Heart of Humanity was a propaganda war film made in 1918. Made towards the end of World War I, this film portrays a german character as a 'hun'. The story focuses on Nanette, who falls in love with John, the oldest of five brothers who are sent away to fight. Nanette in turn joins the Red Cross and is attacked by a german soldier. It is then up to John to save her from this german's despicable behavior. This is the first time in history that the "federal government attempted the 'conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses'" (Foner 781) In the film, Nanette joins the Red Cross. Foner shows how women helped the war effort. Many women "sold war bonds, organized patriotic rallies, and went to work in war production jobs." (Foner 783) Many more of them served as clerical workers and nurses with the Red Cross, just as Nanette did. As a propaganda film, Heart of Humanity displays Germans in a negative light. But, "After American entry into the war, the use of German and expressions of German culture became a target of prewar organizations." (Foner 793) This was effective because of the negative light in which Germans were portrayed.
How are female roles represented in the film?
Throughout the film, women are represented as subordinate, but they are given more power. When Nanette joins the Red Cross, she is given an opportunity to be more independent than would have been possible before the war. Even with this newfound independence, Nanette still ultimately need John's protection from the German soldier. Women were now found doing jobs that were originally only men's jobs. While the men were overseas, the economy needed workers to support the wartime production. These jobs were filled by women, encouraging the suffrage movement. Overall, female roles in the film are not based entirely on traditional gender roles, but allow for a glimpse of a new perspective and a new accomplishment for the suffrage movement.
Does World War I require a "new" type of Woman?
I do think that World War I required a new type of woman. With the changing attitude towards societal gender roles and the difference in the American woman's economic role required a stronger, more independent woman than ever before. With their codependency on men becoming less pertinent because of a lot of brothers, cousins, and significant others were deployed. This meant that the women of World War I needed to be able to provide for their families and take care of themselves day to day without the assistance of a man. This is the first time in history where this becomes a significant part of the development of woman's rights and the change in attitude towards woman's suffrage.
What would an audience think of germans after viewing this film?
As a propagande film, the main purpose was to stir anti-German feeling throughout the United States. Following other forms of propaganda, motion pictures served as great propaganda tools. Just as the relatively recent anti-French feeling in America resulted in the proposed change from "French Fries" to "Freedom Fries", words of German origin were changed. Such changes included, 'hamburger' becoming 'liberty sandwich' and 'sauerkraut' was renamed 'liberty cabbage.' (Foner 793) The war borough significant change in German-American culture. Iowa Governor William L Harding 'issued a proclamation' that required all oral communications (i.e. talking on the phone, public conversations, education) be conducted in English. (Foner 793) Because of the anti-german feeling that propaganda spread to the American public, german-american society significantly changed. After viewing this film, an audience might think germans are a bit barbaric and mean. After the near-rape scene involving Nanette and a German soldier, the attitude towards the germans is clearly negative. He is shown as a very rough, 'hun'-like character. Thus, the feeling that an audience would get from the film is simply negative towards the Germans.
No comments:
Post a Comment