"State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda"

During Clark's Spring Break, I visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. After spending a few hours in the permanent exhibit -- which I would recommend that everyone visit at least once -- I went to a special exhibit that examined Nazi Propaganda. This exhibit was entitled "State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda." Most of the focus of the exhibition was on print media, but there were several films and video clips shown as well.

In my response paper on Triumph des Willens I discussed the film's dual role as both art and propaganda. I concluded that a lot of the visual content was designed more artistically, while the sound (over which Leni Riefenstahl had less control) was full of propaganda. As I walked through the exhibition I began to rethink that idea. I was very surprised to see that a lot of the visual effects of Triumph des Willens were repeated throughout the materials presented in the exhibition. Most notable for me, besides the use of certain symbols that are very obviously propagandistic, was the emphasis on Hitler's image as propaganda and the emphasis and the size and power of the Nazi Party. Examples of this throughout the exhibition often made me refer back to the film and consider it from a different perspective. The other film clips, taken from before, during, and after World War II, were also very interesting to see, as were the huge number of posters and newspapers.

Last month, the New York Times had a review of the new exhibition that I think was very interesting and accurate. You can check it out here.