Pathos of Soviet Propaganda

The Soviet propaganda poster depicts a young boy full of hopes and scientific aspirations gazing up at the star-filled sky, with the caption "From student's models to spaceships!". This image not only makes the viewer feel optimistic about the Soviet's progress in space travel, but also causes the viewer to feel a sense of fulfillment in the Soviet's achievements, as the image appeals to the evocative power of children. Children typically portray innocence, hope and humanitarianism, which all cause the viewer of the image to connect with the message that the Soviet Union views the space race as an opportunity for growth and exploration in their scientific fields. Furthermore, the top half of the poster, a night sky full of stars and satellites, represents the boundless opportunities of the Soviet Union's space program. This author's appeal to pathos causes the viewer to further feel optimism about the Soviet Union's future in space exploration. Additionally, the lower half of the image which depicts children throwing model planes with their families, depicts a sense of unity and community. This portion of the image causes the viewer to feel further fulfilled as the progress of the Soviet nation is embraced equally by all its' citizens. Thus, by portraying a child, a boundless night sky and a children interacting with their families, the Soviets make the Space Race less of an international competition between world superpowers, and instead, a celebration of the innovation of their nation. While the American propaganda appeals to more aggressive, over-powering emotions towards the Space Race, the Soviets appeal to more tranquil yet satisfied emotions towards the Space Race.