Man Made Killer Man Made Killer

Contributor(s): The World Health Organization The History of Medicine Division. Prints and Photographs Collection Publication: The World Health Organization, [1980s] Language(s): English Format: Still image Subject(s): Smoking Cessation Smoking Public Health Genre(s): Archival Materials Posters Slides (photographs) Abstract: This poster was created by the World Health Organization, which first took a public position against smoking in the 1970s and subsequently helped countries develop a national plan of action against smoking worldwide. The contrast between the black and white photograph and the color background in this poster reflects the contradictory meanings conveyed by image and text. The poster uses phrasing to challenge the cultural meaning conveyed by the act of smoking. The image of an anonymous and partially lit face in profile, with a hand holding a cigarette up to the lips, evokes the allure and slightly illicit sexiness frequently associated with cigarette smoking in advertising and film. Meanwhile, the bold red lettering expresses an opposite message--that cigarettes are man made killers. There is also a unifying message between image and text, tied to a common theme in commercial advertising: consumer choice. The poster tells the viewer that they can escape the fate tied to the behavior depicted.. NOTE: Slide of original poster image is blurry. Copyright: This item may be under copyright protection; contact the copyright owner for permission before re-use. Extent: 1 pages NLM Unique ID: 101584655X56 (See in Profiles in Science) Profiles in Science ID: VCBBDW Permanent Link: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101584655X56 Archival Collection: Visual Culture and Health Posters (Profiles in Science)