INTRODUCTION
Propaganda used to be a very popular method in the USSR, under the soviets. Propaganda was used by the Communists to present their point of view on a subject either relating to politics or any other affair. Propaganda posters were distributed all around Russia to brainwash the citizens to think the “Communist way.” Propaganda posters were very powerful and persuasive posters which grasped the reader's mind and made him/her think the “Communist way.” The propaganda posters were effectively used by the Communists to sustain their effective control over the country and over the citizens of the country. The propaganda posters were also a good way to prompt Communism and helped the citizens of Russia to be proud of their nation’s success. The clever part about these posters was that they never showed the negative side, and only showed the success and positive part. Most of the time these posters were also misleading and showed the untruth information. These posters usually presented Karl Marx, Lenin, and Joseph Stalin as gods and fathers to the nation. By looking at propaganda posters one can learn a lot about Russia under Communists. One can see how important Lenin, Marx, and Stalin were. One can see the growth of the country under Communism. One can see all kinds of issues related to power and politics. Any one can see the power and unity of Communism in the country, and the killing instinct of the revolution. By looking at propaganda posters one can learn the psychology of the people at that time towards Communism and Russia. One can also learn the different types of ways the artists used to make their posters appealing and persuasive. Over all the propaganda posters were a great success.
This is the first propaganda poster and it looks very interesting and patriotic. If we analyze this poster carefully, we see that the artist of this poster is trying to show the poster's message by emphasizing on the picture of the tall man with the flag. The artist has made that man look strong, hardworking, and patriotic. The man seems to be leading or guiding the people towards a certain goal. The man seems to be in charge of all those people and he is to make sure that they all reach their goal. When we look at the people at the bottom we can see that they all are united and looking forward altogether for the same target. The big man at the top is also holding a flag with red background and with the pictures of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Lenin. By this flag in the hands of a strong person we can tell that the artist is trying to show the strength of Communism, and the power it has to motivate the people. The poster is trying to show how many people are following Communism and it is making Lenin, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Engels as the father of Communism, or as the god. The man seems to be leading these people towards Communism by motivating the people with the ideas of the 3 men in the flag. Something really effective about this poster is that the way the artist has shown the man with the flag. The artist made the man look strong, powerful and patriotic who is leading others towards Communism. The artist is trying to motivate the people towards Communism and the ideas of Marx and Lenin.
PROPAGANDA POSTER #2
This is another propaganda poster, and unlike other posters this one is unique and looks more peaceful. When we first look at this poster it makes us think more about peace and agriculture as well as nature and hard work. This poster gives a very unique feeling about Communist Russia. It makes Communist Russia look like a very peaceful country. This is because the artist of this poster has very carefully used the colors in this poster. Instead of using colors that stand out a lot like red, yellow, or orange, the artist uses colors like gray, white, and silver. We do not often see propaganda posters using these types of colors. The artist also uses the space very well. Notice that there is nothing in the open field except for a hammer and a sickle with the wheat flower on top. The artist in this poster is trying to send the message to the audience that by peace and hard work we will fill up our barren fields with lots of crops and wheat flowers. The artist is trying to enforce agriculture and is showing the readers that Russia is progressing a lot with its hard work and it will keep on working hard to improve itself. This poster is saying that the Russians have forgotten war and now are improving their agriculture. The poster is trying to encourage the citizens of Russia towards hard work to build up a great economy of the country. It is enforcing hard work. The effective part in this poster is the hammer and sickle because they are sitting alone in the field with the wheat flower on top of them. It seems like as if they are waiting for someone to use them and do the hard work to plant the wheat flower and bring greenery to the barren fields again.
Another poster which looks very interesting is this one with the dove. In this propaganda poster the artist uses the bird dove to show his point of view about Communism. As we all know dove is a symbol of peace, care, and love; so probably the artist is trying to tell the people that Communism is a very peaceful and caring idea which will help the country, so better follow Communism. The poster is sending a message that Russia used to be a very gloomy, dark, and barren country. Then the artist shows that a dove comes in the country, which probably means Communism, and goes around the country carrying houses and happiness for everyone. So basically this poster is trying to show the good deeds and the benefits that were done and brought by Communists. The poster is also very cleverly made to show its message. The artist uses dead trees and gloomy as well as dark colors to associate with the past of Russia. Then he uses the dove which is flying in, to show the rise of Communism. The artist fills the dove with white and green colors as well as houses to show how nice and peaceful Communism is. Then the artist shows how the dove or Communism came to Russia and developed it into a much better country. Notice that inside the dove there are green trees instead of dark trees. So the poster is showing the influence of Communism and its benefits. The effective part of this poster is the dove which is associated with Communism by the artist, and seems to bring happiness. This poster is motivating and asking the Russians to follow Communism and to be pro
ud of it, because it has benefited all of them.
PROPAGANDA POSTER #4
Those were not just the only propaganda posters, there are more and this one is one of them. This poster shows Lenin the leader of the Communists in Russia. The artist shows Lenin looking very tired and concerned about the country. He is shown to be holding a paper, which are probably his plans for the future of Russia. Lenin's eyes show that he feels tired and wants the better of the country. Lenin is shown to be a very hardworking man and is thinking about the country. The backround of this poster is also red which represents the Russian Revolution. There is also the symbol of USSR at the back of Lenin, which shows the people that he is the head of the country and he will lead the people. Lenin is also shown looking forward to the future by the artist. The message of this poster is that Lenin is the leader of the country and whatever he will do, will be right. The artist is also trying to say that Lenin is the father of the nation and he is a very hardworking man and wants to benefit the country by implying his future plans. The artist made a great painting of Lenin to show his ideas and thoughts about Lenin and to make Lenin the hero of the nation. The artist did great use of colors such as red to show the struggles Lenin has done to reach to the top, such as Revolution. He also made Lenin stand out effectively to show that he is the leader and made his face weary and tired to show that he works hard and holds the plans. The artist of this poster wants the Russians to be loyal to Lenin and believe in him, because he holds all the plans and knows everything. The artist also wants the Russians to be proud of their leader Lenin and his works and ideas.
This is another propaganda poster. In this poster the artist is showing Stalin as a great leader. He is showing Stalin as a very bright and learned man. Stalin is shown to be leading all his people towards a goal or dream. Stalin is shown to be the leader and everyone else is shown to be the follower. Stalin is also shown to be having a paper and a pen and writing down the plans for the future like Lenin. The artist very carefully made Stalin the center of attention and the others minor. Behind Stalin is also a red flag, the flag of the Revolution. In this poster the message the artist is trying to send is that Stalin is all knowing and he is a great man who knows exactly what to do and what not to do. He is also showing that Stalin is the leader and the others shall follow him. The artist is using this poster to brainwash the Russians about Stalin. The artist is trying to use this poster to make Stalin like a god around Russia. He wants people to respect Stalin and think positively about him. The message is clearly shown by focusing on Stalin and presenting others as minors.
This is the final poster which I think is equally as interesting as the first five. The artist of this poster is trying to tell the viewers the power and unity behind Communism. He is showing the world how successfully Communism has spread throughout the world, and how many people are its followers. This poster shows the success of Communism. This poster also shows the countries which follow Communism and those countries make up the hammer and the sickle. Another thing about this poster is its color. The hammer and sickle are in front of the bright sun and its yellow rays. The sun represents the superiority, unity, and leadership of the Communist nations. The people in the poster also look forward in the same way and are very determined. The message which the artist of this poster is trying to send out is that, always be united and together because that is our biggest strength. This poster is also very effective because it gives a very patriotic feeling, specially the sun at the back. The artist of this poster wants the people of all these nations to be one and united.
CONCLUSION
All the posters I saw told me a lot about the Russian people and about Russia. Most of these posters were very convincing and persuasive. I was shocked to see how propaganda was so effectively used by artists to view their ideas. Some of the propaganda posters were also misleading, fake and untrue as well. Although one thing which I noticed was that these propaganda posters really worked very well, that is why Russia was able to stay under the Communists for a long time. Another thing of which I took note of was that, these posters exaggerated too much about the developments and achievements of Russia under the Communists. I don't say that Russia did not develop under the Communist; they did, in fact a lot, but not as much as shown in the posters. Overall I believe that the propaganda posters were a great idea used by the Communists to spread Communism through out the world.
INTRODUCTION 
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