sight. Posters were no longer all red, and they often showed the insidious side of the Soviet Union, one plagued by alcoholism and other ills. These posters are grossly undervalued.

Artists from the Bulldozer Exhibition. Image Credit: Unknown.

Posters are Difficult to Find Today

For decades, Soviet posters were seen by the East AND West as propaganda. They weren’t considered art. These posters were printed in large quantities and displayed in public buildings and government offices, often being replaced after just a few months. Today, many examples of Soviet art have been destroyed or are deteriorating in the basement of some babushka’s home. Soviet propaganda posters from the 1960s to the late 1980s are a form of cultural commentary and are an astute investment. Here are some tips on starting your own collection.

  • Do your research: Before you start collecting, it’s important to learn about the history and meaning behind propaganda posters from the Soviet Union. This will help you identify genuine pieces and avoid counterfeits. Avoid smaller reprints, as they have no collector value.
  • Know the condition of the posters: You should always know the condition of the posters you’re buying. Check for signs of wear and tear, discoloration, or other issues that could affect the value of the poster. While the value of a poster decreases with wear and tear, I see these imperfections as part of their story and beauty.
  • Buy from reputable sources: Buy from established dealers who have a track record of selling authentic Soviet propaganda posters. Here’s a few dealers you can check out.
  • Consider framing and conservation: Pay attention to how you’re storing and displaying your posters to ensure they stay in good condition. They should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from moisture and stored flat. Investing in professional framing and conservation will ensure your posters are kept safe and in the best condition possible. Here’s how you can protect your collection .

Hordubal | Czechoslovakia | 1979 - Comrade Kiev

Hordubal | Czechoslovakia | 1979 £700

International Ultrasound Exhibition | Lithuania | 1981 - Comrade Kiev

International Ultrasound Exhibition | Lithuania | 1981 £950

12 April - Cosmonauts Day | Russia | 1989 - Comrade Kiev

12 April - Cosmonauts Day | Russia | 1989 £400

Further Reading

propaganda posters 1980s

Art against Authority: The Glass Harmonica

propaganda posters 1980s

Inked and Imprisoned: The Story of Soviet Criminal Tattoos

propaganda posters 1980s

East vs West: A Comparison of Soviet & American Cold War Posters

propaganda posters 1980s

Decoding the Most Common Symbols Found in Soviet Propaganda

These Posters Show What AIDS Meant In The 1980s

"AIDS attacks one race and one race only. The human race." #WorldAIDSDay

Patrick Strudwick

BuzzFeed LGBT Editor, UK

In the 1980s, as the young died and doctors scrambled for answers, charities, activists, and governments tried to inform the public about a new killer: AIDS.

propaganda posters 1980s

These posters, collected by the Wellcome Trust , reveal the various messages displayed around the world, amid widespread fear, ignorance, and misinformation about the epidemic.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement for AIDS information lines by the California Medical Association.

propaganda posters 1980s

Poster from the America Responds to AIDS advertising campaign, 1980s.

Some simply tried to tell people that AIDS is deadly.

propaganda posters 1980s

An AIDS prevention advertisement by the Central Health Education Bureau in New Delhi.

propaganda posters 1980s

A warning that AIDS is a prolonged death by the American Indian Health Care Association. 1989.

Many carried a single message: Use a condom.

propaganda posters 1980s

An advertisement for safe sex by the Department of Health, Housing and Community Services of the Aboriginal Health Workers of Australia, 1990s.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement by the State of California AIDS Education Campaign, 1990s.

The "put a rubber on it" message began in 1980s posters and continued throughout the 1990s. Many still bear the message today.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement by the Canadian Public Health Association, 1990s.

propaganda posters 1980s

German version of a series of "Stop AIDS" campaign posters by the Federal Office of Public Health, 1990s.

"Be good in bed! Use a condom."

propaganda posters 1980s

Terrence Higgins Trust poster, 1990s.

Posters attempted to convey the condom message to all races, genders, and sexual orientations.

propaganda posters 1980s

Not only were condoms becoming increasingly more available, they were the single most effective protection against the HIV virus. Today, Truvada (aka PrEP), the drug that prevents HIV, is also as effective, for the minority who have access to it.

propaganda posters 1980s

Poster by Naz Project, 1990s.

As the epidemic grew, charities tried to find new, sexy, and sometimes explicit ways to encourage safer sex.

propaganda posters 1980s

1990s posters by Gay Men Fighting AIDS (now called GMFA).

propaganda posters 1980s

An advertisement for the AIDS-Hilfe Duisberg/Kreis Wesel, 1990s.

propaganda posters 1980s

Ad for safe sex by the Australian AIDS Council with a list of regional council telephone numbers, 1994. And a banana design by the New Zealand Aids Foundation, 1990s.

This included promoting the female condom (aka femidom). It wasn't very popular.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement for the new female condom by the Black HIV/AIDS Network, 1990s.

Other posters took note of the dangers of sharing needles.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement for the AIDS Project by the California Department of Health Services, 1990s.

And some even promoted the benefit of bleaching needles. (It's safer to use fresh ones, however.)

propaganda posters 1980s

Instruction leaflet on how to clean syringes issued by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, 1988.

This poster warned of the dangers of blood transfusions, through which many people contracted HIV until the mid-1980s when screening began for all blood samples in most Western countries.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement issued by Ortho Diagnostic Systems, 1998.

But alongside the more obviously practical messages came attempts to remind people that the virus can affect anyone.

propaganda posters 1980s

Poster by People of Colour Against Aids, 1990s.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement by the Southern Health Board, 1992.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertising by the Jewish Aids Trust, 1990s.

propaganda posters 1980s

A warning by the New York State Health Department that AIDS, 1990s.

This poster, aimed at students, highlights many false assumptions about who isn't at risk. "I can't get AIDS. I only sleep with nice women."

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement about the HIV virus by De Anza College Health Services. 1990s.

Some posters tried to tackle HIV-prevention messages for both sex and drug use.

propaganda posters 1980s

By the AIDS Hotline in Hawaii . 1990s.

Others, like this Dutch design, promoted the idea that even when protecting yourself you can still have fun: "Live wild. Be safe."

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement for safe sex and the AIDS Information Line in the Netherlands by the Stuurgroep AIDSpreventie Homo's and Buro GVO Amsterdam. 1991.

And this campaign aimed to encourage the use – and washing – of sex toys, as a fun, safer way of enjoying sex, without penile penetration. Doctors now know that sharing sex toys can spread hepatitis C.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement by the Core Program. 1990s.

If sex toys weren't your thing, another option was suggested: masturbation. Ideally with someone else.

propaganda posters 1980s

Poster by the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard. 1991.

But by the early 1990s, the death rate continued to rise, and so this 1987 image – perhaps the most famous internationally – was still in common use. It wasn't only found on posters, but also on stickers, banners, and T-shirts.

propaganda posters 1980s

The Silence = Death Project by ACT-UP, The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power. 1987.

With the deaths came terror, stigmatisation, and violence against people living with HIV/AIDS. This campaign highlighted gender-based violence: "She told her husband she was HIV+. He took it badly."

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement for the support provided by the London Lighthouse centre. 1990s.

There were many attempts to target women through poster campaigns, like this one, pinpointing the need for condom use not only to guard against unwanted pregnancy.

propaganda posters 1980s

Derivation unknown. 1990s.

Some organisations seemed to encourage women to be abstinent: "A great love is worth the wait."

propaganda posters 1980s

Warning about the risk of AIDS by the Alaska Native Health Board. 1992.

Others sought to remind people that you cannot tell by looking at a woman what her HIV status is.

propaganda posters 1980s

United States. Dept. of Health and Human Services. 1991.

Some used children to catch the attention of parents – or potential parents. "Who will take care of him? You can't afford to be sick."

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement for The Aids Health Project. 1990s.

There were posters aimed at sex workers. "Don't have sex without a rubber for anything."

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement by the State of California AIDS Education Campaign. 1990s.

HIV/AIDS charities were in desperate need of funds, so many used adverts and posters to gain donations. This one from Germany featured a photo of man with lesions, a common symptom for people with AIDS-related skin cancers.

propaganda posters 1980s

An appeal for donations to the AIDS fund by Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe. 1990s.

Other organisations like ACT-UP used posters to galvanise activists into calling for better healthcare and drugs for HIV-positive people. It wouldn't be until 1996, after millions had already died, that effective anti-retrovirals arrived.

propaganda posters 1980s

Ad by ACT-UP for an AIDS demonstration on Friday 6 October 1989.

Some groups simply advertised their services.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement for the AIDS hotline by the AIDS Project Los Angeles . 1993.

propaganda posters 1980s

A poster for the residential unit of the London Lighthouse centre for those with AIDS and HIV. 1990s.

A crucial message in many of the posters was to encourage everyone to support, not judge, people with HIV/AIDS

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. 1990s.

propaganda posters 1980s

South Africa Dept. of Health. 1996.

Some countries, such as Kenya, incorporated the need to take care of HIV-positive people – and oneself – by emphasising the importance of family.

propaganda posters 1980s

AIDS prevention advertisement by the NGO AIDS Consortium with PATH in Kenya. 1997.

And on World Aids Day — 1 December 2015 — with 35 million dead, and 34 million still living with the virus, this poster, once aimed at individuals, could now be aimed at governments who fail to respond to the crisis.

propaganda posters 1980s

Advertisement prepared by Pihas, Schmidt and Westerdahl for Oregon Health Division. 1997.

IMAGES

  1. USSR Cold War Poster

    propaganda posters 1980s

  2. These Posters Show What AIDS Meant In The 1980s

    propaganda posters 1980s

  3. Vintage Ads : Fashion. Part 3

    propaganda posters 1980s

  4. A poster by a Sheffield group in the 1980s calling for a boycott of

    propaganda posters 1980s

  5. Prohibition, Soviet style: Propaganda posters from the 1980s

    propaganda posters 1980s

  6. "Soviet Estonia" poster, 1980s : PropagandaPosters

    propaganda posters 1980s

COMMENTS

  1. Seven decades of Soviet propaganda

    Photograph: Corbis. This poster celebrates mechanisation in agriculture. Photograph: Michael Nicholson/Corbis. A Soviet aviation propaganda poster from the 1920s. Photograph: Found Image Press ...

  2. Posters: Yanker Poster Collection

    The Yanker Poster Collection includes more than 3,000 political, propaganda, and social issue posters and handbills, dating 1927-1980. Most posters are from the United States, but over 55 other countries and the United Nations are also represented. The materials were acquired by gift of Gary Yanker in 1975 and later.

  3. Famous Propaganda Posters From the Last 100 Years

    These posters have stood the test of time and remain woven into our society, some of them more than 100 years after their initial creation. Stacker highlighted 50 famous propaganda posters associated with major wars and political movements throughout history, including those from different countries and time periods.

  4. Iconic Propaganda posters throughout history

    Anti metric system poster, 1917. Pro-choice poster, 1981, USA. Guerrilla Girls, 1991. Navy Recruitment. Poster by René Georges Hermann-Paul, 1899. "Freedom" Leslie Illingworth, 1940. Workers of the world, Unite! United China Relief was a joint effort to raise money for humanitarian aid for China during WWII. WW2 propaganda poster.

  5. 25 Most Powerful Propaganda Posters That Made All The Difference

    The Great Powers intervened and defeated Chinese forces. 3. Anti - Smoking Propaganda. awesome-fun. A very simple, yet powerful anti-smoking poster. Sometimes dubbed as one of the most clever anti-smoking advertisement ever. 4. "You Can Be Someone's Superhero!", Hellenic Association Of Blood Donors, (2013).

  6. PDF Soviet Poster Collection

    Soviet propaganda posters emphasized the importance of food and agriculture as well as industry. The meat and milk trucks, large buildings, and silos in this poster illustrate the ideal of larger-scale food production, and the red flags and banners associate agricultural abundance with the Soviet Union and Communism.

  7. Prohibition, Soviet style: Propaganda posters from the 1980s

    Prohibition, Soviet style: Propaganda posters from the 1980s. By Liesl Bradner. April 28, 2017 6 AM PT. Vodka and Russia. The former is so ingrained in the identity of the latter, it's hard to ...

  8. 10 most iconic Soviet propaganda posters (PICS)

    6. 'Don't Chat!' (1941) Nina Vatolina, Nikolai Denisov/Public Domain. A war-time poster illustrated by artists Nina Vatolina and Nikolai Denisov. A little poem in the top right-hand corner ...

  9. Red alert: Collecting Soviet propaganda posters

    Before you buy Soviet propaganda posters, take note. ... Many posters produced in the 1980s were scooped up by tourists and most are worth less than $100 said Nicholas Lowry, president of New York ...

  10. 1980s Propaganda · The Cold War (2022) · Santa Clara University Digital

    Propaganda in the 1980s reflected an on-going public health crisis: Soviet citizens began consuming alcohol in concerning amounts. The USSR's government officials viewed alcohol (and its abuse) with disgust, expressing impatience, contempt, and anger for those who indulged (Field and Powell 1981, 41). With the turn towards viewing citizens more ...

  11. Behind the Propaganda Poster: Political Games at the Soviet Olympic

    Behind the Propaganda Poster: Political Games at the Soviet Olympic Games. November 4, 2020. The 1980 Moscow Olympics were a chance for the Soviet Union to outshine their Cold War rival. Just a few months earlier, the U.S had hosted the Winter Olympics. The Soviet Union ice hockey team had won gold at five of the last six Winter Games, and were ...

  12. These Soviet propaganda posters once evoked heroism, pride and ...

    Propaganda during Soviet times came in poster form. Some messages stirred patriotism in the fight against Adolf Hitler's invading forces, while others slammed illiteracy and laziness.

  13. Propaganda Vault

    Space for Peace (USSR - 1980's) €29.99. Welcome to the propaganda vault, your go-to place for propaganda posters. As a history enjoyer, I've always been drawn to these posters, as they're more than just pieces of paper - they're snapshots of moments in time. They give us a peek into what people thought, felt, and believed in different periods.

  14. Newly Digitized Posters Trace 70 Years of Soviet Propaganda

    The Davis Center Library has recently digitized close to 200 Soviet propaganda posters in its collection. Together they form a visual history of official efforts to influence the USSR's people throughout the country's 70-year lifespan — from militant appeals against capitalism to the iconic " Motherland calls! " of World War II to ...

  15. Just Say No

    President Reagan's wife, Nancy Reagan, launched the "Just Say No" campaign, which encouraged children to reject experimenting with or using drugs by simply saying the word "no.". The ...

  16. Creating China Visually: Collecting Chinese Propaganda Posters

    Ubiquitous and impossible to avoid, Chinese propaganda posters were mass-produced, easily and cheaply available at the Xinhua (New China) bookstores. Posters carried normative or political messages, but they also brought some color to the places where people lived. ... The posters one could pick up in the 1980s for only two mao (approx. US$0.03 ...

  17. The forgotten oil ads that told us climate change was nothing

    Since the 1980s, fossil fuel firms have run ads touting climate denial messages - many of which they'd now like us to forget. ... propaganda and lobbying campaign to delay climate action by ...

  18. Pretty Environmental Propaganda Posters from 1980s China

    The images below are from their collection of environmental posters of the 1970s and 1980s. In introducing the images, the curators of the site point out that this group of posters, produced at a ...

  19. Castro's Revolution, Illustrated

    An American propaganda poster commissioned by an unknown conservative group. Credit Personal archive of Lincoln Cushing Around 1980 Bitter Enemies After diplomatic relations with the United States ...

  20. Soviet Propaganda Posters are Undervalued. Here's Why

    Soviet propaganda posters from the 1960s to the late 1980s are a form of cultural commentary and are an astute investment. Here are some tips on starting your own collection. Do your research: Before you start collecting, it's important to learn about the history and meaning behind propaganda posters from the Soviet Union. This will help you ...

  21. These Posters Show What AIDS Meant In The 1980s

    The "put a rubber on it" message began in 1980s posters and continued throughout the 1990s. Many still bear the message today. Advertisement by the Canadian Public Health Association, 1990s. German version of a series of "Stop AIDS" campaign posters by the Federal Office of Public Health, 1990s.

  22. IRA propagande poster (1980") : r/PropagandaPosters

    IRA propagande poster (1980") Is always been interesting how much symbology comes from the AR series of rifles in Ireland at that time. The IRA used a very wide variety of weapons but it always circles back to AR15s and AR18s when it came to propaganda.

  23. From the 1980s, but what is the source? : r/PropagandaPosters

    This looks like something someone would post in r/AlternateHistory under the caption "What if East Germany were cats in 1980?" Certainly weirder than the Soviet Bear, but almost as cute, and reminds me of that modern American meme "Sergeant Mittens". 421 votes, 22 comments. 561K subscribers in the PropagandaPosters community. A subreddit for ...

  24. 1980s Soviet Poster

    1980s Cosmonaut USSR Space Program Propaganda Poster, Vintage Poster, Communist Artwork, Eastern European Artwork, Soviet Military, Russian (393) $ 149.99. FREE shipping ... Moscow 1980 Olympics Poster with Rainbow Theme - Soviet Union Olympics - Large Vintage Russian Poster (638) $ 195.00 ...