Song
Throughout time we have relied on human speech to communicate. Through the art of song, messages can be spread to a larger audience. During the 20th Century, the growing role of media allowed music to become both national and international sensations. Music played an indelible role through every war of the 20th Century, be it in support or against the government initiatives. Through the lyrics of a song the artist tells a unique story that can stick in the minds of their audience. Song has also been used to rally organizations, through chants. Peace chants were largely used in the later part of the century during the Vietnam War, when the initiatives for war were beginning to be scrutinized.
Throughout time we have relied on human speech to communicate. Through the art of song, messages can be spread to a larger audience. During the 20th Century, the growing role of media allowed music to become both national and international sensations. Music played an indelible role through every war of the 20th Century, be it in support or against the government initiatives. Through the lyrics of a song the artist tells a unique story that can stick in the minds of their audience. Song has also been used to rally organizations, through chants. Peace chants were largely used in the later part of the century during the Vietnam War, when the initiatives for war were beginning to be scrutinized.
Propaganda
Propaganda, which may include many art forms from painting, to photography and even speech, is the way in which a government pushes an agenda on their citizens. You could even consider it a governmental advertisement. This strategy utilizes the concerns of a population and exploits them to gain support for a certain cause. This was largely utilized during the 20th century wars, not only by the United States, but all over the world.
Speech
The spoken word is all around us. It is one of our greatest forms of communication and yet, many times it is taken for granted. It is through the art-form of speeches that we are able to understand some of the largest moments in history. Especially during times of war, the public largely receives their information from their leaders. These leaders prepare speeches carefully and in unique ways, that can define a generation.
Do these lines ring a bell?
- "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country?" - JFK
- "Today is a day that will live in infamy." -Roosevelt
Paintings
For thousands of years people have relied on skilled artists to portray the image of things that they would like captured. While paintings do not always show the exact events as they played out, the artists infusion of personal experience and emotion show more than many photos could capture.
Paintings and other works, such as drawings, sketches and sculptures, allow artists to express themselves in a very unique way. Many times they are not going for the perfect image of an experience, rather they are telling the viewer a story through the details. They want you to know more than a moment in time. They want you to know a story in time.
Photographs
Photography developed greatly over the 20th century. During the earliest times of the 20th Century photography was an unusual form and long process. As it developed it became more mobile, as well as more expedient. This meant that no longer were photographers confined by their instruments - cameras, and they could now go out into the field.
Understanding this is especially important when considering the front-lines of a war. While Vietnam was greatly captured by photo-journalists, there are few photos of what happened during World War I. Without the capabilities and advantages of film, many journalists and even soldiers relied on their own artistic skills to recreate what happened on the front-lines. As you can imagine, many of the images are not completely accurate, rather the emotions of the artist are infused in the work. However, this does not mean that photographs do not share the same biased lens. Photographers capture the images they want to capture, and show us the story that they feel is important.
