The propaganda exhibit is billed as the first exhibition to explore international state propaganda from the 20th and 21st centuries. In conjunction with this exhibit there will be several panel discussions on the topic as well. The collection is broken up into six parts. As the audience enters the exhibit they first see the “Origins” section that seeks to explain how the practice began and that propaganda is ethically neutral. The viewer then enters the “nations” section. This portion of the exhibit examines how governments seek to build positive perceptions and prestige. There are many displays of national symbols and nationalistic songs. The “Enemy” section shows how nations seek to spread fear and hatred of groups that are deemed as a danger. The section on “War” offers many images from WWI and WWII and examines how propaganda evolved throughout the Cold War. “Health” discusses how public information programs have helped governments protect citizens from disease and environmental dangers. Finally, the “Today” section argues that the use of propaganda has increased in the 21st century as digital technology has provided more avenues for governments and corporations to exploit.
The scope and interpretation of the exhibit are commendable. As someone who has studied propaganda over the years, I was very much interested and impressed by the evidence and artifacts that were displayed. I felt that the exhibit was fair to each nation that was discussed and that it did not fall into the trap of showing what other nations have done while ignoring the use of propaganda by Western nations. I did feel that the section on contemporary uses of propaganda was sparse. Perhaps, in an attempt to avoid controversy, no corporations were mentioned and the government administrations that were mentioned were all past. Overall, I would say that this was a fair and balanced look at the topic which was well researched and satisfactory in its content.
The orientation of the exhibit was easy to understand. The exhibit meandered back and forth and contained no awkward transitions. Each new section was clearly defined by an informational display. The lighting of the exhibit created a subdued and quiet atmosphere that allowed for introspection and quiet study of each display. One display technique that I enjoyed was the use of black mannequins that were faceless and resembled shadows. Each one had a quote about propaganda written on it while the author of the quote was displayed on the mannequin’s arm. It created a sense of anonymity that made the viewer feel like a faceless number.
Other displays contained prints, illustrations, artifacts, and reconstructions. These were all informative and interesting but the information plaques were very long and too much to read. Large print pamphlets had to be furnished because the type was too small to read for people with eye problems. There were two kinds of audio visual displays. There were screens that displayed sound for everyone to hear and displays with headphones only. Some of the ones with headphones required the viewer to press a button to start the presentation while others ran on a loop. I did not understand why they did not all have the button because it was frustrating to arrive at a display in the middle of a video and have to wait until it restarted. The lack of technology was the biggest drawback of this exhibit. It may have been due to the fact that this is a temporary exhibit, but a subject like propaganda needs more interactive and engaging technology than a headset and video screen.
Overall, this exhibit felt very much like a temporary one. There obviously have to be drawbacks to not being able to have permanent displays. The library cannot invest a large amount of money to put in expensive technology only to have to rip it all up in a few months. The exhibit was laid out well and its orientation was excellent. The audience moved through at a steady pace and everyone seemed to be engaged. I would have like to have seen more interactive elements, even if it were only more touch screens and educational games. This was a good exhibit but hardly worth the nine pounds admission fee. A similar temporary exhibit on propaganda at the National Holocaust Museum in Washington was far better and much more engaging. With a subject matter as naturally interactive as propaganda, it is not enough to simply display artifacts and show a few videos.
The scope and interpretation of the exhibit are commendable. As someone who has studied propaganda over the years, I was very much interested and impressed by the evidence and artifacts that were displayed. I felt that the exhibit was fair to each nation that was discussed and that it did not fall into the trap of showing what other nations have done while ignoring the use of propaganda by Western nations. I did feel that the section on contemporary uses of propaganda was sparse. Perhaps, in an attempt to avoid controversy, no corporations were mentioned and the government administrations that were mentioned were all past. Overall, I would say that this was a fair and balanced look at the topic which was well researched and satisfactory in its content.
The orientation of the exhibit was easy to understand. The exhibit meandered back and forth and contained no awkward transitions. Each new section was clearly defined by an informational display. The lighting of the exhibit created a subdued and quiet atmosphere that allowed for introspection and quiet study of each display. One display technique that I enjoyed was the use of black mannequins that were faceless and resembled shadows. Each one had a quote about propaganda written on it while the author of the quote was displayed on the mannequin’s arm. It created a sense of anonymity that made the viewer feel like a faceless number.
Other displays contained prints, illustrations, artifacts, and reconstructions. These were all informative and interesting but the information plaques were very long and too much to read. Large print pamphlets had to be furnished because the type was too small to read for people with eye problems. There were two kinds of audio visual displays. There were screens that displayed sound for everyone to hear and displays with headphones only. Some of the ones with headphones required the viewer to press a button to start the presentation while others ran on a loop. I did not understand why they did not all have the button because it was frustrating to arrive at a display in the middle of a video and have to wait until it restarted. The lack of technology was the biggest drawback of this exhibit. It may have been due to the fact that this is a temporary exhibit, but a subject like propaganda needs more interactive and engaging technology than a headset and video screen.
Overall, this exhibit felt very much like a temporary one. There obviously have to be drawbacks to not being able to have permanent displays. The library cannot invest a large amount of money to put in expensive technology only to have to rip it all up in a few months. The exhibit was laid out well and its orientation was excellent. The audience moved through at a steady pace and everyone seemed to be engaged. I would have like to have seen more interactive elements, even if it were only more touch screens and educational games. This was a good exhibit but hardly worth the nine pounds admission fee. A similar temporary exhibit on propaganda at the National Holocaust Museum in Washington was far better and much more engaging. With a subject matter as naturally interactive as propaganda, it is not enough to simply display artifacts and show a few videos.