Propaganda In Norman Rockwell's Homecoming Marine

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Arguably the most recognizable illustrator of the 20th century, Norman Rockwell created the images and set of tone of Americana idealism. These illustrations graced the cover of the Saturday Evening Post for five decades, reaching 4 million homes and viewers . For Rockwell’s work had enormous widespread appeal due to its sentimental, untroubled reflection of American culture represented in stunning technical realism and humours depictions of children, young love and the mishaps of everyday life. Rockwell’s work during WWII is some of his most recognizable and played a significant contribution to propaganda for enlistment, war bonds and over all war efforts . His work from this period includes the famous Rosie the Riveter, the Four Freedoms …show more content…

Yet in comparing the high level of propaganda in Rockwell’s Willie Gillis series to Rockwell illustrations depicting returning American soldiers after V-E Day, the viewer can read an absence of propaganda as Rockwell hints at the difficult struggles soldiers felt in returning home. In comparing works from the Willie Gillis series to Rockwell’s Homecoming GI and Homecoming Marine this paper will examine the role of propaganda in WWII and Rockwell’s move to a more honest depiction of everyday American life in the postwar period of his career.
The fictional character of Willis Gillis created by Rockwell, and featured 11 times on the covers of The Saturday Evening Post between 1941 and 1946, portrayed the Everyman privet ranked solider Willie Gillis and his misadventures at war . The …show more content…

For the image depicts Willie as a solider returned from war. No longer is he the gangly young boy who entered the war, Willie is depicted as a mature young man sitting in a window seat with his pipe reading. Academic books, golf clubs, a war helmet, metals and plaques surround Willie’s seat and an idyllic autumn campus fills out the window. This depiction of Willie at school is a directed link and promotion of the GI bill, a bill allowing for solider to go to college . This last work in the Willie Gillis series provided readers with a happy ending. Willie made it through the war and now has the ability to better himself in college and work towards the middle class America life with all of his troubles behind him. Rockwell provides a sentimental and goodhearted end to a sweet and sentimental Wartime

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