Analysis and Evaluation
Teacher Notes
Students will be shown these three images, given previewing questions (listed below), and asked to take a moment to look them over. After a few minutes, the teacher will lead the class in a deconstruction of one or all of the images and evaluate them by answering the previewing questions and the post-viewing questions like the ones provided below. It may be beneficial to read the text of one of the images out loud such as the "The Junior Justice Society of America" certificate or the Wonder Woman ad. Since there are a number of questions that need to be answered, it would be beneficial to have a sheet with one side devoted to Previewing Questions and the other side devoted to Post-Viewing Questions.
Questions and Hypothetical Student Answers
Previewing Questions
1. What do these images say about gender roles?
Answer: The Justice Society image has Wonder Woman as the secretary. In that time period, women were the secretaries and store clerks
and men did the "real" jobs or in this case went off to fight the bad guys. Women are also more easily trusted than men so that
may be why they chose her for the ad about paper. In that ad, the soldiers are all men, so it seems that women were to be worrying
about helping the men from home while they fight.
2. How are the subjects depicted?
Answer: The Captain America cover shows a masculine, buff, white male delivering a blow to the enemy (Hitler). He seems invincible
with his shield and strong muscles. In the Wonder Woman ad, they are very feminine and and the soldiers being depicted are all rugged, strong, able men.
3. What messages do these images send to the younger generation?
Answer: The war effort is important and everyone needs to participate. Also, its cool to be like Captain America and fight off the Nazis. You should join the army and help the cause when you are of age but you have to be strong and able. You can start right now by
defending democracy and equality at home and joining the Junior Justice Society!
4. What decisions were made by the illustrators of these images?
Answer: Wonder Woman is very pretty and curvy which would attract young male readers and appeal to female readers as the ideal to be. Captain America is a dashing, masculine superhero which would attract female readers and appeal to male readers as a role
model. He is depicted as much more powerful than the Nazis he seems to be handling nicely. He appears dominant and powerful.
5. What issues of the time period (1940’s) do these images relate to?
Answer: The pressure to get involved in the war in Europe. It was about defending democracy, and taking down a dictator. The United
States needed a leader to stand up and lead the U.S. and Europe to victory over a foe that threatened American ideals.
6. What type of audience are these images catering towards?
Answer: Young readers and maybe a few adults that need a little patriotic reinforcement.
Post-Viewing Questions
1. What is the color-scheme of these images? Why would the illustrators choose these particular colors?
Answer: They show Captain America in red, white, and blue to symbolize the American flag and make him seem more patriotic. The
background is also layered in red, white, and blue, as well as bright, in-your-face colors. Those choices may have been a
marketing ploy to catch the eye of young readers and get them to buy the comics.
2. How might different audiences view these images differently? (Americans vs. Germans)
Answer: American audiences would view these heroes and the Justice Society as great patriotic role models and ideal institutions. They
would see them as the ideal whereas Germans would take on a different view. The Nazis, seeing these comics, might be disgusted
at American arrogance and the "We are better than everyone at everything" mentality.
3. Would the messages be perceived differently if in a different format? Say, film? Explain your answer.
Answer: They might have been more engaging and visually appealing as movies or serials. This format would have reached a larger
audience and that is the reason why most comics were eventually made into movies, TV shows, radio shows, and serials.
4. What might the effect be of seeing these messages and ideals over and over?
Answer: If little Johnny sees how cool Captain America or Wonder Woman is defeating bad guys and saving America from Hitler and the
Nazis, when he comes of age to go fight and the war is still on, then he will most likely join to be like his childhood heroes.
5. Who made this piece of media and why? What was the point?
Answer: This media was made by comic book companies first to make money (as all media is) and second to instill patriotism into the
hearts and minds of young children who would grow up and may have to fight in the war themselves. Making money and
recruiting soldiers. Simple as that.
6. Look at the Justice Society image and describe one way that the creator could profit from this type of media.
Answer: It says in the oath that the member swears to follow the announcements of the Junior Justice Society in every issue of ALL STAR COMICS which means they would have to buy every issue, therefore creating a nice profit for the comic book company.
7. Would these comic books still be highly sought after if they were created in this day and age rather than the 1940’s? Why or why not?
Answer: I don't think they would be because today patriotism is not as important as it was in the '40s. It isn't the difference between victory and defeat anymore. Morale and patriotism have their place yes but they aren't as crucial in a time where drones can do all the work without endangering anybody.
8. What is the content of these three images?
Answer: America is the best. Hitler is the enemy. Patriotism and cooperation in the war effort is essential. These role models are the ideal citizens.
9. Why comic books for these messages?
Answer: Comic books appeal to the younger generation. By getting these messages of partriotism and "Down with Hitler" in while their young, by the time they come of age to enlist, they will gladly risk their lives for their country.
1. What do these images say about gender roles?
Answer: The Justice Society image has Wonder Woman as the secretary. In that time period, women were the secretaries and store clerks
and men did the "real" jobs or in this case went off to fight the bad guys. Women are also more easily trusted than men so that
may be why they chose her for the ad about paper. In that ad, the soldiers are all men, so it seems that women were to be worrying
about helping the men from home while they fight.
2. How are the subjects depicted?
Answer: The Captain America cover shows a masculine, buff, white male delivering a blow to the enemy (Hitler). He seems invincible
with his shield and strong muscles. In the Wonder Woman ad, they are very feminine and and the soldiers being depicted are all rugged, strong, able men.
3. What messages do these images send to the younger generation?
Answer: The war effort is important and everyone needs to participate. Also, its cool to be like Captain America and fight off the Nazis. You should join the army and help the cause when you are of age but you have to be strong and able. You can start right now by
defending democracy and equality at home and joining the Junior Justice Society!
4. What decisions were made by the illustrators of these images?
Answer: Wonder Woman is very pretty and curvy which would attract young male readers and appeal to female readers as the ideal to be. Captain America is a dashing, masculine superhero which would attract female readers and appeal to male readers as a role
model. He is depicted as much more powerful than the Nazis he seems to be handling nicely. He appears dominant and powerful.
5. What issues of the time period (1940’s) do these images relate to?
Answer: The pressure to get involved in the war in Europe. It was about defending democracy, and taking down a dictator. The United
States needed a leader to stand up and lead the U.S. and Europe to victory over a foe that threatened American ideals.
6. What type of audience are these images catering towards?
Answer: Young readers and maybe a few adults that need a little patriotic reinforcement.
Post-Viewing Questions
1. What is the color-scheme of these images? Why would the illustrators choose these particular colors?
Answer: They show Captain America in red, white, and blue to symbolize the American flag and make him seem more patriotic. The
background is also layered in red, white, and blue, as well as bright, in-your-face colors. Those choices may have been a
marketing ploy to catch the eye of young readers and get them to buy the comics.
2. How might different audiences view these images differently? (Americans vs. Germans)
Answer: American audiences would view these heroes and the Justice Society as great patriotic role models and ideal institutions. They
would see them as the ideal whereas Germans would take on a different view. The Nazis, seeing these comics, might be disgusted
at American arrogance and the "We are better than everyone at everything" mentality.
3. Would the messages be perceived differently if in a different format? Say, film? Explain your answer.
Answer: They might have been more engaging and visually appealing as movies or serials. This format would have reached a larger
audience and that is the reason why most comics were eventually made into movies, TV shows, radio shows, and serials.
4. What might the effect be of seeing these messages and ideals over and over?
Answer: If little Johnny sees how cool Captain America or Wonder Woman is defeating bad guys and saving America from Hitler and the
Nazis, when he comes of age to go fight and the war is still on, then he will most likely join to be like his childhood heroes.
5. Who made this piece of media and why? What was the point?
Answer: This media was made by comic book companies first to make money (as all media is) and second to instill patriotism into the
hearts and minds of young children who would grow up and may have to fight in the war themselves. Making money and
recruiting soldiers. Simple as that.
6. Look at the Justice Society image and describe one way that the creator could profit from this type of media.
Answer: It says in the oath that the member swears to follow the announcements of the Junior Justice Society in every issue of ALL STAR COMICS which means they would have to buy every issue, therefore creating a nice profit for the comic book company.
7. Would these comic books still be highly sought after if they were created in this day and age rather than the 1940’s? Why or why not?
Answer: I don't think they would be because today patriotism is not as important as it was in the '40s. It isn't the difference between victory and defeat anymore. Morale and patriotism have their place yes but they aren't as crucial in a time where drones can do all the work without endangering anybody.
8. What is the content of these three images?
Answer: America is the best. Hitler is the enemy. Patriotism and cooperation in the war effort is essential. These role models are the ideal citizens.
9. Why comic books for these messages?
Answer: Comic books appeal to the younger generation. By getting these messages of partriotism and "Down with Hitler" in while their young, by the time they come of age to enlist, they will gladly risk their lives for their country.