From collection Kosti Ruohomaa Collection
1944 Dehumanizing the Enemy Game
"Trap the Jap" game includes a derogatory image of an asian soldier. Propaganda to dehumanize soldiers on the opposing side in war time was used to help soldiers overcome their basic human nature not to kill, and to encourage citizens to view the war favorably. "Jap" is now considered to be a slur.
Kosti Ruohomaa documented some of the many posters and banners informing and encouraging people to come together to do things that would help the collective effort while the United States was fighting in World War II. Some of the signs give information about supply fluctuations and ration stamps, others illustrate a labor shortage, while a few businesses seem to be using the war to get people to buy their products. Most of the posters, signs, and displays showed the commitment of businesses, families, and workers to do their part to help their country. Six images were published in the September 25, 1944 issue of LIFE Magazine on pages 96-97, 100, and 104-105.
