Napoleon and propaganda

Instructions: Read this website (http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/napoleon/art-and-design/propaganda) and answer the following questions in your own words.

Symbols of Revolution

1. Why did the leaders of the French Revolution use propaganda?

2. Why, in particular, did they use cartoons and other forms of art, rather than texts?

3. What were some of the symbols they used, and what did they represent? (pick 2)

4. What kinds of images were “in demand”?

5. How were Revolutionary festivals different from those in the past? Why do you think this was the case?

Napoleon- Master of Propaganda

6. Describe how artist Jacques-Louis David portrayed Napoleon in his art works:

7. Describe how artist Antoine-Jean Gros portrayed Napoleon in his art works:

8. Describe how the pictured portrait of Napoleon is a form of propaganda:

Name __________________________________________________ Block _______ Date _____________

Propaganda Comparison

Carefully examine and compare Maurin’s The Triumph of Bonaparte and Boilly’s The Flood to fill in the chart and answer the questions. As you answer the questions, be sure to reference specific details from the objects as well as the Propaganda and Napoleon sheet. You will also need to read Louis-Leopold Boilly: Talented Artist, Savvy Business Man, Slightly Scandalous Jokester.

Comparison chart

Maurin’s The Triumph of Bonaparte Boilly’s The Flood1. What is the main subject? How do you know?

2. Who do you think is the intended audience? How do you know?

3. What is the effect of this piece? How do you feel looking at it? Why?

4. Do you identify this work as propaganda?

5. If so, what elements made you think so? If not, what elements made you think otherwise

1. What is the main subject? How do you know?

2. Who do you think is the intended audience? How do you know?

3. What is the effect of this piece? How do you feel looking at it? Why?

4. Do you identify this work as propaganda?

5. If so, what elements made you think so? If not, what elements made you think otherwise

Name __________________________________________________ Block _______ Date _____________

Interpretive Questions

1. Explain what purposes might cause an artist and/or politician to choose one of these paintings over another:

2. Given the differences you described above, speculate what reasons or circumstances would cause Napoleon to favor each object:

3. Read Louis-Leopold Boilly: Talented Artist, Savvy Business Man, Slightly Scandalous Jokester. Given what you know about his life and interests, why do you think he chose to create The Flood rather than something like The Triumph of Bonaparte?

Antoine Maurin, French, 1793-1860, Triumph of Bonaparte, 1824; Lithograph. Ackland Art Museum, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ackland Fund, 74.10.3

Questions to consider when examining an Instagram account.

Not all of these questions will be applicable to every photo, but they can help you critically examine them to consider the meanings behind each image.

1. What is the subject of, or who are the key figures in, the picture, and why?

2. Who is the intended audience for the image? What makes you think so?

3. What is one word you would use to describe this work? Why?4. What is the main argument or position of the image?5. How is that argument or position made? Consider:

a. What camera angle was the picture taken from? What effect does this have?

b. What visual elements are used as symbols?c. If people are represented, how are they pictured? What

kinds of relationships are shown? d. How is diversity shown, if at all? Look at diversity in terms of

race, nationality, gender, sexuality, religion, age, and ability.6. What is NOT shown? What kinds of people, events, symbols, etc.

are missing from the photos? Why do you think these things are excluded?

Name __________________________________________________ Block _______ Date _____________

Napoleon would’ve been an Instagram master!

Carefully examine Boilly’s The Flood and create an Instagram feed (on paper- not on the computer) of the event from the perspective of Napoleon’s army. Your work should be a clear example of propaganda. Look at the examples of Instagram accounts used in the U.S. military for ideas. For comparison, look at the accounts of news networks’ Instagrams (links at the bottom of the page), to examine the difference in audience and purpose. You drawings don’t have to look perfect, but they do have to get your point across. Think of things like camera angles, audience, and argument as you create your pictures. Be as creative as possible!

Your Instagram feed must include:

The military’s username, bio, and profile picture 6 “pictures” (minimum), that have:

o A caption o A #(hashtag) for the evento Other hashtags as appropriate- you can be really creative hereo At least 12 total comments from other users (you can choose how to divide

these among your pictures)o Optional- show the number of “likes” per picture

Pictures must be captured from the point of view of the Napoleonic military Pictures and captions must clearly be propaganda that address the two goals of:

o 1) Showing the military’s strengtho 2) Making the public love them by showing how the military cares about the

public Symbols (at least 3) specific to the French Revolution must be included (refer to your

Napoleon and Propaganda sheet). This will require you to be very creative, as you can’t have mythological characters in a real-life story. Think of other ways symbols can be included, and refer to the Napoleon and Propaganda sheet.

Pictures must show a clear narrative arc- think about what happened before and after the scene in The Flood to flesh out the story. While this does not have to read as cohesively as a comic book—you do not have to show every single moment in the narrative-- the pictures should tell a story and relate directly to the drawing.

Military Instagram Accounts News Networks Instagram AccountsU.S. Air Force http://instagram.com/officialusairforce#

U.S. Coast Guard http://instagram.com/uscg

U.S. National Guard http://instagram.com/nationalguard

CNN http://instagram.com/cnn

Fox News http://instagram.com/foxnews#

MSNBC http://instagram.com/msnbc

Name __________________________________________________ Block _______ Date _____________

The Flood Instagram feed rubric

4 3 2 1Propaganda Through artistic elements

(angles, space), symbols, & captions, it is clear this is military propaganda from Napoleon’s army. The army looks both strong and caring.

Through artistic elements (angles, space), symbols, & captions, it is fairly clear this is military propaganda from Napoleon’s army. The army looks strong and/or caring.

Through artistic elements (angles, space), and captions it is vaguely clear this is military propaganda. It is not obviously linked to Napoleon’s army. The strength and care of the army is not the main message.

The artistic elements and captions are not used effectively and the piece only vaguely looks like propaganda. The goals of strength and caring are not met. It looks more like a personal Instagram.

Historical knowledge

Pictures, captions, comments, and/or hashtags contained information clearly related to the period after the French Revolution and during Napoleon’s reign.

Pictures, captions, comments, and/or hashtags contained information related to the period after the French Revolution and during Napoleon’s reign. Some information may be unclear.

Pictures, captions, comments, and/or hashtags contained information vaguely related to the period after the French Revolution and during Napoleon’s reign. Some explanation may be necessary.

Pictures, captions, comments, and/or hashtags contained information unrelated to the period after the French Revolution and during Napoleon’s reign. It may seem to take place in our time.

POV It is clear from the design of all of the pictures, captions, and hashtags that the POV is from Napoleon’s army, directed towards the French public.

It is fairly clear from the design of most of the pictures, captions, and hashtags that the POV is from Napoleon’s army. It may not clearly look directed towards the French public.

You can tell this is from the POV of an army or the military, but it is not clear that it is specific to Napoleon’s army or the French public.

The POV does not seem to be from the soldiers at all, it looks like it could be from another figure in Boilly’s drawing.

Story The Instagram feed shows a clear narrative arc that is directly related to The Flood.

The Instagram feed shows a narrative arc that is directly related to The Flood. There may be some confusing gaps.

The Instagram feed shows a narrative of a flood and rescue, but it doesn’t seem specific to The Flood. There may be some confusing gaps.

The Instagram feed is not a narrative- some pictures may seem out of order. It is not directly related to The Flood.

Completion You had 6 pictures and all other requirements.

You had 4-5 pictures and most other requirements.

You had less than 4 pictures; only some of the other requirements.

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