11 September 1946
MEMORANDUM:
TO: Chief, Information Division
SUBJECT: Aims and Methods of the Exhibits Unit

1. In so far as one of the aims of the occupation is that of schooling the people in the techniques of a democratic society and impressing them with the fact that the source of power originates with the people, it seems that the seeds of democracy should be sown among the underprivileged.
The exhibits unit would function most efficiently if its services be primarily directed to those people who cannot be reached through:

1. Normal assimilation of ideas afforded by urban society.
2. Medium of press because of paper shortages of inability to meet the subscription price.
3. Medium of radio because of shortages and disrepair.

There is a paucity of educational materials, books, and entertainment features in the Japanese village. The schools are barren and drab. The opportunity that presents itself for planting the basic ideas set forth by Information and Education is expedient. Exhibits can be studied at leisure and thus be completely absorbed. The lack of diversifying interests should attract and impress an audience that might not be reached under normal conditions.

2. In order to accomplish this aim effectively and cheaply and to get maximum distribution it is necessary to obtain reproduction facilities. Whenever feasible interested Japanese agencies will be used. Presses are so overworked and inks so scarce that printing will probably be limited to black and white. In order to off set this monotony an effort will be made to obtain large multicolored poster and other materials to be used as attention features. By employing the techniques of "cutout and paste-up" otherwise irrelevant materials can be adapted as centers of interest. Prewar Japanese Tourist bureau and Japanese Government Railway materials have been recently distributed. it is hoped that some of the excellent pre-war posters are still in existence and may be secured from them, Charts are essential to the simple presentation and summary of some of the ideas presented in the Exhibits Unit Plan and will require reproduction.

3. Existing OVI exhibits can be used to some extent by re-editing captions and eliminating certain pictures in the series. These exhibits were originally prepared for non-oriental audience. C◆ution must be exercised in portraying the American scene because of the danger that comparisons of wealth may be made and taken resentfully thus defeating the educational aim.

1. Most of the photos from the CI&E Library and the Press and Publications file pertain to the war which restricts their usefulness for exhibit purposes. Planned photography adapted to an aim has a quality of freshness that will make it the most suitable medium of illustration for the needs of the exhibits unit.

4. To get the maximum showing out of each unit, exhibits must be designed for durability without being heavy or cumbersome. The difficulties of transportation and limitations of planned distribution channels mast be kept in mind. Arrangements should be simple and fluid to meet the physical requirements of all types of exhibition places. Itineraries of travelling exhibits will be carefully recorded with a check system on all movements. Various Japanese social, political and educational agencies and organization will be used for distribution cannels.

5. Japanese nationals should be used for the production staff. It is essential that they have a sense of design an well as a bold and legible calligraphy. Careful supervision of translators is most important. Translators must be schooled in the necessity of adjusting the language to the level of the intended audience. They must be impressed that it is better to convey the feeling of an idea than to make a literal translation. Literal retranslations in English of all translations will be recorded and discussed.

1. Where reproduction is restricted and existing educational materials are used care will be taken in choosing an exhibition place where the traffic count of the group to whose the subject matter is directed is greatest and the itimararies of such exhibits worked out on the same basis.

Close liaison with other media units must be maintained in order that the emphasis of visual education be timed to coincide with the program carried out through other mediums.

FRANCES BAKER
Exhibits Officer