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Propaganda And The Farm Security Administration

1974 Words8 Pages

Introduction
Propaganda is a powerful tool used by the media and governments to influence people's beliefs and actions. The Federal Security Agency (FSA) is no exception to this practice. As a government agency tasked with promoting public health, the FSA used propaganda during the Great Depression and World War II to support its programs and policies. From posters and radio broadcasts to speeches and films, the FSA used a variety of mediums to convey its messages. However, it is important to examine the ethical implications of using propaganda for public policy and to consider how it may have affected the public's perception of the FSA's programs. During the 1930s and 1940s, the Farm Security Administration (FSA) started to use …show more content…

The FSA used a variety of propaganda tools to advance their agenda, including photography, documentaries, and posters. One of the most potent propaganda tools used by the FSA was photography. FSA photographers such as Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, and Arthur Rothstein documented the plight of the poor farmers and sharecroppers, capturing the hardship and struggles they faced. These photographs were widely distributed and helped to generate public sympathy and support for the FSA's programs aimed at alleviating poverty in rural …show more content…

However, the impact of FSA propaganda on American society was not limited to just the Great Depression period, but also contributed to the shaping of American culture and social welfare policies that still exist to this day. The FSA propaganda influenced Americans to support Roosevelt’s policies aimed at reviving the economy and promoting better living standards, and this enabled America to recover from the Great Depression.
Furthermore, the FSA propaganda created a cultural shift in American society by promoting socially progressive ideas that challenged traditional notions of race, gender, and class. For example, the Migrant Mother photograph taken by Dorothea Lange became a symbol of the plight of poor farmers, and it sparked public outrage and raised awareness about the issue of poverty in America. Additionally, the FSA propaganda style, which included a focus on documentary-style photos and narrative storytelling, paved the way for modern photojournalism and documentary filmmaking that continues to influence contemporary culture. All in all, the FSA propaganda was not only instrumental in Roosevelt’s New Deal, but it also played a significant role in shaping American culture and

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