Abstract
This paper examines the ethical dimensions of art and music as tools of persuasion during World War II, focusing on the intersection of propaganda posters and the popular music of the Big Band era. The US Government deployed powerful visual content with the intention to shape public opinion, galvanize support for the war effort, and sustain morale on the home front. Posters appealed to patriotism, sacrifice, and fear, while popular songs echoed these themes, creating a feedback loop that deeply influenced public sentiment. Framing this through the lens of “sympathetic vibration”—a metaphor for how visual and musical arts resonated together to amplify emotional impact—we explore how propaganda blurred the line between inspiration and manipulation. While these cultural products are often celebrated as iconic, they also raise enduring questions about the ethical responsibilities of artists, the vulnerability of audiences, and the relationship between creative expression and political agendas. By analyzing selected posters and popular songs side by side, this study invites participants to consider how art and music can be both agents of unity and instruments of control. The discussion also connects these historical examples to contemporary debates about the use of art and media in shaping social and political life, highlighting the continued relevance of these questions for human rights, ethics, and social justice today.
Presenters
Carrie WeisMuseum & Gallery Director, College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, Ferris State University, Michigan, United States Daniel Cronk
Faculty, Arts, Sciences, and Education, Ferris State University, Michigan, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
Propaganda, World War II, Music and Society, Visual Culture, Ethics, Manipulation, Social Justice, Hyper Romanticism, Patriotism
