CAN POSTERS KILL?

Faivish, a son of Holocaust survivors, and co-author Cole weave together an analysis of antisemitic propaganda posters and the history of World War II.

This work critically analyzes images from 1933 through 1946, dividing them into three sections covering the periods before, during, and after the war. Each segment opens with a one-page historical overview followed by two-page spreads featuring full-page, full-color reproductions of the posters (with captions providing translations) and a facing page containing one or more explanatory paragraphs explaining the antisemitic tropes at play. Many of the posters emerged from Paul Joseph Goebbels’ Ministry of Propaganda. During the war, as Nazi reach expanded, they designed the posters to win the sympathy of non-Germans, and the book contains examples from France, Poland, Serbia, and other countries. The formal analysis of the images will help readers understand the ideologies the posters promoted, hone their visual literacy skills, and gain historical insights that they can apply to the present day. Additionally, the book provides brief overviews of key concepts, including the ideological and economic systems of communism and capitalism, and references other maligned groups, such as Black, Romani, and LGBTQ+ people. Terms defined in the glossary appear in bold in the main text. The book ends on a hopeful note with an afterword that urges readers to use their awareness to “be good and steadfast doves who bring blessings and hope to the future.”

A necessary overview that’s rich in analysis and insight.