Final poster series on socialism in the United States.
Thesis Statement:
Aspects of socialism are ingrained in American culture, such as public schools, roads, and libraries. Despite this, throughout history many people in the United States viewed socialism in a negative way. This is partly because they don’t fully understand what it really means. There are qualities of socialism that people take advantage of everyday. Through changing the appearance of socialism, and showing examples of socialism in everyday life, more Americans can embrace socialism as an idea that can improve their own lives.
Aspects of socialism are ingrained in American culture, such as public schools, roads, and libraries. Despite this, throughout history many people in the United States viewed socialism in a negative way. This is partly because they don’t fully understand what it really means. There are qualities of socialism that people take advantage of everyday. Through changing the appearance of socialism, and showing examples of socialism in everyday life, more Americans can embrace socialism as an idea that can improve their own lives.
First poster created in the series.
Second poster created in the series.
Third poster created in the series.
First sticker created, "Build Bridges, Not Walls," and features the identity.
Second sticker, showing the identity.
Project Narrative
Background Information
Socialism has a major place in American politics and culture, and this is often not something that Americans think about. Although many don’t understand the true meaning of socialism, many still take advantage of the aspects that socialism takes on in the United States. Although there are many types of socialism, a main definition is that socialism is a political ideology that proposes economic equality, most notably a public control over the means of production. The public controls the major industries, rather than individual people or companies. This project focused specifically on democratic socialism, because it implies the need for a social ownership over the means of production, as well as collective decision making in society.
Most equate socialism with the idea of taking money away from the successful to make the lazy rich, without realizing that many aspects of American society come from socialist ideas. Resources that benefit the public such as Planned Parenthood, Healthcare, the military, police and fire department, to public highways and park are all socialist ideas. Everyone pays for these services so that everyone can use them. Services such as this are meant to benefit everyone, not the few.
Project Intent
Socialism has a major place in American politics and culture, and this is often not something that Americans think about. Although many don’t understand the true meaning of socialism, many still take advantage of the aspects that socialism takes on in the United States. Although there are many types of socialism, a main definition is that socialism is a political ideology that proposes economic equality, most notably a public control over the means of production. The public controls the major industries, rather than individual people or companies. This project focused specifically on democratic socialism, because it implies the need for a social ownership over the means of production, as well as collective decision making in society.
Most equate socialism with the idea of taking money away from the successful to make the lazy rich, without realizing that many aspects of American society come from socialist ideas. Resources that benefit the public such as Planned Parenthood, Healthcare, the military, police and fire department, to public highways and park are all socialist ideas. Everyone pays for these services so that everyone can use them. Services such as this are meant to benefit everyone, not the few.
Project Intent
The intent of this project is to inform people in the United States on how socialism is a part of their everyday lives, and the how they can use socialism as a positive tool to inform and educate others. It is also to show people that socialism is not a scary idea, and that it already provides positive services to the public. There is a lot of speculation about what socialism really means to the average American, and this project will help break down some of these misunderstandings.
Audience
This project is aimed at the average American that knows nothing about socialism. Although some people may know more than others about the principles that socialism addresses, this poster series was aimed at breaking down the main ideas quickly so that the majority of people could understand it quickly.
Research Process
The research process for this project included interviews, and reading books and articles about the history of socialism in the United States. One of the most important books that was read in the process of researching was titled The S Word: A Short History of an American Tradition...Socialism by John Nichols. This book gave a lot of information on the misconceptions that socialism has in the United States, as well as the roles that it plays in American society. One of the key people that were interviewed for this project was Maria Svart, who is the National Director of the Democratic Socialists of America. This interview influenced the shift in focus from just socialism to democratic socialism. Democratic socialism is a more relevant term that is more applicable to more people. In the interview, Ms. Svart quoted the famous American democratic socialist Eugene V. Debs, "I would not be a Moses to lead you into the Promised Land, because if I could lead you into it, someone else could lead you out of it." Through interviews, the major problems that socialism faces today were also noted. These include racism, xenophobia, as well as the tendency for socialism to become authoritarian if some leaders consider themselves better than the rest of society in thinking they know the best steps to take. Part of the research process was looking at visual sources, such as Soviet propaganda posters and Works Progress Administration posters. Although the actual Soviet ideas were what this project was in part trying to combat, both of these references offered ideas of how to arrange the text and image so it is appealing to more people.
Design Process
When this project was beginning to take shape, it wasn’t clear what it would look like in the end. One basic idea that occurred early on was to use photograph, or to use some sort of digital collage to show the ideas. This could have been a good way to show them, however, they lacked a system or a real direction. Screen printing was considered in the early process, but it was later decided that wasn’t practical by today’s standards to create the poster series in this way. Although screen printing used to be the standard to create posters, it has now turned into a special skill that takes time to learn.
After thinking about how to best show the main idea in a short amount of time, minimalism had a large influence on the final outcome. This project focused on three main ideas of socialism; economic equality, public services, and public space. There were three posters created to show these ideas. Economic equality focuses on one of the main concepts of socialism, the idea that through people working together, and helping each other, we can all be elevated to a better living standard. The second poster, public services, focuses on providing services that benefit everyone, such as social security and basic healthcare. The third poster focuses on public space. This is both talking about public parks, as well as the ability that socialism has for people to come together and work on a similar level. There was an identity created for this project, which features pieces forming the whole, such as when people work together. One of the symbols featured through history is a rose, which this is based off of as well. The color red is used in this poster series because of the universally, historically recognized symbolism it has with socialism. The bottom of each poster features the website for the Democratic Socialists of America (dsausa.org), in case the viewer wants to learn more.
This project included a sticker system that went along with the poster series. One of the stickers is the identity, while the other has the phrase, “build bridges, not walls.” This phrase is a theme that envelops the main idea around socialism. Socialism is about working together to build community, not building barriers that divide people.
Audience
This project is aimed at the average American that knows nothing about socialism. Although some people may know more than others about the principles that socialism addresses, this poster series was aimed at breaking down the main ideas quickly so that the majority of people could understand it quickly.
Research Process
The research process for this project included interviews, and reading books and articles about the history of socialism in the United States. One of the most important books that was read in the process of researching was titled The S Word: A Short History of an American Tradition...Socialism by John Nichols. This book gave a lot of information on the misconceptions that socialism has in the United States, as well as the roles that it plays in American society. One of the key people that were interviewed for this project was Maria Svart, who is the National Director of the Democratic Socialists of America. This interview influenced the shift in focus from just socialism to democratic socialism. Democratic socialism is a more relevant term that is more applicable to more people. In the interview, Ms. Svart quoted the famous American democratic socialist Eugene V. Debs, "I would not be a Moses to lead you into the Promised Land, because if I could lead you into it, someone else could lead you out of it." Through interviews, the major problems that socialism faces today were also noted. These include racism, xenophobia, as well as the tendency for socialism to become authoritarian if some leaders consider themselves better than the rest of society in thinking they know the best steps to take. Part of the research process was looking at visual sources, such as Soviet propaganda posters and Works Progress Administration posters. Although the actual Soviet ideas were what this project was in part trying to combat, both of these references offered ideas of how to arrange the text and image so it is appealing to more people.
Design Process
When this project was beginning to take shape, it wasn’t clear what it would look like in the end. One basic idea that occurred early on was to use photograph, or to use some sort of digital collage to show the ideas. This could have been a good way to show them, however, they lacked a system or a real direction. Screen printing was considered in the early process, but it was later decided that wasn’t practical by today’s standards to create the poster series in this way. Although screen printing used to be the standard to create posters, it has now turned into a special skill that takes time to learn.
After thinking about how to best show the main idea in a short amount of time, minimalism had a large influence on the final outcome. This project focused on three main ideas of socialism; economic equality, public services, and public space. There were three posters created to show these ideas. Economic equality focuses on one of the main concepts of socialism, the idea that through people working together, and helping each other, we can all be elevated to a better living standard. The second poster, public services, focuses on providing services that benefit everyone, such as social security and basic healthcare. The third poster focuses on public space. This is both talking about public parks, as well as the ability that socialism has for people to come together and work on a similar level. There was an identity created for this project, which features pieces forming the whole, such as when people work together. One of the symbols featured through history is a rose, which this is based off of as well. The color red is used in this poster series because of the universally, historically recognized symbolism it has with socialism. The bottom of each poster features the website for the Democratic Socialists of America (dsausa.org), in case the viewer wants to learn more.
This project included a sticker system that went along with the poster series. One of the stickers is the identity, while the other has the phrase, “build bridges, not walls.” This phrase is a theme that envelops the main idea around socialism. Socialism is about working together to build community, not building barriers that divide people.
Images for Research / Process
"A young man's opportunity for work, play, study & health." Albert M. Bender. WPA Poster.
Posters: WPA Posters. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2016, from http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/wpapos/
Posters: WPA Posters. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2016, from http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/wpapos/
"Better housing: The solution to infant mortality in the slums." Anthony Velonis. WPA Poster.
Posters: WPA Posters. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2016, from http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/wpapos/
Posters: WPA Posters. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2016, from http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/wpapos/
“With great labor we will fulfill the plan.” Gustav Klutsis, Constructivist poster.
Yanker, G. (1972). Prop art: Over 1000 contemporary political posters. London: Studio Vista.
Yanker, G. (1972). Prop art: Over 1000 contemporary political posters. London: Studio Vista.
Early sketches
Early sketches
Attempt at screen printing the final posters
Conclusion
Socialism is a broad concept, and it’s hard to cover it all in one short poster and sticker series. A poster and sticker series is somewhat lacking by today’s standards. These materials that were created in the span of this project work if there is a concentration of people that are looking where they’re placed, such as a college campus or in a city. The continuation of this project would bring more material and information about socialism. The posters could be accompanied by a website and/or social media campaign. This would further push this project beyond what it is now.
References
Print
Bell, D. (1967). Marxian Socialism in the United States. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Browder, E. (1958). Marx and America ; a study of the doctrine of impoverishment. New York: Duell, Sloan, and Pearce.
Buhle, M. J., Buhle, P., & Georgakas, D. (1990). Encyclopedia of the American Left. New York: Garland Pub.
Browder, E. (1958). Marx and America ; a study of the doctrine of impoverishment. New York: Duell, Sloan, and Pearce.
Buhle, M. J., Buhle, P., & Georgakas, D. (1990). Encyclopedia of the American Left. New York: Garland Pub.
Cannon, J. P. (1969). Socialism on trial; the official record of James P. Cannon's testimony in the famous Minneapolis "sedition" trial. New York: Merit.
Hughan, J. W. (1911). American socialism of the present day. New York: John Lane.
Johnson, O. C. (1974). Marxism in United States history before the Russian revolution: (1876-1917). New York: Humanities Press.
Klehr, H., Haynes, J. E., & Firsov, F. I. (1995). The secret world of American communism. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Hughan, J. W. (1911). American socialism of the present day. New York: John Lane.
Johnson, O. C. (1974). Marxism in United States history before the Russian revolution: (1876-1917). New York: Humanities Press.
Klehr, H., Haynes, J. E., & Firsov, F. I. (1995). The secret world of American communism. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Klehr, H. (1984). The heyday of American communism: The depression decade. New York: Basic Books.
Lipset, S. M., & Marks, G. (2000). It didn't happen here: Why socialism failed in the United States. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
Nichols, J. (2011). The S word: A short history of an American tradition ... socialism. Brooklyn, NY: Verso.
Selvin, D. F. (n.d.). Eugene Debs; rebel, labor leader, prophet, a biography. Lothrop, 1966.
Weinstein, J. (2003). The long detour: The history and future of the American left. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Lipset, S. M., & Marks, G. (2000). It didn't happen here: Why socialism failed in the United States. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
Nichols, J. (2011). The S word: A short history of an American tradition ... socialism. Brooklyn, NY: Verso.
Selvin, D. F. (n.d.). Eugene Debs; rebel, labor leader, prophet, a biography. Lothrop, 1966.
Weinstein, J. (2003). The long detour: The history and future of the American left. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Yanker, G. (1972). Prop art: Over 1000 contemporary political posters. London: Studio Vista.
Web
Democratic Socialists of America. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2016, from http://www.dsausa.org/
Posters: WPA Posters. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2016, from http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/wpapos/
Socialist Party USA. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2016, from http://socialistparty-usa.net/
Interviews
Burch, M. (2016, January 19). Martian Burch, Part-Time Instructor of Art, Graphic Design WMU. [Personal interview].
Hennlich, A. (2016, January 25). Andrew Hennlich, Assistant Professor, Art History WMU [Personal interview].
Rubin, E. (2016, February 22). Eli Rubin, Associate Professor, History WMU [Personal interview].
Svart, M. (2016, February 12). Maria Svart, National Director, Democratic Socialists of America. [Personal interview].
Swanson, J. (2016, January 27). Jacinda Swanson, Associate Professor, Political Science WMU. [Personal interview].
