Symbols, Archetypes, & Associations to Appeal to Charity; American Red Cross, 1917
  • A/S = Solution/"Product" Awareness ("I know war relief efforts exist, I've heard of Red Cross."), Sophistication Stage = Stage 2, developing a stronger appeal than competitors. the ad enlarges and emotionally deepens the war relief appeal.
  • The ad jumps straight into the appeal of helping restore families and hearths back to their true warmth, after so being so deeply affected by ruthless destruction of war.
  • Very clear emotional reasoning,
  • Curates the archetype of the Caring, Gentle Mother to associate with the efforts of the brand.
The GREATEST MOTHER in the WORLD
Stretching forth her hands to
all in need; to Jew or Gentile,
black or white; knowing no
favorite, yet favoring all.
  • immediate identity appeal to Christians in the biblical language, cultural non-racist appeal during struggling race relations
  • poetic language
Ready and eager to comfort at a time
when comfort is most needed. Helping the
little home that's crushed beneath an iron
hand by showing mercy in a healthy, human.
way; rebuilding it, in fact, with stone on
stone, replenishing empty bins and empty
cupboards; bringing warmth to hearts and
hearths too long neglected.
  • This ad was for WW1 relief efforts, around 1917-18 (mostly medical aid here in the states, and more physical rebuilding in European fronts).
  • Probably a welcomed, humanitarian effort that took no sides and wanted only to help rebuild
  • tugging emotional heartstrings of torn families, vivid imagery of empty homes
Seeing all things with a mother's sixth
sense that's blind to jealousy and meanness;
seeing ...(???)... as naughty
children snatching, biting,
bitter-but with a hidden side
that's quickest touched by mercy.
  • again evoking the symbol of the kind mother, an archetypal association to help build and communicate the humanitarian message.
  • developing that archetype through imagery and associations of child-care
Reaching out her hands across the sea
to No Man's land; to cheer with warmer
comforts thousands who must stand and
wait in. stenched and crawling holes and
water-soaked entrenchments where cold and
war hit deeper, so they write than Bache steel or lead.
  • evokes a vivid and emotional image of the hardships endured by soldiers during the war.
  • Contrasts the dreadful conditions of the war with the ideal, safe, environment that Red Cross wants to build
She's warming thousands, feeding thou
sands, healing thousands from her store;
the Greatest Mother in the World-the RED CROSS
Every Dollar of a Red Cross War Fund goes to War Relief
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2 comments
Jonny Ross
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Symbols, Archetypes, & Associations to Appeal to Charity; American Red Cross, 1917
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