Don’t Touch The Shadow

Smith, Lawrence Beall “Don't let that shadow touch them : buy war bonds.” Web. 12 Sep 2010 <http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc205/>

Background Information This painting was done in

1942 in the middle of World War II

War Bonds were used to fund the production of supplies for our soldiers

These allowed us to be the most prepared nation supply wise in the war

What does the title mean?

<http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc205/>

The title is saying that if the shadow touches the children then they will lose out on all of their innocence. The children are at a time where they should be able to run around and play not have to worry about the war

Audience

This advertisement was mainly targeted towards adults who would be able to buy the war bonds

Do you think that the artist correctly makes his audience known or is it hard to figure out?

Detail Does the emphasis

on the shadow help or hurt the Government’s chance of selling war bonds?

The emphasis on the shadow puts a sense of fear into the viewer making them want to buy the war bonds, so I believe that the image helps their chances

Things To Notice The older boy is

acting as a protector of the younger two children

The youngest child is oblivious to the “danger” that lurks inches next to her

Pathos How does the

painter’s use of children invoke emotion to the audience?

What emotions do the painter’s use of lighting give you?

Pathos cont. I believe that the artist

uses children to make his audience think that if they don’t purchase a war bond there kids will be hurt

The artists use of lighting makes you feel like there is a deep gloom

Since there is an emphasis on the shadow you see that first and you then look at the children’s faces and that gloom is echoed

Ethos Does the image make

you trust our government more than you would if they just said “Buy War Bonds”?

Knowing that this image is supported by the U.S. Government, would it change your perspective of the artist?

Ethos I think that if I was living

during this time and I saw this ad it would make me want to go out and buy a war bond.

I would trust the government more than I would if they didn’t have this image

I would actually change my opinion of the artist I would trust the artist it would seem since we trust our government, we should trust the artists

Logos Does the statement

Don’t let that shadow touch them appeal to your logic or does it make you think that a shadow can’t hurt them?

What does deeper analysis of the shadow do to change that opinion?

Logos The statement does

make me think that why not, a shadow can’t hurt them

But further analysis of the shadow shows a swastika changing my opinion by a complete 180 making me want to buy the war bond to save these children

Significance This picture was an

important part of American history because this was a time when the Nazis were rapidly moving through Europe and our soldiers were trying to stop them

War bonds were important to give our soldiers ammo and other supplies

Intent What do you think

the artist wanted to portray in the advertisement?

I think that the artist wanted to invoke many emotions in you to get you to go and buy a war bond. The Audience being adults made you think about your own kids and what would happen to them.