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State propaganda exhibition puts Morph and Hitler under scrutiny State propaganda exhibition puts Morph and Hitler under scrutiny
(4 months later)
Could it be the first major exhibition to feature the little red book, the Green Cross Code, Hitler, the guy who did the Falklands press briefings and Morph?Could it be the first major exhibition to feature the little red book, the Green Cross Code, Hitler, the guy who did the Falklands press briefings and Morph?
The answer is almost certainly yes and the link is that they are all involved, in different ways, in state propaganda and form part of a major exhibition opening on Friday at the British Library.The answer is almost certainly yes and the link is that they are all involved, in different ways, in state propaganda and form part of a major exhibition opening on Friday at the British Library.
More than 200 items including posters, films, interviews and other ephemera will be part of the show, which the library hopes will provoke debate. "If you say propaganda, everyone has a definition and opinion, everyone can visualise what they think of as propaganda," said co-curator Ian Cooke.More than 200 items including posters, films, interviews and other ephemera will be part of the show, which the library hopes will provoke debate. "If you say propaganda, everyone has a definition and opinion, everyone can visualise what they think of as propaganda," said co-curator Ian Cooke.
"Often it is lies and what the bad people do, so we're trying to challenge that a little bit. There are lots of ways of defining it and we are not going to come out with one definition …" adding after a pause: "It would be quite important not to do that in a propaganda exhibition.""Often it is lies and what the bad people do, so we're trying to challenge that a little bit. There are lots of ways of defining it and we are not going to come out with one definition …" adding after a pause: "It would be quite important not to do that in a propaganda exhibition."
About 80% of the exhibits are owned by the library. "One thing I've really loved about doing this, and we've been working on it for almost two years, is uncovering new bits of the collection, bits we haven't really shone a light on before," said Cooke.About 80% of the exhibits are owned by the library. "One thing I've really loved about doing this, and we've been working on it for almost two years, is uncovering new bits of the collection, bits we haven't really shone a light on before," said Cooke.
"People think of us being very much about literature and history and manuscripts so to do an exhibition like this where we get out the posters, get out the sound, is great.""People think of us being very much about literature and history and manuscripts so to do an exhibition like this where we get out the posters, get out the sound, is great."
Among the surprises is a two-metre portrait of Napoleon – a man who understood the power of propaganda more than most – in all his finery and grandeur. The painting belongs in the India Office artwork archive and has, until recently, been on loan and display at the Foreign Office. Although quite why is an "interesting" question, said Cooke.Among the surprises is a two-metre portrait of Napoleon – a man who understood the power of propaganda more than most – in all his finery and grandeur. The painting belongs in the India Office artwork archive and has, until recently, been on loan and display at the Foreign Office. Although quite why is an "interesting" question, said Cooke.
There is film ranging from some rather heavy-handed attempts at propaganda – for example footage of the slow, dull voice of Ian McDonald giving the televised press briefings during the Falklands war – to sleeker efforts during the first Gulf war. Then there are interviews with Alastair Campbell, John Pilger, Iain Dale and Noam Chomsky.There is film ranging from some rather heavy-handed attempts at propaganda – for example footage of the slow, dull voice of Ian McDonald giving the televised press briefings during the Falklands war – to sleeker efforts during the first Gulf war. Then there are interviews with Alastair Campbell, John Pilger, Iain Dale and Noam Chomsky.
One section is given over to public health, which Cooke conceded some would call public information. He said: "When you look at some of the challenges involved and the way the state tries to address that, the methods they use – it looks very similar to material in the rest of the exhibition."One section is given over to public health, which Cooke conceded some would call public information. He said: "When you look at some of the challenges involved and the way the state tries to address that, the methods they use – it looks very similar to material in the rest of the exhibition."
It is public information where Morph and the Green Cross Code come in, the gentler end of the spectrum when compared with horrific drink-driving adverts and the terrifying Aids television campaign, narrated by John Hurt, from the 1980s.It is public information where Morph and the Green Cross Code come in, the gentler end of the spectrum when compared with horrific drink-driving adverts and the terrifying Aids television campaign, narrated by John Hurt, from the 1980s.
• Propaganda: Power and Persuasion is at the British Library until 17 September• Propaganda: Power and Persuasion is at the British Library until 17 September
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