Over the Top for You

Over the Top for You

War Bonds

The idea of this poster is for the common man or woman back at home in the states to donate money to the war effort. The text says simply "Over the top for you." This is to show the common person at home that men across the sea are going over the top of the trenches to protect you and this nation, and the least thing the viewer could do for them is donate some money to help them out in some way. The only way to do that is by buying war bonds. It also brings a sense of patriotism in the mix by showing a huge American flag draped over the soldier going "over the top" for you at home. It is an appeal to what these men are giving up to go fight over there, and the audience should do all that they can do to help at home. The audience seems to be on the working class. The image is a little dark and shows the real hardship of the war. Work and hardships are normally connected to the working class, instead of the polished hero images many posters have. It would seem in most cases a poster directed at the upper class would include family traditions and not show the dark, hardships of life. But no matter who views, from different classes, the point gets across. It pulls at the views idea of patriotism with the American flag over the soldier. It also pulls at the views guilt when it says "Over the Top for You," because of that sense of the soldiers self sacrifice. The use of the man in the image also pulls at the viewer. For women, the image is meant to look very young, almost as to say this is your child going over the top. For men, the image is something that they are traditional supposed to be in society. Men were viewed to be willing to give up anything for the protection of their family and their country, and the man in this image is doing so.
The key to this poster is the man. The look on his face and it appears he is almost shouting to the viewers to buy war bonds. He is also heroically carrying the American flag in battle. On a side note, a thing to notice is the American flag. Even though it seems he is in a battle zone, the flag is not torn or ripped in any way. The image seems to be saying we are still in hell over here but we are still united and we are still coming out strong and together through all of this.

Sidney H. Riesenberg

McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tulsa. 2933 E.
6th St. Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-3123

United States. Dept. of the Treasury. Publicity Bureau.

Between 1910-1920

English

1992.004.5.38-39

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United States of America

Poster

76.3 x 51.1 cm