Modern PR-technologies have gone far ahead in comparison with propaganda tools relatively recently. Today, the public consciousness is influenced to the greatest extent by the electronic media, among which the worldwide Internet is becoming increasingly important. At the same time, such a seemingly outdated way of suggesting and forming right thoughts, like a propaganda poster, remains popular and effective.
Early soviet posters
In pre-revolutionary Russia, leaflets and other print media, including posters, were rarely used by official authorities. But in the first years of Soviet power, this type of propaganda acquired special significance, gained rapid development, and even became a separate type of modernist and futuristic art. The people should have described the joyful prospects of the new world, created the impression of the regularity of the changes taking place and inspired the idea of an inevitable and difficult bloody struggle and selfless work. Bright and bold colors, unusual approaches to the design of these massively replicated works of art were required. Soviet propaganda posters of those years are distinguished by expressiveness and revolutionism not only in content, but also in form. They urge volunteers to join the Red Army, beat the bourgeoisie, donate bread to the proletarian food detachments and not drink raw water, avoiding the dangerous vibrios teeming with it. Famous artists and poets (Denny, Mayakovsky and others) had a hand in creating these masterpieces (rare copies of which are now at a great price), which explains their high artistic merit.
Interwar period
Harsh years have passed, and after them began new, also difficult. The bends of the party’s political line were repeated by propaganda posters. The USSR built socialism, the NEP was curtailed, the scale of creating an industrial base was accompanied by no less grandiose transformations of the village. Industrialization was accompanied by collectivization, which left the peasants practically without property, both private and personal. It was hard and hungry for people. There was a need to explain why and why they should patiently endure hardships and hardships, in the name of what.
Today, in some countries, this task is performed by television, less often by radio, pointing to bright prospects, for example, democracy and freedom. At that time, at least, the broad masses did not have these means, but the propaganda poster hanging on the fence, the billboard, or even simply on the wall, successfully replaced them. In addition to calls to work shockly and to strengthen everything that is possible, warnings about insidious enemies and spies, from which one defense is vigilance, have become relevant. And you don’t need to chat a lot ...
Holy war
The most famous propaganda poster of the war years in the Soviet years was familiar to everyone, both old and small. It depicts a woman whose face expresses anger. Against the backdrop of billowing bayonets, Mother Motherland called everyone who could intercede for her to fluttering banners. Perhaps there are no more posters in the world that are equal in their expressive power to this work. The song "Holy War" sounds in the ears of everyone who sees it.
There were other examples of propaganda printing during the Great Patriotic War, they showed the crimes of the invaders, children clinging to the wall in front of the fascist bayonet aimed at them, black bombs flying at peaceful Soviet cities, and Soviet soldiers decisively crushing the hordes of Nazis.
Particularly noteworthy are posters making fun of the German Fuhrer and his political environment. Artists wittily noticed the caricature features of the faces and figures of the Nazi "Partigenigenos", and their works caused laughter, and in war it is so necessary ...
Post-war decades
The propaganda poster did not lose its relevance even after the victory. Glorifying the Soviet soldiers-liberators, the authors should not forget about the urgent tasks of restoration and creative work. Despite the impeccability of the art form, many examples of those years acquired signs of treasury, unnecessary pomp, and sometimes complete meaninglessness. Why, for example, is there a call to vote for "the further flourishing of our cities and villages"? And who would have opposed in 1950 (yes, actually, today too)? Or here's another topic - about collective farm crops. Who is it addressed to? Collective farmers already knew how they lived. Bad and poor. And the townspeople guessed this.
The decades that followed, alas, continued this sad tradition. Posters dedicated to the corn epic, virgin lands, BAM and other accomplishments, not only did not reflect reality (this is not required from propaganda), but in the artistic sense they were much inferior to the early works of proletarian artists.
Only those dedicated to our astronauts stood out favorably. They really drew from the heart.