Popaganda: The Pop Culture Revolution

Who needs world wars, political ideology and elections to delve into the world of propaganda? Papa Smurf needs you and Waldo is watching. I've got a thing for spoofs and parodies, and if you can tie together two disparate cultural elements, I'm sold. I attribute it to a lifetime of watching shows like The Simpsons and The Muppets. So behold, a collection of pop culture propaganda posters.

Invincible: An army of Berts couldn't hold me back. From Michigan illustrator Kevin Skinner. This was the image that set me off looking for all the rest.
Update: Kevin got in touch and he is selling his final print over on ebay. He says it is a reductive linocut, so it can't be printed again, so get bidding.

Waldo: Forget finding Waldo, Waldo's watching you. From Worth 1000's Fun with Propaganda 5)


Smurfs: Red Revolution. Come to think of it, the village really was a commune.


Smurfs: Of couse some take a more positive spin, and believe in the pro'papa'ganda. He will know if we are there yet.


Muppet Propaganda: Kermit the Gorf, from Thought Faucet. A Gorf appears to be a wonderfully obscure Muppet reference, and I love the poster.


Plant of the Apes: You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you all to hell!"


Wizard of Oz: Fly my pretties, fly! From Worth 1000's Fun with Propaganda 2.


Spongebob: Fight for Bikini Bottom


Lord of the Rings: I want you for the fighting Uruk-Hai. Hmm, can Orcs read? From Worth 1000's Fun with Propaganda 5.


Mad: What me worry? Must be a poster from Cracked. From Worth1000's Fun with Propaganda.


Jack: Long live the American Nicholson Party. "Now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules." From Worth1000's Fun with Propaganda 3.


Willy Wonka: Oompa loompa doopadee dee, if you are wise you'll listen to me. From Worth1000's Fun with Propaganda 3.


G.I. Joe: You can't beat COBRA if you get VD. You'd figure that there would be way more G.I. Joe posters - seems the perfect subject matter. From Chris's Invincible Super-Blog.


Transformers: All hail Megatron. From the aptly named All Hail Megatron series from IDW Publishing.

Rocketeer: Some revisionist film history, as Cliff Secord lets the rocket pack fall into the hands of the Germans. From Something Awful.


Street artist Shepard Fairey created a series of Hope posters supporting Barack Obama's candidacy for President. They were quickly parodied into 150 different versions. These are four of my favourites:

Star Wars: Long before there was Barack Obama, there was a new hope. Luke Skywalker.


Debork Obama: Says the Swedish Chef, "Yom-yom-yommm, mit de chocolad. Bork, bork, bork!" By Sleeper Cell.


Winnie the Pooh: Wouldn' you trust a bear of very little brain? By Commissar Maksim.


ALF: It seems to be that ALF would be of very little hope for Melmac, as the planet has already blown up. Easier to keep your promises I suppose.


Animal Farm: Four legs good, two legs bad


Star Wars: Our Imperial Forces. There's no war like a clone war.


BattleStar Galactica: So say we all!


Gnomes: This ain't your garden variety revolution. I knew they were up to something.


South Park: Respect our authoritah. Really fits well with Cartman's fascist bent.


Star Wars: The Empire — Ensuring your safety by choice or by force


SuperMario: The Mushroom Guard


Pokémon: I choose you, Pikachu. Much like everyone else in the draft, he didn't really have a choice. From Worth1000's Fun with Propaganda 8.

Waldo: But where is Waldo? At least they let hi keep the hat. From Worth1000's Fun with Propaganda.

Star Trek: Stop this Klingon brute. Who knew Star Fleet was so xenophobic?


Futurama: You're not paid to think.


Spongebob: Are you sponge worthy? Loose lips sink ships to Bikini Bottom.


Kool-Aid: Oh yeah! From Worth 1000's Fun with Propaganda 4.


Mary Poppins: Just like a spoonful of sugar is all it takes to corrupt you children. Serves you right for letting some woman who blew in on the wind into your house. From Worth1000's Fun with Propaganda 6.

Previously Popped Culture...
Suddenly Last Supper
Would You Like Fries With That?
Find Waldo, Yet Again
Come as You Are: Nevermind The Parodies
Pillow Talk: 25 Strange Throw Pillows

16 comments:

  1. Hi, i have read your article on The Pop Culture Revolution. It is very nice post. you can submit your blog on free submission directory.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is a great post, Jer. LOVE the Bert one the best - never seen him look so sinister. Here's my question - why does propaganda always look dark and foreboding? I think it's time we re-think propaganda and try to manipulate others with visions of a bright sunny future. Whaddaaya think?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think Barney has that well under conntol: "I love you, you love me, we're a great big family." Of course there is the recent election down south, but to imply that there was any whiff of propaganda involved would be cynical.

    ReplyDelete
  4. excellent. there are four of the futurama prop posters but i had no idea the dude was so prolific, nor so scarred by his childhood. sweet post.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The "must be a poster from Cracked" is actually Alfred E. Neuman.. The mascot of Mad Magazine, not Cracked. Just a heads up.

    ReplyDelete
  6. But that's exactly why it is from Cracked. Only Cracked would put Alfred E. Neuman on a poster with Hitler.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Jeremy,

    I was so intrigued by your fascinating collection that I took the liberty of posting some of the items from it on my blog http://publicdiplomacypressandblogreview.blogspot.com/2008/11/november-18.html,

    I hope with the proper attribution to your work.

    best,

    john

    ReplyDelete
  8. @ Steve Pratt

    Thanks! You can see more of my stuff @

    http://www.creativehotlist.com/portfolios/69574/portfolio.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is so totally great!

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Is it me or does the Cobra chick look like Sarah Palin?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I always thought Papa smurf was a commie.

    http://thingsfatpeoplehate.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/hot-chic-gripping-a-bat/

    ReplyDelete
  12. I thought she was Sarah Palin too

    ReplyDelete
  13. I didn't know what the Cobra one was and thought it was Sarah Palin too. Whoops.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Howdy. I just posted the LAST Bert print I will ever sell from that EXTREMELY limited edition. You can check it out here:

    http://tinyurl.com/5otb5h

    Thanks and good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great selection. I like the smurf poster :)

    jean-marie from t-shirt personnalisé

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe
Google+