The Intentional Image: Essays on Film Propaganda

The theory and practice of propaganda is of increasing interest in this century, as its use by authoritarian regimes is growing. This anthology is a compilation of the author's recent articles on film propaganda. The book starts by offering a clear and concise theory of propaganda, and explains how propaganda can be--but why it rarely is--rational. It then focuses on propaganda in film. The anthology discusses a number of films, and assesses their rationality and how effectively they were rebutted. It covers a wide range of propaganda films, from The Birth of a Nation (1915) to some contemporary films, including two that appeared on HBO and Netflix, and the ways their critics effectively countered them.