How do you believe the time period this video was made influenced changing perceptions of World War Two over time?
changing Lenses on World War Two
The PDA Assignments up to this point have asked you to analyze primary documents (documents created at the place/time of the subject being covered). While secondary sources are those produced after the event or historical process has occurred (like your textbook or most history books), it is possible for a secondary source to become a primary source depending upon what you are studying. For example, a study of how the American Revolution was being thought about in the 1960s would not necessarily utilize the writings of the Founding Fathers but rather review and compare the books historians were writing concerning the Revolution in the 1960s. With this in mind, PDA #3 is asking you to view some secondary sources as primary ones and analyze what they have to teach us not only about the historical events they are covering, but the time period they were produced in as well.
History is about telling stories. There is arguably no greater medium to tell stories in today’s society and culture than movies. Films have the ability to not only tell us stories about their intended subjects, but provide details about contemporary issues influencing screenwriters and directors. For example, Westerns made during the Cold War have as much to tell us about the 1950s and 1960s as they do about the history of the American West.
For the PDA #3 Assignment I would like you to view ONE of the following films pertaining to World War Two and submit a MINIMUM length response of One FULL Page that addresses the following:
1) Based upon your knowledge of World War Two, is this film accurate regarding its portrayal of the conflict? Why or why not?
2) How do you believe the time period this film was made influenced changing perceptions of World War Two over time? For example, what are some of the themes displayed in a 1990s film regarding WWII that perhaps have more to do with what was going on in America in the 1990s than the 1940s?
Please remember to provide specific details (scenes from the movie) to support your arguments.
Please click “PDA #3” above to be taken to the page where you will upload your essay.
