Propaganda Drawing Contest

"The Hello Girls" chronicles the story of America’s first women soldiers in this new musical inspired by history.  These intrepid heroines served as bilingual telephone operators on the front lines, helping turn the tide of World War I.  They then returned home to fight a decades-long battle for equality and recognition, paving the way for future generations.

To recruit women, the United States Government used newspaper ads, word of mouth, and "propaganda".  Propaganda is a type of communication that is used to influence the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of a group of people. Propaganda can be spread through various channels, such as the media, social media, advertising, and public speeches. It is often used by governments, organizations, and individuals to promote their own agendas or ideologies. 

Propaganda was used for a variety of purposes during World War I including the recruitment of soldiers, encouraging citizens to ration food, support the soldiers, or buy war bonds.

In conjunction with the musical, we are holding a contest for 6th through 8th graders to draw the best propaganda poster with the subject matter of either Women's Suffrage or World War 1 America.  ​

Guidelines

1. Submissions must be received by Tuesday, March 7th.  For students in Joliet/Shorewood, they may be submitted at your school, for students outside of Joliet/Shorewood, submissions can be mailed to Joliet West High School, att: Tim DeBoer, 401 North Larkin Avenue, Joliet, IL  60435.

2.  Submissions may be hand drawn or computer generated on either 8.5x11 or 11x17 paper.

3.  Posters will be displayed at the performances of "The Hello Girls" at Joliet West High School on March 17th-19th.  Audience members will have the chance to vote for their favorite using a ballot provided with the program.  The winner(s) will receive fabulous prizes including world wide fame (or at least some great Joliet West and Hello Girls gifts).

Planning to submit an entry by March 7th?  Please fill out this form.

Questions?  Email Mr. DeBoer

How to Create Propaganda

Some advice

  1. The poster should have a clear, concise, and compelling message that is easily understood by the target audience.
  2. Short, memorable slogans can be an effective way to convey the message of the poster.
  3. Propaganda posters often use emotional language and images to appeal to the viewer's feelings and emotions.
  4. Use visual elements to reinforce the message and make it more memorable.
  5. Symbols, such as flags or other iconic images, can be powerful tools for conveying the message of the poster.​

Real Life Examples

Click here to see real life examples of World War 1 propaganda from the Library of Congress

Click here to see real life examples of Women's Suffrage propaganda from The Lombard Historical Society