Pathos of Woodstock Poster

Woodstock was a cultural phenomenon, as "3 Days of Peace & Music" defined a generation that pushed the “hippie movement” during a time of war and uncertainty.  Nearly half a million gathered to witness one of the most famous and influential music festivals of all time, with posters such as this one opening the invitation to all people.  The creator of this poster strategically uses pathos to attract a wide audience.  At first glance, we see WOODSTOCK written in large bold letter, followed by MUSIC AND ARTS FAIR. This gives the audience a clear sense of what the poster is for and calls attention to the event.  The text is written in black and a simple font, making the concert seem open and easy.  The date and location are also bolded so that the audience can better remember these details if they wish to attend.  There are musical notes placed around the text so that the audience can immediately think about their favorite musical compositions of the artists listed below. There are also two photographs; one is of Jimi Hendrix and the other of Janis Joplin.  They were the picture-perfect duo to represent the youth culture of “liberation.”  Jimi and Janis were sizzling icons of the counterculture movement, transcending society’s expectations for a black man and white woman. They are remembered today for crossing race and gender barriers that few had dared to go near. Almost every young liberal knew who these two people were, and placing their photographs on the poster only fired up their desire to go to the concert.  There are numerus other names on the poster that could have sparked an interest in a viewer and caused them to attend.  The background is a bright rainbow fusion.  These colors project an open and exciting tone to the poster that catches the attention of a passerby.  The colors are reminiscent of the Gay Pride flag, in which the rainbow colors are a symbol of LGBT pride.  The poster is overall one that promotes a fun and lighthearted feel for a music and art festival that turns out to become one of the most monumental symbols of patriotism and countercultural revolution.  This was a time of change in America, and events such as Woodstock united a community of people searching for love, acceptance, and music.