Persuasion or Propaganda

Americans must be more cautious in their spending habits . In addition , beyond rationing the American populace was called upon to avoid wasting products that could be put to better use . Not only did the government and corporations call upon Americans to use their good s wisely but they attempted to convince them that the interests of all would be best served if they avoided black market purchases (Brief History . The end result would be the control on inflation and the accessibility by everyone to less common goods

The ad analyzed here

clearly falls under posters intended to persuade Americans , namely American house-wives , to ration and use their goods wisely . A mother and daughter happily do their part in the war time effort by handing in fats and greases left over from their kitchen . In large letters are the words Pass the Ammunition ' which is clearly a play on words of dinner time talk . More importantly there is the message that the fats and greases are equal to ammunition and that by throwing away this product she is in fact throwing away valuable ammunition needed by sons and fathers overseas

In fact , women were often told that food is a weapon ' during the Second World War (Brief History . The National Wartime Nutrition Program was created and produced pamphlets and posters such as this in to convince women to consume less , have meatless days and to avoid throwing away anything that may be of further use (Brief History . In this particular case the glycerin in recycled fats was used in gunpowder , sulfa anti-infection drugs , the smallpox vaccine , and ammunition (Brief History . This add clearly states that , The fats and greases you save in your kitchen are ammunition when they reach the fighting front (Brief History

Whether this ad can be considered propaganda...