Hatred of the Enemy: The Use of Propaganda during WWII
During times of warfare, countries such as Japan and the United States devoted much effort to designing material that shaped the opinion of their citizens perception of the enemy. The production of propaganda led to othering, which is a negative view of others who differ from you in some way, resulting in inferior treatment. This includes but is not limited to gender, race, and ethnicity. Through propaganda and othering, the depiction of the enemy is created. Propaganda is used to unite the public against a common enemy. During World War II, patriotism became the central theme of advertising in the United States. Using various mediums, the U.S. government actively worked to instill in American citizens a focused hatred for Japan. To aid in the assistance of production and distribution of propaganda, President Roosevelt founded the Office of War Information (OWI) in 1942, approximately six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The goal of the go...