“Christy Girl” Howard Christy was known for his famous “Christy Girl” exemplifying proud American values and beliefs believed to be consistent with every American female. He became known for his work on war posters to support enlistment for the armed forces. This poster targets the male half of the population, particularly young (teenage) boys. Here we have a picture of a “Christy Girl” dressed in a United States Navy uniform with a sailors hat on her head. She exemplifies grace and charm as she says “Gee! I wish I were A MAN I’d Join the NAVY!” In this cartoon she is saying that by joining the Navy you will be considered a man. This war poster is aimed at young boys.
The government was trying to get anyone they could for the war effort and around this time younger and younger men were enlisting in the armed forces. Because the “Christy Girl” was so highly looked upon for her strong American values, having her grace the front of a war poster would perhaps encourage people who had not previously thought about enlisting to then do so. A female figure is wearing a traditionally male outfit. At this time Navy sailors were thought of as being men.
Having a Christy Girl wear a Navy Uniform was a good way to get the young men’s attentions. Patriotism is not really being appealed to in this poster. Surprisingly enough this poster shows no flag or any other symbol conventionally thought of as being “patriotic.” Most war posters are customarily thought of as being similar to the “Uncle Sam Wants You!” poster with red, white and blue splashed all over the paper. However, this poster does nothing of the sort. Appealing to different senses than the Uncle Sam posters, this type of poster leans more toward the sexual / be a man sort of influence. The “Christy Girl” image worked drawing many underage boys to enlist in the armed forces, boys too young to be fighting for their country.
The Essay on The Transformation Of A Man Through War
The Transformation of a Man through War in Erich Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front "I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. I see how peoples are set against one another, and in silence, unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another (263)." Powerful changes result from ...
Perhaps the “Christy Girl” worked too well?
