Showing Resistance: Propaganda and Modernist Exhibitions in Britain, 1933-53 - Hardcover

by Harriet Atkinson (Author)

This study charts how exhibitions were used for propaganda and political intervention during the two decades from 1933: giving urgent warnings against the rise of fascism, providing practical information about how to live frugally and signalling international political alignments, beliefs and affiliations.

Back Jacket

Showing resistance presents a fascinating account of how exhibitions were used for propaganda and political interventions in Britain from the interwar period to the early years of the Cold War.

Described by designer Misha Black as 'the materialisation of persuasion', exhibitions mounted in public places were recognised both by activists and government bodies as a key medium for mass public communication. They provided urgent warnings against the rise of fascism, delivered practical information on how to live frugally and signalled international political alignments, beliefs and affiliations. During the Second World War they were used by the Ministry of Information as a key tool of propaganda, and in the years that followed they helped to communicate the benefits of the embryonic welfare state.

This is the first book-length analysis of the meaning and significance of exhibitions to Britain. Drawing on material from historical collections across the UK and US, it charts the work of a fascinating range of exhibition makers while addressing themes of acute contemporary relevance, such as the role of propaganda in a democracy and the cultural contribution of refugees.

Author Biography

Harriet Atkinson is AHRC Leadership Fellow and Senior Lecturer in History of Art and Design at University of Brighton