Symbols are tools in the field of visual communication through
which information can be disseminated. They convey ideas and beliefs,
and through repetition they can come to serve as a logo for a
brand. This research aims to identify the power of symbols in visual
propaganda through analyzing political logos and flags.
Political symbols ranging from the far left to the far right are
compiled and analyzed in a historical and visual manner. The red
star, the hammer and sickle, the cogwheel, the clenched fist, the
circle-A, and the cross are some of the symbols under analysis.
Their appearances in history are traced from first known appearances
to contemporary representations and they are discussed
together with their developments, connotations, meanings, and
uses. The theoretical part is supplemented by a project, in which
the symbols are dissected so that graphical components and colors
are presented and elucidated.
This research shows that symbols can be employed to signify
a political objective. It also demonstrates that shapes, colors, and
context determine the understanding and connotations of a symbol