BELLRINGER Imagine you live in a world where the government decides what you wear, what school you go to, what job you will get, and what you watch/do for entertainment. How do you think life would be like for you? Describe it. Would you like it here? Do you think a government has/could ever get this much power?

The “Scoop” about Totalitarianism As told through mass media

Why did I underline TOTAL in totalitarianism? Totalitarianism: is a form of government that aims to control all aspects of society including the political, economic, social, intellectual, and cultural lives of its citizens. Why did I underline TOTAL in totalitarianism?

How do totalitarian governments come to power? Totalitarian states rise to power first by dramatizing the instability and problems of the old government. Totalitarian regimes come to power by offering to correct and improve upon the society by providing plans and programs for a more secure and better society.

How Totalitarian regimes come to power? In other words, to gain power, the regime might exploit popular fears and prejudices. They offer a revolutionary break from the past. A.) provide scapegoat for past wrongs B.) promises a future of peace and plenty *Keep A and B in mind especially when we look at Hitler

The “Scoop” about totalitarianism The 5 Elements of a Totalitarian State

Totalitarian Element #1 Supreme leader of single party 1.) Ruled by an autonomous supreme leader (typically known a dictator): Leader is typically charismatic, perceived as wise and paternal (caring). Propaganda posters of Stalin during his reign. How do you think Stalin would have perceived in these posters?

Totalitarian Element #2 Controls Society 2.) Government controls all organizations, including: schools, entertainment, the arts, labor unions, religion, and the economy.

Totalitarian Element #3 Owns the Media 3.) Government controls the means of information. As such it can use the television, radio, press, and education as a tool to support their regime. What is this called when government tries to influence people through media? _______________ Propaganda

Totalitarian Element #4 Obedience to state and leader 4.) Totalitarian governments demand and enforce Total conformity of its citizens, to the ideas and beliefs of the state and its leader. Conformity is achieved through the use of: a.) organization of the government b.) Fear C.) Terror. Nazi Germany 1930’s

Totalitarian Element #5 Police to ensure compliance 5.) Use of police (secret police). This secret police serves the leader and totalitarian state by monitoring and controlling citizens to follow the laws of the state. Gestapo, secret police of Nazi Germany

Finding features of Totalitarianism in Movies and literature To help you better understand some of the various features of a totalitarian state I would like us to watch a few movie clips As you watch/read, please try to identify some of the 5 elements of a totalitarian state that we just discussed. In other words SCOOP IT!!!

What to do: Once the clip/excerpt is over, take about a minute or 2 to write down all the elements of totalitarianism that you could find. After, we will discuss some of our findings as a class. Be prepared to discuss. What you are looking for: A.) The various elements of a totalitarian state that we just discussed (SCOOP) B.) How the totalitarian state rose to power? What the society was like before the totalitarian regime? How did the leader say their totalitarian regime would solve the problem? C.) What society was like in the video? How would you personally feel to be living in that world?

Wall-e

V for Vendetta (2005) “People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.” ― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

Hunger Games

Equilibrium 2002 DuPont: In the first years of the 21st century, a third World War broke out. Those of us who survived knew mankind could never survive a fourth; that our own volatile natures could simply no longer be risked. So we have created a new arm of the law: The Grammaton Cleric, whose sole task it is to seek out and eradicate the true source of man's inhumanity to man - his ability to feel.

Lelouch Rules the World Code Geass Lelouch Rules the World

CONCLUSION As we look in the rise of Totalitarian Governments and the regimes of Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mussolini, and others remember the 5 SCOOP elements of a Totalitarian State.