Uncle Sam is one of the national symbols of the United States

Which of the American characters-symbols are most recognizable, absorbed the national idea, live in the hearts of many people? Statue of Liberty, hamburger, Mickey Mouse. And, of course, Uncle Sam! This (akin to the extracurricular ideas of Russians: balalaika, bear, vodka, caviar) is permanently imprinted in the brains of any tourist who has come to the US.

Character History

Who is Uncle Sam? This is, in fact, the main character of the American propaganda poster. The figure shows an elderly man with delicate features, dressed in a blue coat and a cylinder of "American" colors with asterisks. He sternly looks at us and says (literally): "You need me for the US Army!" The fact is that as a character, Uncle Sam has gained popularity in American folklore since 1812, during the war with Great Britain. According to one version, the provider of provisions for the army was a certain businessman named Sam. All the cargoes for the troops were then marked (and marked now) in bold letters, the letters U and S, which meant, of course, United States. However, in a miraculous way, the acronym coincided with the humorous decoding of Uncle Sam (USA - Uncle Sam). From here and this stable expression has gone. Fortunately, an ardent assistant to the US military was just the name!

Another version

According to another legend, the United States was not always called USA. The name USAm was also practiced, from which Uncle Sam (U. Sam) originates. The jokers of that time "deciphered" the inscription, hence the phrase "Uncle Sam" happened.

A poster with a finger

I must say that Uncle Sam is not the first (and not last) agitation for the army. Three years earlier (1914), the British issued a similar poster, imprinted on him by the then British War Minister, Lord Kitchener. A classic drawing of Uncle Sam was issued as a poster in 1917, during the First World War. And the artist (J. Flagg) painted the character with his face, thus perpetuating himself for all time. Then the well-known inscription appears at the bottom of the picture: "The US Army needs you". Uncle Sam points with his finger at the person standing in front of him.

It is interesting that in the USSR this idea was used in the famous poster "Did you enroll as a volunteer?", Only changed the color scheme of the drawing from white and blue to radically red. The artist, who painted this work (D. Moore), also used his face as a prototype of the hero-Budyonnovtsy, painted himself. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Moore updates the old poster - here a soldier with a rifle, in a helmet and with sectional pouches. And the idea of a poster with Budennov, in turn, was borrowed by I. Toidze, an artist who created the famous poster of the Great Patriotic War - "Motherland Calls!".

Tracking picture

All the above posters, including "Uncle Sam", are built on a model called "tracking image". This kind of artistic illusion, known to artists from ancient times, in which, looking at the picture from any angle, in any angle, as if you see the eyes of the character. It seems that he is constantly looking at you. In propaganda propaganda, these techniques are designed to enhance the psychological effect of presence, to act additionally on the human brain. To make the picture follower, draw a person in full-face. The body is turned directly to the viewer. And the look is straight ahead. In this way they achieve the desired effect.

Uncle Sam today

The classical, all revered image in modern interpretation sometimes undergoes some changes: it can be depicted in everyday clothes, even in special clothing or jeans. But here the cylinder, the same as a hundred years ago, remains traditional. Unchanged also was and remains the main feature of the uncle - caring about who so needs it. It is also known the phrase: "Uncle Sam cares for you", familiar to every poor or suffering American.

Perpetuate the image

In September 1961, the US Congress passed a resolution praising Sam Wilson as the prototype of Uncle Sam. In the native city of the businessman the memorable monument, telling about how events took place, is established. Similar and on the grave of "Uncle Sam", in the city of Troy. Disputes about the origin of the character do not cease to this day. There are all new versions, alternative theories. Although for sure the exact history is unlikely to ever find out!

Interpretations and irony

In peacetime, unlike the military, when the bright image of the uncle carried positive, propaganda, propaganda notes, many caricatures and parodies were created, seemingly (at first glance) "discrediting" the name of Uncle Sam. But this is far from true! After all, negative advertising also has a good effect on people's consciousness. In countries where there are anti-American sentiments, posters with my uncle are often used to illustrate the imperial ambitions of the United States. In their demonstrations and pickets, antiglobalists also sometimes burn a scarecrow of Uncle Sam along with the American flag. But, despite all this, the image of Uncle Sam in history has been and remains rather positive than negative.