Research Proposal
What role did the 1st & 2nd World War posters play in wartime Britain?
To: Lee Paton
From: Jack Ramsden
Critical study: Proposal/Essay
28/03/12
How did the War time posters have a role of aid in the 20th Century British Army?
‘Let us go forward together’ – Winston Churchill former PM (1940)
I chose this question as it is an interest of mine that I have had for a very long time starting from childhood, mainly interested in the War, the most artistic work to spawn from it is definitely the War posters. A lot is said of uniform and songs from the wartime, even typefaces come up in conversation quite a lot. The posters are very important to me; they are seen more and more, brought back to life recently within the fashion world. I want to see what the role of the posters was and what they many managed to succeed in doing. Other than just being a lovely art piece with great illustrations, they are pieces to be taken seriously. Propaganda has a significant effect, even used in popular advertising today. I firmly believe it was these posters that as well as the soldiers won us the War. Ranging from, farming plots to grow vegetables for rations to save on money and impossible imports, through to calling people to work in factories actually making the ammunition needed to fight off the enemy, no ammunition, no winning of war!
To answer my question I will use several formats to gain information, internet, books and museum/art galleries, as they will be the most informative. Especially to me Art Galleries are very important, it will allow me to see firsthand exactly what occurred with all the information and research I could need. Not only is it information that I need, imagery will be great to and again there is nowhere else better for it. As a general interest of mine it will be a bonus to gain informant about the war in general and not just about the posters.
Plan of action
First on my list of things to do will be to visit the Imperial War Museum North so I can see firsthand the actual posters on show back in War times. It will be crucial that I gain this information to have a valid position in my argument .The majority of the research will be done before New year, giving me time to start my actual essay just after running from January.
Friday 2nd December – Imperial War Museum (North)
Reading rooms precisely on Wartime posters is the best possible thing. To get a look at the original posters and surely the curators could give me their information too.
Monday 5th December – Bygone Times (Chorley)
A bizarre idea but they feature a War room, with the posters on show too, could be great.
Tuesday – Thursday (6th - 8th) Online Research
Using various search engines and information pages I will compile some nice research together.
Friday 9th December – Manchester Art Gallery
On show at the Gallery in fact a variety of Posters, great help with research.
Monday 12th December – Liverpool World Museum
Again great for research. World Wars featured in the museum, photos can be taken and used to help me produce my essay.
Tuesday – Thursday (13th – 15th) Online Research
Again using various search systems I will gain more knowledge.
Wednesday 14th December – Proposal Deadline
Presentation of my proposal and also using my blog to show what I have been up to.
Friday 16th December – Work on Essay
Just as a base for me to develop a lot further from.
Wednesday 21st December – Work on Essay
Develop my essay
Wednesday 4th January – Work on Essay
Develop my essay
Wednesday 11th January – Work on Essay
Develop my essay
Wednesday 18th January – Work on Essay
Develop my essay
Wednesday 25th January – Work on Essay
Develop my essay
Wednesday 1st February – Work on Essay
Develop my essay hand into Lee to check over
Wednesday 8th February – Work on Essay
Develop my essay
Wednesday 15th February – Work on Essay
Develop my essay
Wednesday 22nd February – Work on Essay
Develop my essay
Wednesday 29th February – Work on Essay
Develop my essay hand into Lee to check over
Wednesday 7th March – Work on Essay
Develop my essay
Wednesday 14th March – Work on Essay
Develop my essay
Wednesday 21st March – Work on Essay
Develop my essay, my Birthday also!
Wednesday 28th March – Deadline
Hand in!
Sources
With the research I will be obtaining, there are obviously a number of different sources. Forming a Bibliography I will list them. These are all the ‘URL’ links that have helped me so far:
Imperial War Museum
Bygone Times
Manchester Art Gallery
Liverpool World Museum
Wikipedia
Wartime Original Posters and description
Basic Website but informative
All from World War II
War Posters from around the World
Basic but informative
Dailymail Newspaper section on posters, nice imagery
Books:
British World War 2 Posters
Posters of the British World Wars
World War Posters
Questionnaire
What stands out for you regarding the 2 World Wars?
If asked about the British War posters, would you know much?
Do you feel Posters have influential properties?
Can you quote a poster?
Have you heard of ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’?
If yes, where have you heard this?
What do War Posters portray for you?
Contacts
Imperial War Museum North
Imperial War Museum London
Liverpool World Museum
St Andrews
