For the Sake of Simple Folk: Popular Propaganda for the German Reformation

by Robert W. Scribner

R.W. Scribner's pioneering work analyzes the forms of popular propaganda aimed at the illiterate and semi-literate during the German Reformation and reproduces many of the prints which still survive in Germany. A new Introduction and an additional chapter in this edition advance original
interpretations of these illustrations, revealing how visual propaganda both exploited and participated in popular belief and the coarser aspects of popular culture.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Religion, Germany, Christianity, Art, German Literature

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 1981

About the author

Historian who specialised in the German Reformation, popular religion and culture as well as social and economic history. He taught at Portsmouth polytechnic and the Universities of London, Cambridge and Harvard.

Reviews

[Mir]

The topic of this book is the role of visual propaganda in the dissemination of the evangelical movement in the first 50 years of the German Reformation.

Oral dissemination was most important in spreading Reformation ideas, and was mainly read aloud. However, visual media also played a role and new meanings were given to old symbols. Also grotesque and apocalyptic imagery became more common.

The only detail I recall from this book (which I read 20 years ago) was a depiction of the Virgin Mary with the Trinity inside her.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

An academic study of the function of visual propaganda in the Reformation. Much of this visual rhetoric was shockingly harsh, an indication of the high-stakes battle to win the hearts and minds of the illiterate German peasants and tradesmen to the Protestant viewpoint. The author in places delves into a discussion of semiotics that I found hard to follow. Main takeaway -- the Protestants, followers of Martin Luther, were a lot better at propaganda than the Catholics. Their control of the narrative through broadsides, pamphlets and books was almost total. The images themselves, so important to this study, were squeezed into half a page or less, causing many of them to be hard to view without magnification and subtracted from their contribution.

[Diwali L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A study of the propaganda used to articulate, fuel, and legitimize the German Reformation. A fascinating dissection of the meaning of every single word, image, image placement, shadow, etc., and their role in the rise of Luther. An interesting study of emergent literacy and the use of pre-existing "codes" to change minds, and a precursor to advertising in present day. Especially illuminating were the woodcuts detailing the devil pooping in various religious figure's mouths, and the discussion around who was directing the poop, and who was receiving it.

[Josep Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of a kind. Very useful illustrations, combining the insights of social and ecclesiastical histories.

[Oliver Sime · Rating 5 out of 5]

For such a dense work, its got character. Its many illustrations look great.

[Kaufmak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with the Edwards book on print and propaganda, this book makes for an excellent companion piece, examining the visual images of the same time period. While literacy was on the rise in late medieval/early modern Europe, it was still relatively low. Scribner demonstrates how the visual representations of Luther v. the church and more specifically the pope helped to sway and keep the greater population sympathetic to Luther and his cause. Also, like Edwards, Scribner illustrates how slow the church was to recognize and truly combat what was going on. If nothing else, these books emphasize the importance of directing the public narrative of an event and how hard it is to change that course once it gets going.

[Tammi Owens]

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