A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS ON SEVERAL AMERICAN PROPAGANDA POSTERS ISSUED IN SECOND WORLDWAR

Abstract

Second World War was the greatest war ever happened. The world has divided into two groups, the axis power and the allies. Each nation which is joining the war performs propaganda as a tool of information and shaping the patriotism in each civilian. Propaganda is the manipulation of symbols. In Second World War, poster becomes one of several media used in propaganda. The government of United States turns to poster to rally the public because it is less expensive than the other media. Poster becomes the most influenced propaganda. It combines the presence of slogan and picture to enforce its meaning. Poster is a mass communication model. Poster only has the ability of sending a message without receiving the feedback. The focus of this thesis is on how readers understand a message which sends in a form of a poster. Discuss on how meaning is represented in a poster. Using Barthes dichotomy interpretation this thesis deals with the denotation and connotation. From the first data, the sender of the poster tries to inform the civilian about the evilness of Japan, and the sender gives the readers a reason to join the war. In the second data, the senders want the civilian to join the army. In the third data, the senders expect the civilian in the home front to give contribution toward the war effort.