Film Propaganda
In this essay I am going to discuss the ways in which film has been used for war propaganda by concentrating on post 9/11 war films. I will first offer a look into the history of film propaganda by giving early examples and why film is a useful tool when it comes to propaganda. First I will start by offering the definition of ‘propaganda’: “information, ideas, or rumours deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.” (“The Definition of Propaganda”)
Propaganda films are used to convince their viewers to follow a particular political opinion or to sway the views of the viewer, usually by giving them subjective content that is usually purposefully deceiving. In Film Propaganda and American Politics: …show more content…
In Hollywood’s America: Understanding History Through Film, they write “Ninety million Americans went to the movies every week during World War II.” (Mintz, Roberts and Welky, Page 137). At the beginning of the 20th century, films became to be the new way to show information and events to a large audience, Combs writes “the political importance of film propaganda in the twentieth century stems from the fact that visual imagery was a powerful, central force in political imagination. From virtual the first days of the movies, filmmakers learned that advocate and persuasive messages could be included in cinematic presentations, and that the medium, with its impressive ability to convey dramatic experience, could sense as a vehicle for propaganda.” (Combs and Combs, Page 15) During wars, the government and the media work together in influencing the public and shaping their beliefs and opinions about the “other”, the foreign enemy. For example, Hitler encouraged everyone to believe that the Jews where morally wrong and that they needed to be stopped.
The Birth of a Nation (1915) is one of the earliest fictional films, which was used for propaganda. The film depicts the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) as heroic protectors of the American people who are fighting against the evil, aggressive “blacks” who have taken over and ruined the South. Although the film was a commercial success, it is extremely controversial with its racist portrayal of black men. In the film they are depicted as stupid and sexually violent towards white women, whilst the Ku Klux Klan are shown to be heroic and
Propaganda films are used to convince their viewers to follow a particular political opinion or to sway the views of the viewer, usually by giving them subjective content that is usually purposefully deceiving. In Film Propaganda and American Politics: …show more content…
In Hollywood’s America: Understanding History Through Film, they write “Ninety million Americans went to the movies every week during World War II.” (Mintz, Roberts and Welky, Page 137). At the beginning of the 20th century, films became to be the new way to show information and events to a large audience, Combs writes “the political importance of film propaganda in the twentieth century stems from the fact that visual imagery was a powerful, central force in political imagination. From virtual the first days of the movies, filmmakers learned that advocate and persuasive messages could be included in cinematic presentations, and that the medium, with its impressive ability to convey dramatic experience, could sense as a vehicle for propaganda.” (Combs and Combs, Page 15) During wars, the government and the media work together in influencing the public and shaping their beliefs and opinions about the “other”, the foreign enemy. For example, Hitler encouraged everyone to believe that the Jews where morally wrong and that they needed to be stopped.
The Birth of a Nation (1915) is one of the earliest fictional films, which was used for propaganda. The film depicts the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) as heroic protectors of the American people who are fighting against the evil, aggressive “blacks” who have taken over and ruined the South. Although the film was a commercial success, it is extremely controversial with its racist portrayal of black men. In the film they are depicted as stupid and sexually violent towards white women, whilst the Ku Klux Klan are shown to be heroic and