3 October 2007
Wednesday 3 October 2007 21:45-22:30 (Radio 3)
As a new exhibition of wartime posters opens at the Imperial War Museum, Rana Mitter explores the politically charged history of advertising at war.
When does a government publicity campaign turn into a propaganda drive? From General Kitchener's famous pointing finger in World War I, right up to anti-nuclear protest art in the 1980s, the visually arresting poster has been on the frontline of the battle for hearts and minds
Weapons of Mass Communication
Britons. Join Your Country's Army!
Alfred Leete, UK, 1914.
I Want You for US Army.
Personality Posters (after James Montgomery Flagg) UK, c1972.
© Imperial War Museum
Playlist
Rivington Place
Rana visits Rivington Place, a new 8 million pound building that is the first permanent public space dedicated to culturally diverse visual arts in the UK. He meets architect David Adjaye and cultural critic Stuart Hall, who has shepherded the gallery into existence, to find out more about their hopes and intentions
Rivington Place is in Shoreditch, East London and is open now.
Weapons of Mass Communication
Rana Mitter examines Weapons of Mass Communication. Since the First World War, when a famous image of Lord Kitchener, moustache bristling, was one of the most effective recruiting tools for the army, posters have been a key part of government publicity and propaganda. A new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum examines the way governments and anti-war protesters have used the poster to get their message across. Rana is joined by the historian Anatol Lieven and advertising executive Barry Delaney to review.
Weapons of Mass Communication: War Posters is at the Imperial War Museum, London, until March 30th. The accompanying book by James Aulich is available now, published by Thames & Hudson.
The Hubris Syndrome
David Owen comes into the Night Waves studio to discuss the effect of power on politicians. Lord Owen, who began his career as a medical doctor, argues that power becomes an addiction which affects their every action and decision - and which results in them demonstrating symptoms most usually associated with mental illness.
The Hubris Syndrome is published by Politico's.
Mock-funerals
Mock-funerals have been staged as art events, to mark the passing of eras and as instruments of protest. On the 40th anniversary of the funeral of 'the hippy' in San Francisco, to mark the end of the 'Summer of Love', D. J. Taylor looks at what makes for a successful mock funeral.
