Art and War
Fear, anger, despair and other emotions brought about by violent and repressive acts tend to find expression in many ways. It may be through aggressive resistance or something as personal and non-violent as art. Albert Einstein said, “…one of the strongest motives that lead men to art and science is escape from everyday life with its painful crudity and hopeless dreariness.” This is never truer than in war. Every war has had countless works of art pour forth from those involved. Both adults and children of war torn countries use art as a path to healing and hope.
In addition to being a vehicle for protest, resistance, and healing, art in times of war has other uses, especially as propaganda. Propaganda is an essential tool for purposes such as creating unity in a common cause or maintaining a strong morale at war and at home. It is also effective for needs such as mobilizing workers, rationing resources, and raising money. During WWI the use of propaganda posters was introduced with powerful effect. The success of propaganda efforts—especially posters and films— to change people’s behavior during WWII led to a different use after the war: advertisements and commercials became the peacetime propaganda tools of business. During times of war or peace, visual art has an endless array of possibilities for expressing oneself and influencing others.
Images are not arguments, they rarely even lead to proof, but the mind craves them.
-Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams, 1907.