In the late 1940s a character named Smokey the Bear was created by the United States to raise awareness for forest fire preventions.  In creating this character many pieces of propaganda were created to get out the idea out to the public.  One piece of propaganda was created in the form of a poster, which contains a picture of Smokey the Bear with a forest fire behind him.  Also the phrase 'This shameful waste weakens America!' and 'Remember- Only you can prevent forest fires' is included.  In this image, font, color, and focus contribute to the meaning of the image, which is to prevent forest fires.

Different sizes and styles of font are used in the text within the image to stress the meaning of the image.  'Weakens America' is written in all caps in the second line to stress the deficits caused by fires.  All caps make the reader pay even more attention to the words that are capitalized.  'Prevent forest fires' is also written in all caps.  Even more stress is placed on this phrase because the words are red/orange in color and appear to be on fire.  This line is a main focus of the image because of the font used.  The meaning of the image as a whole is the same as the phrase in this line, 'prevent forest fires,' which is why it is being stressed so much.  Also, 'you' is underlined in the third line.  This is a call to action for the readers, encouraging them to prevent forest fires.  Lastly, 'remember' in the third line is italicized.  Italicizing is another method of altering font to draw attention to a word or phrase, much like underlining.  In this case, the italics are used to connect the audience with the meaning, by telling the audience to remember that they can only prevent forest fires.

Color is another aspect of the image that is used to stress the meaning, which is to prevent forest fires.  Orange, yellow, and red cover most of the image.  These colors represent not only fire, but also overall devastation of wild habitats in the United States.  An orange color is also used in the last line of text to connect the text with the picture by using the same color as the fire.  There is also orange/yellow covering the ground under the animals on the right of the image.  This creates the feeling that the animals are surrounded by the fire and trapped. The audience feels for these smaller animals who are struggling while their home is being destroyed.  This helps stress the meaning because the audience feels bad for the animals, and it makes people want to prevent fires like the one shown in the image.  Another color used in the image that stresses the meaning is black.  Black is used to color the burnt trees and for the smoke created by the flames.  The black burnt trees signify the dark, lifeless aftermath of a forest fire.  Before the fire, forests are full of green plant life, but it all turns to black.  This connects to the meaning because people enjoy nature and national parks and want to preserve them.  People don't want to go to a forest and see it wiped out by a fire.

Another aspect of visual texts used to create meaning in the image is focus.  Smokey the Bear is in the center of the image and is the biggest object.  Therefore, he is the main focus of the image.  The audience is able to connect with Smokey the Bear because he represents a force fighting against forest fires and fighting to protect helpless plants and wildlife.  The focus shifts from Smokey the Bear to the fire in the background because he is pointing his finger back to the fire and the burnt trees.  From the fire the focus is shifted horizontally to the smaller bears who appear to be caring for an injured deer.  This makes the audience feel bad for the deer, who looks scared and hurt, and makes them want to prevent forest fires.  After the audience has looked at the image in the center, the focus goes to the text.  The first and second lines, 'This shameful waste weakens America', appear to be referring to what Smokey is pointing to.  It means that the destruction caused by forest fires is shameful because it can be prevented.  They also weaken America because timber and other natural resources are being wasted when they burn.  The last part the audience focuses on is the third and fourth lines, 'Remember- only you can prevent forest fires'.  These lines call on the audience to do something about forest fires.  It encourages the American public to raise forest fire awareness and to use caution with fire.  

The meaning of this image is clearly achieved using various visual elements.  In the image, Smokey the Bear encourages the audience to be careful with fire.  The image makes the audience want to help innocent animals that are being harmed by fires created by humans.  The image was a piece of propaganda used by the US government to raise awareness for forest fires, and it successfully conveyed that purpose to the American public.  Forest fires are deadly and destructive and can be prevented by taking proper precautions.  

