Montage: Activity 2

• Find two examples of political photomontages that are either from a historical or contemporary source. 
• Discuss in what context they have been produced and how effective you think they communicate their intended message. 
• Discuss the techniques that have been used to assemble the examples you have chosen and offer alternative ways that the artist could have put over the same message.

The first image is composed of many elements. Hitler is watering an oak tree which is growing bombs as well as hats that have swastikas on them. The message that is conveyed Hitler was the source of the mayhem of the war and the Holocaust. He started the chaos, as well as fuel the fire, or in this case, watered the tree. I believe the author communicated this message perfectly and clearly.

The second image that I chose is simple. It is composed of only a few elements. It is a photograph of a dove being slain by a dagger. It also has text on the bottom, "Niemals wieder!" which is German for "Never again!" In this image, the dove symbolizes peace and the dagger represents ending that peace and that there shall never again be peace in the world. Only chaos and destruction. I believe the drama of this picture makes it effect. The bold element of the lifeless dove makes the image so much more
powerful
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Alternate ways the artist could have conveyed his message is by using different symbols of peace instead of a dove. Such as, a peace sign or different nations being united. As for the other image, the artists take on Hitler was ingenious and creative and he could of taken a more simpler route such as having Hitler ordering his soldiers around, but in my opinion, this is more effective. This montage was created by John Hartfield.