Visual Nationalism: A Critical Analysis Of Patriotic Discourses In Advertising Art

Abstract

This study examines the visual and discursive construction of patriotic narratives in advertising art, situating commercial imagery within broader theoretical frameworks of nationalism and visual culture. Drawing on the concepts of imagined communities and banal nationalism, the research investigates how national symbols, collective identity narratives, and affective appeals to belonging are embedded within contemporary advertising visuals. A mixed-methods design integrating critical visual analysis, semiotic interpretation, and quantitative content analysis was employed to analyze a purposively selected corpus of print, digital, and outdoor advertisements produced between 2019 and 2024. The findings reveal that advertising art frequently mobilizes aestheticized and emotionally coded forms of nationalism, privileging subtle visual cues over overt political iconography. Statistical analysis further indicates a significant association between the presence of patriotic imagery and higher levels of audience engagement, underscoring the persuasive efficacy of national symbolism in commercial communication. The study contributes to scholarship on visual culture and media nationalism by demonstrating how advertising operates as a key site for the everyday reproduction and commodification of national identity. The findings have implications for critical media studies, advertising ethics, and the broader understanding of how nationalism is normalized within consumer visual culture.