Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Spring 5-31-2003
Degree Name
Master of Science in Professional and Technical Communication - (M.S.)
Department
Humanities and Social Sciences
First Advisor
Robert Edward Lynch
Second Advisor
Nancy Coppola
Third Advisor
John E. O'Connor
Abstract
The premise of this investigation is that propaganda works best when presented through a fictional work rather than through factual documents. The fact/fiction combination of the non-fiction book, Education for Death: The Making of the Nazi (1941) and the fictional feature-length film, Hitler's Children (1943) is used to illustrate how film propagandists use camera angles, lighting, music, dialogue, narration, storyline, footage from other films, and cinematic conventions to dramatize and emphasize several scenes from the book. Attention is also paid to scenes in the film that dramatize government war aims, as supplied by the Bureau of Motion Pictures of the Office of War Information. An analysis of the book and film reveals that propaganda, especially when conveyed through fiction, works best when it reinforces and builds upon the viewer's pre-existing beliefs.
Recommended Citation
James, Alicia Pearlette, "Wickedness in high places : a rhetorical analysis of the film Hitler's Children" (2003). Theses. 622.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/622
