Testimonial
By: Alex Minki Kim
A testimonial technique in an advertisement or poster typically consists a famous person or an expert usually selling or supporting a product. In this poster, the propaganda technique testimonial is well used as it presents an image of President Woodrow Wilson, the most respected and influential figure in the U.S. during the times of World War 1, supporting to join the “Red Cross.” Not only was Woodrow Wilson a good leader, he was the first honorary president of the American Red Cross and in the middle of World War I in 1917, Woodrow Wilson appointed a War Council to guide operations of the Red Cross during the war. The Red Cross held its first War Fund drive and raised $100 million in one week. By having Woodrow Wilson on the poster and summoning his people to the comradeship in the Red Cross, his appeal has a great influence over the majority of the audience. Unlike most posters that use multiple propaganda techniques to influence the audience, this poster only contains one technique to effectively appeal to the audience. As a result, the name value of a “president” is substantial to compare with other celebrities which makes this testimonial technique different from typical celebrity endorsements and making the appeal more influential and dominant.
A testimonial technique in an advertisement or poster typically consists a famous person or an expert usually selling or supporting a product. In this poster, the propaganda technique testimonial is well used as it presents an image of President Woodrow Wilson, the most respected and influential figure in the U.S. during the times of World War 1, supporting to join the “Red Cross.” Not only was Woodrow Wilson a good leader, he was the first honorary president of the American Red Cross and in the middle of World War I in 1917, Woodrow Wilson appointed a War Council to guide operations of the Red Cross during the war. The Red Cross held its first War Fund drive and raised $100 million in one week. By having Woodrow Wilson on the poster and summoning his people to the comradeship in the Red Cross, his appeal has a great influence over the majority of the audience. Unlike most posters that use multiple propaganda techniques to influence the audience, this poster only contains one technique to effectively appeal to the audience. As a result, the name value of a “president” is substantial to compare with other celebrities which makes this testimonial technique different from typical celebrity endorsements and making the appeal more influential and dominant.