Documentary as propaganda

Countries and Propaganda

Countries and Propaganda

Recap

» What are City Symphonies?» What is Kino Pravda?» Can you remember any films?» Who was John Grierson?

» What are City Symphonies?» What is Kino Pravda?» Can you remember any films?» Who was John Grierson?

Same topic…

» Terminus (1961) John Scheslinger another train documentary

» Is the same as Nightmail (1936)?» Why?» What methods of constuction are

used here?» What is the ideology at the time

this film was made?

» Terminus (1961) John Scheslinger another train documentary

» Is the same as Nightmail (1936)?» Why?» What methods of constuction are

used here?» What is the ideology at the time

this film was made?

Great Britain and Germany

» Made newsreels of the enemy in a poor light

» Many GB audiences were convinced of the atrocities being carried out on ‘Poor Little Belgium’ - though rumour has it they were reconstructions!

» Made newsreels of the enemy in a poor light

» Many GB audiences were convinced of the atrocities being carried out on ‘Poor Little Belgium’ - though rumour has it they were reconstructions!

Russians

» Used to promote the Soviet cause» Educating people about the Russia

Revolution» Dziga Vertov was one - sent on

many trains to film for the cause

» Used to promote the Soviet cause» Educating people about the Russia

Revolution» Dziga Vertov was one - sent on

many trains to film for the cause

Spain

» Films were blatently made towards the republican side for the Spanish Civil war due to who funded them.

» ‘Found sound footage’ was used from a feature film called ‘San Francisco’, which they ran backwards to achieve the sound of bombing.

» The Spanish Earth funded by the Americans

» Films were blatently made towards the republican side for the Spanish Civil war due to who funded them.

» ‘Found sound footage’ was used from a feature film called ‘San Francisco’, which they ran backwards to achieve the sound of bombing.

» The Spanish Earth funded by the Americans

The Nazi’s

» Nazi filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl - she said though that she was not a Nazi however??? (She had complete control over editing and production!)

» Triumph des Willes (1935)» Olympische Spiele (Olympia)

(1936)

» Nazi filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl - she said though that she was not a Nazi however??? (She had complete control over editing and production!)

» Triumph des Willes (1935)» Olympische Spiele (Olympia)

(1936)

Second World War» More propagandistic» Frank Capra (Hollywood film director) made Why we

Fight series between 42-45. Robert Flaherty also helped.

» Boris Kaufman was a refugee to Canada and found himself making Grierson’s propaganda films in Canada.

» In Britain documentary was made under the ministry of Propaganda in the form of the Crown film unit.

» Central Office of information - they still today make drink driving ads and terrorist information leaflets.

» More propagandistic» Frank Capra (Hollywood film director) made Why we

Fight series between 42-45. Robert Flaherty also helped.

» Boris Kaufman was a refugee to Canada and found himself making Grierson’s propaganda films in Canada.

» In Britain documentary was made under the ministry of Propaganda in the form of the Crown film unit.

» Central Office of information - they still today make drink driving ads and terrorist information leaflets.

When watching

» Propaganda is always perceived to belong to an enemy view.

» Where a nations own circumstances are viewed more sympathically.

» Detach nations POV and simply consider is the film made from a particular viewpoint, does it position the audience in that viewpoint and does it persuade?

» Propaganda is always perceived to belong to an enemy view.

» Where a nations own circumstances are viewed more sympathically.

» Detach nations POV and simply consider is the film made from a particular viewpoint, does it position the audience in that viewpoint and does it persuade?