This thesis explores the stereotypes of different Cold War movies made in the Soviet Union. Three movies are analysed based on a critical literature review about stereotypes. Based on the...Show moreThis thesis explores the stereotypes of different Cold War movies made in the Soviet Union. Three movies are analysed based on a critical literature review about stereotypes. Based on the observations and different theories of scholars the stereotypes are defined and placed within their time period.Show less
This study aims to interpret Soviet propaganda posters published in the 1960s and 1970s using a selection of multidisciplinary analytical tools. More specifically this selection of eight Soviet...Show moreThis study aims to interpret Soviet propaganda posters published in the 1960s and 1970s using a selection of multidisciplinary analytical tools. More specifically this selection of eight Soviet posters are inspired by America's race relations, the Civil Rights era and the Cold War, with a particular focus on the USSR’s symbolic depictions of the state of African American civil rights during this time. To this end, the research questions is as follows: What can be interpreted from the state of African American civil rights as depicted in the Soviet Union’s propaganda posters from the 1960s and 1970s? The research question is answered through interpretation that is guided through the selection of academic research that looks at content analysis as well as the use of logical inference, such as the close analysis of visual ideology and linguistic meaning. This paper hopes to demonstrate one way in which the Soviet Union wished to contradict America’s democratic, free and liberal façade. Furthermore, it will exhibit how the Soviet Union worked to present their ideological enemy as a capitalist hypocrite in order to win the hearts and minds of its domestic audience, during a war that focused on a battle of political propaganda. On this basis, it can be interpreted that the intentions of the Soviet Union were to undermine the United States of America shown through the selection of these eight posters, although I do recognise that this in no way a definitive representation of all Soviet propaganda posters that depicted African Americans. Future research and the analysis of a wider pool of propaganda material published within a greater time frame, that targets an international audience would reveal other lines of ideological criticism, symbolic messages and would therefore draw broader conclusions.Show less
The United States and the Soviet Union divided the world into two hemispherical sides during the Cold War. Foreign relations between these two nations were of great importance, as was understanding...Show moreThe United States and the Soviet Union divided the world into two hemispherical sides during the Cold War. Foreign relations between these two nations were of great importance, as was understanding them from their starting point until the end of the Cold War. The U.S., motivated by an 'us vs. them' dichotomy based on a great sense of mistrust and rivalry, employed various techniques to gather intelligence about their adversary, as did the Soviet Union. Espionage was one of these techniques. Despite its secretive nature, from time to time the American public found out about cases of espionage through the media. These cases oftentimes turned into scandals and impacted American society in various ways. For this thesis three cases were discussed that occurred at different times during the Cold War. The purpose of these cases of espionage is to find out how they were framed in the media and government propaganda in order for the Americans to influence foreign relations between them and the Soviets throughout the Cold War.Show less
This Thesis´ analysis includes both private actors such as society groups and actors related to the US state, and it identifies how the interplay of these actors and their different interests...Show moreThis Thesis´ analysis includes both private actors such as society groups and actors related to the US state, and it identifies how the interplay of these actors and their different interests contributed to the rise of anticommunism in the Hollywood film industry. In doing so, this thesis explores how a combination of actors and factors contributed to the intensification of anticommunism in Hollywood after the Second World War. As a result, it argues that anticommunism in Hollywood did not originate from solely state or private actors with consistent interests, it emerged from an interplay of state and private actors with different interests and ideas.Show less
