The world most of us live in started 80 years ago this year, in the aftermath of the Second World War. Much of the architecture and rules underpinning global order – the United Nations, NATO and ANZUS – flowed out of those tumultuous events.
To mark its end in the Pacific, the Australian National Maritime Museum is delivering a series of programs, events, activations and exhibitions under the banner The World Remade.
Today the Museum launches Persuasion, an exhibition of WWII propaganda posters from the USA and Australia.
Persuasion
During WWII mobilising the resources and spirit of the population was essential to defeating our shared enemies in World War II.
Government agencies employed the persuasive powers of the best illustrators from the world of advertising to create propaganda posters.
The posters used colour, sophisticated design, clever language and psychological 'angles' to communicate essential messages and inspire action.
Posters were pinned up in factories, post offices, schools, libraries and displayed on buses and trains as part of the campaign to support the war effort. They depicted heroism and sacrifice, encourage recruitment, preach thrift and discipline, promote investment in peace, inspire optimism in the future and tackle racism, women in war and international cooperation.
The enemy is evoked in stereotypes, as a ruthless invisible menace, lurking and listening in the shadows, and as the ultimate target of victory.
This exhibition is supported by the USA Bicentennial Gift Fund
The World Remade at the Museum
Exhibitions/ Activities (details follow)
- The Secret Strike opened March 6
- Guided tours of the MV Krait commenced June 4
- Persuasion (propaganda posters) June 19
- WWII Trail June 19
- Japanese maritime postcards June 27
- The Bomb and its aftermath July 11
- In Conversation with Keiko Ogura August 17
- History Week talk - Sydney invaded! September 7
- History Week talk – Secret Strike September 10
- Dark Victory - Operation Jaywick September 26
- Book Launch - Australian Coastal Wars October 11
- Book Launch - 1945 – The Reckoning October 12
- War Brides, Grooms & Babies October 16
- Splash & Swing: 40's Festival October 18-19
Program details
Secret strike - War on our Shores features the stern section of the midget submarine M22 and voice pipes from the HMAS Kuttabul. The exhibition explores the raid and includes historic images of the aftermath of the attack and firsthand accounts of the impact the raid had on ordinary people's lives.
Guided tours of MV Krait
