Here is the prompt:
Compare the portrayal of Germans in American propaganda posters with the narrator and his companions in the excerpt from "All Quiet on the Western Front." Germans were also not exempt from propaganda; what cultural and ethnic stereotypes do German posters reveal? Using Remarque's work and the posters, explain why it is often essential to dehumanize the enemy in wartime.
1. Paper must be between 500 and 750 words
2. No slang, curse words, contractions, or colloquialisms allowed
3. The paper must be exclusively active voice
4. No hanging quotations or incorrect apostrophe usage
I want to make sure that this paper is as well formed as possible, since I need the extra points to take some pressure off of a final. Any help with grammar or fluidity/word choice would be appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!
Schisms of incomprehensible magnitude between the nations of Europe characterize the dawn of the 20th century. Despite the noble intentions of late 19th century nationalists, pride soon begat vicious state rivalries and separated European citizens between various flags and ideologies, creating national identities that fostered hate between opposing factions. By 1914, these rivalries manifested through the Great War, a conflict that destroyed millions of young men over the next four years. "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque follows a group of young German soldiers, displaying their human frailties and dramatic disillusionment in the face of such brutal conflict. This depiction of humanity sharply contrasts with propaganda posters from the Great War that depict opposing groups as either "mad brutes" or weak and worthless individuals, devoid of human sentiments and unworthy of empathy (p. 364-365). Comparison of Remarque's work and Great War propaganda from both sides suggests a sometimes unseen casualty of war, namely empathy and human perspective. Unfortunately for mankind, effective warfare cannot be waged with empathy for an enemy in tow.
Remarque depicts the German soldiers as young men, fresh from school and ready to die for their country. War quickly robs them of their youth and innocence. Faced with the imminent death of their friend in a field hospital, the young boys must make peace with the loss and avoid agitating the dying friend in his last moments. Kropp, one of the young German soldiers, expresses this stress by unleashing a frantic and vicious string of profanity outside of the tent (p. 360). Kropp personifies the frailty of the human psyche in the face of war. Ironically, Kropp then reveals that the schoolmaster of the young boys writes to him, referring to the young soldiers as "the Iron Youth." According to the narrator, "We are none of us more than twenty years old. But young? Youth? That is long ago. We are old folk" (p. 360). Remarque portrays the German soldier as a human being, complete with a conscious that bears the scars of war. Unfortunately, the enemy overlooks these characteristics when developing war propaganda.
Popular anti-German propaganda of the time completely ignores any humane sentiments within the German military. One United States propaganda poster portrays the German military as a massive gorilla with Lady Liberty in his clutches. The caption reads, "Destroy this mad brute!" (p. 364). Posters such as this incite much anti-German fervor within the American populace, successfully associating the image of evil and savagery with a group of people no less human than the Americans themselves. The German propaganda machine of World War I is also efficient at dehumanizing the enemy. One German propaganda piece depicts racist stereotypes of each enemy nation, claiming that "[y]ou six aren't worth the waste of shot and powder" (p. 361, 365). Each stereotype of opposing forces displays not only the effect of war upon a societal view of others, but also of the over-zealous nationalist competition of the early 20th century that precipitated such a violent conflict in the first place. Once war ensues in 1914, this mutual hatred between nationalities becomes necessary for success as new recruits march to the front lines of a never-ending war of attrition. Without such a fervent hatred for the other side, little cause for such violence exists.
The Great War of 1914-1918 traumatized both the nations of Europe and the people involved. In All Quiet on the Western Front, Remarque portrays the soldiers of the Great War as innocent young boys trusting in an institution that sends them to die for vague ideals such as glory and patriotism. At the same time, their side and opposing factions pump out propaganda to suggest that these young soldiers are not human in any right, but instead savage beasts to be destroyed for the good of the world. This propaganda displays not only the detriments of nationalistic competition, but also perpetuates the war by inciting hatred that does not naturally exist between the groups of people. Unfortunately, the resulting animosity between the combatants in World War I exists to this day.
Compare the portrayal of Germans in American propaganda posters with the narrator and his companions in the excerpt from "All Quiet on the Western Front." Germans were also not exempt from propaganda; what cultural and ethnic stereotypes do German posters reveal? Using Remarque's work and the posters, explain why it is often essential to dehumanize the enemy in wartime.
1. Paper must be between 500 and 750 words
2. No slang, curse words, contractions, or colloquialisms allowed
3. The paper must be exclusively active voice
4. No hanging quotations or incorrect apostrophe usage
I want to make sure that this paper is as well formed as possible, since I need the extra points to take some pressure off of a final. Any help with grammar or fluidity/word choice would be appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!
Schisms of incomprehensible magnitude between the nations of Europe characterize the dawn of the 20th century. Despite the noble intentions of late 19th century nationalists, pride soon begat vicious state rivalries and separated European citizens between various flags and ideologies, creating national identities that fostered hate between opposing factions. By 1914, these rivalries manifested through the Great War, a conflict that destroyed millions of young men over the next four years. "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque follows a group of young German soldiers, displaying their human frailties and dramatic disillusionment in the face of such brutal conflict. This depiction of humanity sharply contrasts with propaganda posters from the Great War that depict opposing groups as either "mad brutes" or weak and worthless individuals, devoid of human sentiments and unworthy of empathy (p. 364-365). Comparison of Remarque's work and Great War propaganda from both sides suggests a sometimes unseen casualty of war, namely empathy and human perspective. Unfortunately for mankind, effective warfare cannot be waged with empathy for an enemy in tow.
Remarque depicts the German soldiers as young men, fresh from school and ready to die for their country. War quickly robs them of their youth and innocence. Faced with the imminent death of their friend in a field hospital, the young boys must make peace with the loss and avoid agitating the dying friend in his last moments. Kropp, one of the young German soldiers, expresses this stress by unleashing a frantic and vicious string of profanity outside of the tent (p. 360). Kropp personifies the frailty of the human psyche in the face of war. Ironically, Kropp then reveals that the schoolmaster of the young boys writes to him, referring to the young soldiers as "the Iron Youth." According to the narrator, "We are none of us more than twenty years old. But young? Youth? That is long ago. We are old folk" (p. 360). Remarque portrays the German soldier as a human being, complete with a conscious that bears the scars of war. Unfortunately, the enemy overlooks these characteristics when developing war propaganda.
Popular anti-German propaganda of the time completely ignores any humane sentiments within the German military. One United States propaganda poster portrays the German military as a massive gorilla with Lady Liberty in his clutches. The caption reads, "Destroy this mad brute!" (p. 364). Posters such as this incite much anti-German fervor within the American populace, successfully associating the image of evil and savagery with a group of people no less human than the Americans themselves. The German propaganda machine of World War I is also efficient at dehumanizing the enemy. One German propaganda piece depicts racist stereotypes of each enemy nation, claiming that "[y]ou six aren't worth the waste of shot and powder" (p. 361, 365). Each stereotype of opposing forces displays not only the effect of war upon a societal view of others, but also of the over-zealous nationalist competition of the early 20th century that precipitated such a violent conflict in the first place. Once war ensues in 1914, this mutual hatred between nationalities becomes necessary for success as new recruits march to the front lines of a never-ending war of attrition. Without such a fervent hatred for the other side, little cause for such violence exists.
The Great War of 1914-1918 traumatized both the nations of Europe and the people involved. In All Quiet on the Western Front, Remarque portrays the soldiers of the Great War as innocent young boys trusting in an institution that sends them to die for vague ideals such as glory and patriotism. At the same time, their side and opposing factions pump out propaganda to suggest that these young soldiers are not human in any right, but instead savage beasts to be destroyed for the good of the world. This propaganda displays not only the detriments of nationalistic competition, but also perpetuates the war by inciting hatred that does not naturally exist between the groups of people. Unfortunately, the resulting animosity between the combatants in World War I exists to this day.
