The Visual Language of Socialist Propaganda in the Postcards from the Polish People’s Republic

Iconographic and semiotic investigation of propaganda language on viewcards from the Polish People's Republic

Student Report (2025)
Author(s)

I.R. Sztormowski (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)

Contributor(s)

J.A.M. Baeten – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)

Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
More Info
expand_more
Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Graduation Date
17-04-2025
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Project
['AR2A011', 'Architectural History Thesis']
Programme
['Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences']
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

This thesis investigates Polish postcards (1952–1989) as tools of socialist propaganda. Using semiotic and iconographic analysis, it reveals how urban and architectural imagery subtly conveyed ideological messages. Themes like monumentality, collectivism, and modernization were embedded through visual framing, realism, and symbolism, shaping public memory in support of state ideology.

Files

License info not available
91_postcards_all.pdf
(pdf | 17 Mb)
License info not available