---
title: 'Malaya Today, Picture Set D, no. 7: Singing and dancing in the canteen (Chinese photo poster distributed in Malaya)'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/malaya-today-set-d-7-canteen-song-and-dance-chinese-1953/
description: A crowded photograph of smiling soldiers in uniform gathered round a man dancing in the centre, some clapping.
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. Malaya Today, Picture Set D, no. 7: Singing and dancing in the canteen

[![Malaya Today, Picture Set D, no. 7: Singing and dancing in the canteen, 1953 US poster: A crowded photograph of smiling](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/malaya-today-set-d-7-canteen-song-and-dance-chinese-1953.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/malaya-today-set-d-7-canteen-song-and-dance-chinese-1953.jpg)

# Malaya Today, Picture Set D, no. 7: Singing and dancing in the canteen (Chinese photo poster distributed in Malaya)

A crowded photograph of smiling soldiers in uniform gathered round a man dancing in the centre, some clapping. The Chinese caption says singing and dancing are held in the canteen. The sheet argues nothing beyond showing off-duty life. The tell is plain-folks: the forces are shown as a cheerful, mixed company at ease.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/) [Card stacking](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/card-stacking/)

## Text on the object

Original (Chinese) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
今日之馬來亞  畫片'D'套  聯合邦武裝部隊

在食堂內舉行歌唱及舞蹈.

[7]
```

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

```
Today's Malaya  Picture Set 'D'  Federation Armed Forces

Singing and dancing are held in the canteen.

[7]
```

Header reads 'Today's Malaya, Picture Set D, Federation Armed Forces'.

[← Malaya Today, Picture Set D, no. 6: Army training includes athletics: recruits at high jumping (English photo poster distributed in Malaya)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/malaya-today-set-d-6-army-athletics-recruits-high-jumping-1953/) [Malaya Today, Picture Set D, no. 7: Soldiers dancing and singing in their canteen (Malay Jawi-script photo poster distributed in Malaya) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/malaya-today-set-d-7-song-and-dance-canteen-malay-1953/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)