S0810 Politics and Propaganda in Film

The course examines the uses and abuses of the film medium to project political messages. The class employs a critical analysis of the explicit or implicit forms of political propaganda messages transmitted to popular culture. Most of the films are notable as defining examples of a particular film genre. The directors are influential and/or controversial for technical innovation and political sophistication. The films are drawn from four nations: United States, Italy, Germany, Russia.

Course Organization: Each week has two sessions: first, themes are introduced in lectures and readings, which outline the political context and social setting in which films were made. Second, the film is viewed and followed with a discussion on the political messages as expressed through the director’s vision and technique. The class is organized around the movies, plus – lectures, readings, and critical discussions of films.