This paper will critique the speech Questions of Culture delivered by a graduate of Richmond University in 1996. The speakers name is Sajjid Zahir Chinoy. This critique will focus on the organization, content and delivery of the speech.…
Triumph of the Will, has been perceived as one of the most remarkable works of art in film history. It is a documentary produced by Leni Riefenstahl, a renowned film maker, who “has remained the focus of critical attention since the 1930’s” (Sontag, 1976p. 31). Triumph of the Will, is a documentary created to follow Hitler and his supporters through the Nazi Nuremberg Rally of the 1930’s. In the study of Holocaust and films, it is crucial to uncover hidden messages portrayed through films by analyzing the structure, editing and styles perpetuated throughout. The analysis of this film will reveal the reality and true meanings of the film, to conclude if the film is a documentary or a propagandistic film that was created to spread information and a specific message to people for a particular benefit. This paper will seek to analyze the propagandistic features of this film by comparing and contrasting the claims of both Susan Sontag and filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. In order to understand the perspectives of both, Triumph of…
On April 20, 1989, one of the world’s most profound leaders, public speakers and war generals was born in Braunau, Austria (Scholtz 417). Hitler rose to become the highest-ranking official of the Nazi Party that was erected in 1920 (Carney 305). His fellow party members knew him a very well spoken man as well as having innate leadership skills (Scholtz 420). At the end of the 1920’s the German people suffered from unemployment, poverty, starvation, and most of all, hope (Robinson 856). Along with the economical and social collapse of the 1920’s, Germany’s politicians were caught up in petty squabbles and the whole republic was falling apart. Hitler used this opportunity to take power. He would not try and cease power at first; he would use his gift of persuasion (Carney 308). He made promises to restore the republic by stabilizing the economy and giving people back their jobs. This was all he needed for people to vote him in as President of Germany. As president, he did just as he promised, he brought the republic up out of the ashes of the 1920’s and 30’s and rebuilt (Scholtz 423). Little did the people know, Hitler had other plans up his sleeves. Shortly following the elections in 1933, Hitler ordered his secret police to commence their systematic takeover of the Government (Carney 311). He would stop it nothing until the entire country was his. Once Hitler ceased complete control, he would begin to set in motion, one of the worst tragedies to ever befall the earth. It started with simple boycott of Jewish stores and shops (Scholtz 424). He wanted to make it known that Jews were not welcome in his new régime, and they would pay the price if they stayed. Hitler soon passed the Nuremburg laws, which forbade Jews from owning things pets, cars, nice furniture, expensive clothing, etc (Robinson 867). In 1935, Hitler revealed his plans to begin war against the free world (Scholtz 426). This started a chain of horrifying and deadly events…
Historians Welch and Kershaw both agree that this film presents the perfect example of why Riefenstahl is a “blatant propagandist”. Although the film captured an event, the content is not political, unlike ‘Triumph of the Will’, and as a result ‘propaganda’ cannot be so easily affiliated with it. However, it does portray Hitler’s belief in the perfect German race, by only displaying the ‘perfect’ people in the society. Additionally, by showing these men, it supports Hitler’s ideology of a ‘perfect’ Germany, and by aiming this film at youth, it aspires them to exercise and work hard to achieve the Aryan look. Furthermore, the Nazi emblems shot on flags and shirts creates a nationalistic film, which makes ‘Olympia’ a propaganda film rather than a…
"I know that men are won over less by the written than by the spoken word, that every great movement on this earth owes its growth to great orators and not to great writers." Most would agree with this, even find it wise or enlightening. They would be dismayed to discover that these are the words of Adolf Hitler, one of the most despised and dangerous men in history. The reason he was so dangerous? The very thing he accredits his success to in the quote above: his ability to speak. Hitler had a kind of rhetoric all his own that persuaded people to his side with horrifying effectiveness. “Language is a powerful weapon, and in the hands of a skilled person, it can be used to manipulate others.” Cassius in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is perhaps one of the best examples of this. In the first act alone, Cassius uses his abilities to appeal to Brutus’ sense of honor, twist Brutus’ image of Caesar, and put words into Brutus’ mouth that lead to a dastardly plot against a near king.…
How was Hitler able to capture the hearts of so many people? Through propaganda. Through a detailed, psychologically advanced, and twistingly genius comprehension of what the German people needed. In the middle of the grim, gray, and gloomy society in Germany, he stood out as someone who was young and enthusiastic--a man who was genuinely interested in the well being of his country. He rose to power very strategically, first getting the Nazi name out there and then eventually using the good guy image to propel himself to the very top.…
The worldwide economic depression had hit the country, especially hard, and millions of people were out of work. Hitler was a powerful and spellbinding speaker who attracted a wide following of Germans desperate for change. He gave people hope and didn’t let them…
Adolf Hitler entered Kroll Opera House on the first of September, 1939, as his troops prepared to invade Poland. Propaganda was a major facet of Nazi Germany’s success and this speech reiterates the plight of Germany, Hitler’s beliefs on who was to blame for their failing economy, and what must be done about the crisis. Like many of Hitler’s speeches, outside of those in physical attendance, nations all over the world had tuned in via radio where these speeches were translated in real time. This event was known as a Reichstag Extraordinary Session, a council meeting called upon by the President of the Reich or a majority of the council members. Beyond the live audience, English translations of the transcripts of this speech and others like it have been collected by Yale University through the Avalon Project. This primary source is a vital window into the beliefs of Hitler’s regime and its supporters, as well as evidence of the corruption and propaganda presented during World War II.…
“Hitler’s powerful persuasive manner helped him win the vote. According to Sophie Fullerton-Smith secondary source, essay writer (2015) “Hitler started in the places which had the most mistreated people, he knew would people would listen to him.” He gave them what he knew they needed. Encouragement. “He made them lots of vague promises and used simple catch phrases repeated over.” Hitler’s campaigning was very well structured, making all the people wait, while building up the tension. Hitler’s tone throughout his many speeches and rallies was very compelling and had people by the end of it wide eyed and screaming. He promised something to everyone employment,prosperity to the failed businessmen profits to the industry expansion to the army and deal harshly with the ‘enemies’ of Germany, whom he blamed for Germany’s defeat. He appealed to the patriotism of Germany after the shame of WW1.” When the election finished things ran smoothly for a short time but soon after that Hitler’s true colours showed and Germany saw the kind of person he was and the cruel things he did. The German citizens voted for Hitler they wanted him to lead their country they chose to have Hitler lead them just like how some of them chose to do what Hitler said and follow his orders to kill innocent…
He had a natural gift for propaganda and an extremely aggressive speech style to whip the crowd into a Nazi fuelled frenzy. He also believed that it was his destiny to become the German Fuhrer, which he called the Inevitable Truth, and was based on a social adaptation of Darwin 's Evolution Theory. While this may seem like a ridiculous claim, he did in fact become the Fuhrer, so it is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Hitler was very clever, and while he was remembered for his failure in the Munich Putsch of 1923, it seemed to most of the public that he was now intent on achieving his power…
One of the ways Adolf Hitler had a negative impact on the world is through his speeches. Hitler brainwashed everyone into thinking what he was doing to Jewish people and other religions was okay through his speeches. He used powerful hand motions and emphasized his sentences, making him a strong orator. As stated in the…
Hitler was a gifted orator who captivated many with his beating of the lectern and growling, emotional speech .One of the tactics used by Hitler was inspirational tactics. Hitler often praised Christian heritage, German Christian culture, and professed a belief in Jesus Christ. In his speeches and publications Hitler spoke of Christianity as a central motivation for his anti-Semitism. In Hitler's conception Jews were enemies of all civilization. So, in his public speeches, he influences others emotionally by stating that Jesus is a fighter against the Jews. He became adept at telling people what they wanted to hear for example, the Jewish-Marxist plot to conquer the world, and the betrayal of Germany in the Versailles treaty. By the reason of hatred on Jews, Hitler had killed thousands of Jews throughout his ruling.…
Many Great speeches have been written throughout the years. Iconic speeches while rare, have lifted hearts in dark times, inspired bravery, offered hope in times despair, refined the characters of society and individuals, lent courage to the weary, venerated the dead, and changed the course of…
In his speeches, he regarded himself, the Reich, and Germany in a positive light. In 1941, he gave a speech in Munich talking about “the Movement's amazing march to victory, which bore it to the helm of the Reich, to leadership of the nation and its destiny. [It was] a heroic struggle, opposed at its inception by nearly all”. He motivated his followers by focusing on their triumphs and how they were able to overcome obstacles. It made his audience feel like they could accomplish anything, which was to his advantage because it gave him more control and the ability to influence his followers into doing what he wanted. On the other hand, he talked about things such as communism, the Jewish people, and his other racial enemies, in a negative attitude to reflect his hatred towards them. This is shown in his proclamation to the German nation in 1933, “The misery of our people is horrible to behold! Millions of the industrial proletariat are unemployed and starving; the whole of the middle class and the small artisans have been impoverished. When this collapse finally reaches the German peasants, we will be faced with an immeasurable disaster” It is important to note that during 1933, the Communist party was at a steep decline and Hitler despised all of their objectives; at the time of this speech, the party was not officially banned. Here, he emphasised the negative effects of communism and how it was detrimental to the German people. By doing so, he persuaded his audience away from communist ideas because he showed how the party negatively impacted their…
Hitler’s personality and orator skills had a large part to play in the success of his political climb to dictatorship. Hitler was a strong willed and determined man. He was able to distort and mould people’s views and values…