Transcript Creating the Truth - HRSBSTAFF Home Page

Creating the Truth
Propaganda and the Public Press
Break from the Past
 The French Revolution started as an upper class
protest, and degenerated into a working class
revolution before the middle class exerted control.
 In this process the leaders of the revolution realised
that the power of the people was something that
could and should be controlled.
 The Jacobin leaders were the first to exploit this
through a public press.
 However, as only about 30% of European society
was literate, the print medium was not useful – but art
was.
Jacque-Louis David, 1748-1825
 David was a leader of a new




painting movement in France
called Neo – Classicism.
They explored contemporary
realities and issues using
classical imagery.
“I want my works to have the
character of antiquity to the
point that if it were possible for
an Athenian to return to the
world, he would think them to be
by a Greek painter."
He was from a good family and
yet embraced the revolution
from the out start. He joined the
Jacobins and became friends of
Robespierre and Murat.
In 1792 he was elected to the
revolutionary government
Classical Imagery
 The Intervention of the
Sabine Women (1799)
 What major event/s of
the Revolution do you
think David wanted you
relate this painting to?
The Death of Socrates, 1787
Serving the State
 The Death of Marat
(1793)
 He was a friend of
David.
 http://www.pbs.org/wnet
/powerofart/view.php?p
age=exploremarat
Enter Napoleon
 David survived the
purge of the Jacobins
and the rise of
Napoleon.
 Napoleon saw his work
and supported him as
his official artist. David
recorded his career
well.
Coronation of Napoleon, (1806),
Indoctrination of the unwashed
 Because relatively few people could read or
write, images had to be clear and convey as
much as possible.
 In the French revolutionary period there were
a few standards.
 Below: the Liberty Tree
 Left: Sans Culotte
 Right: The Liberty Cap
was the most ubiquitous
symbol.
 The National figure –
Marianne wears one.
For the Masses
 The artists like David were popular through all of
society, but they did not always understand the
message.

How many 18th century citizens would know the early
Greek and Roman legends.
 To fill the void, there was base humour.
 It is often rude, if not at times pornographic.
 But the messages were obvious and often used
humour.
 While the French were initial leaders in propaganda,
the British were quick to join in.
The Four Corners Game
 In the previous slide the British, Prussians,
Russians and Austrians have hemmed in
Napoleon who can only sit and ….
George III
 This one leaves nothing to chance in terms of
interpretation.
Your Assignment
 One a sheet of paper create
with a partner, a collage of
symbols that you find convey
meaning and message
without the use of words.
The messages can be
positive or negative.
 Do not use commercial
symbols like
 Be prepared to explain what
these messages say and
why are they effective.