Gender and military power: Iraq war "nose art"

I found these pictures on the "Shock and Awe" part of the military.com website's entertainment section. All the nose art pictures are submitted by individuals in the military.

While some of the these nose art images are a throwback to World War II nose art of pinup girls and Uncle Sam, I think it is interesting that this style of art is still employed. And in addition to updated images of scantly clad women (often posed on a phallic looking warhead) current nose art shows updates in "patriotic" images (often including the WTC on 9/11) and often appropriates non-violent images for obviously violent purposes.

Here's how the purpose of nose art is defined (from wikipedia)

While begun for practical reasons of identifying friend from foe, the practise evolved, with benefits to morale, in expressing pride, relieving the uniform anonymity of the military, offering comfort by recalling home or peacetime life, and as a kind of fetish against enemy action. The appeal, in part, came from nose art not being officially approved, even when the regulations were not rigorously enforced (or at all).

Nose art would be a great way to start a class discussion on gender and war and on the kind of unwelcoming environment the American military continues to be for women in the service. And what do these images say about how the military perceives its enemies, and how power and dominance is defined (as gendered, ethnicized etc.)?

[See also images from this post on perceptions of military power.]

Military Depictions Of Power, Authority And Strength

I receive so much email from the military right now that I worry about becoming desensitized to the content. Well, I must not have become too desensitized, as I was shocked when I received an email advertising military motivational posters. I've never seen such crystal clear displays of how the military defines "power" (and "authority," bravery," "strength," and "patience").

Setting the obvious connections to combat aside, what consequences do these definitions have for how the military is run as an institution? What consequences do these definitions have for the people working inside that institution (those serving, and their families). What do these images say about our foreign policy, and our relationships with other countries and peoples in general?

Let's start with power.

Caption: "Power: The reward of one duty is the power to fulfill another. - George Elliot"
(isn't it odd they'd use a quote by George Elliot?)


Caption: "Bravery: It takes an extraordinary person to face danger and maintain composure."


Caption: "Strength: The process of directing one's scattered forces into one powerful channel."


Caption: "Authority: It is the strongest who prevail."


Caption: "Patience: If you have but one opportunity, make it count."

Sexism In Politics (Again)

Don't miss the classic PMS crack in the bottom left.

Via the Washington Post.