Session 5: The Visual Medium

The Cold War, a 45-year silent battle between the United States and the Soviet Union, came to a peaceful end in the early 1990’s. This war was a defining moment in our nation’s history. It was not merely a nuclear arms struggle: it was a struggle of ideals and fundamental values. Its peaceful end was due, in large part, to the negotiations of the United States’ fortieth president, Ronald Reagan. Reagan believed firmly in the principles of freedom, and the idea that if a society is to be great, it can only be great under God. The position he took in the Cold War negotiations rose from a belief that socialism is fundamentally evil and must be stopped. He pursued an unwavering policy of peace through strength against an expanding Soviet nation. It is the researcher’s hope that by sharing information gathered from a wide range of sources, including some written by Reagan himself, we will discover the fundamental principles held by Reagan and see their effect on this defining moment of our history.

Despite carrying the nickname “The Master of Suspense,” the films of Alfred Hitchcock are not only comprised of typical thriller elements; they are also brimming with themes of perverse sexuality. These themes often underlie the entire conflict of his films, and analyzing a cross section of his works reveals their ubiquitous presence in his filmography. Antagonists Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca (1940) and Bruno Anthony in Strangers on a Train (1951) both represent homosexuality, which was often villainized and framed as perverse in Hitchcock’s films. Miriam Joyce Haines from Strangers on a Train symbolizes promiscuity, which was also maligned in the work of Hitchcock. Little Charlie and Uncle Charlie from Shadow of a Doubt (1943) represent a distorted, romantic form of familial love. L.B. Jefferies of Rear Window (1954) embodies voyeurism, and in doing so implicates the film’s viewers into his actions. All of these characters reveal that the true undertone of Hitchcock’s films is that, despite being set in worlds filled with brutal murderers, sex is their most dangerous feature. Their antagonists embody sexuality, and the conflicts of the protagonists are based in sexuality.

Learning to identify propaganda is undeniably important in the modern age. The visuals associated with 20th century wartime posters exemplify a common artistic style in propaganda, but this association often becomes the inadequate breadth of common knowledge. In fact, having this tie between wartime poster art and propaganda actually causes many people to be unable to recognize propaganda that is not in this artistic style. Propaganda as a means for persuasion uses current trends in visual communication to relay ideas, meaning that the styles are constantly evolving. Further, modern propaganda isn’t found only on poster art; it can be found on social media, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram. Without an effective understanding of what propaganda is, how it’s used, and how to identify it, people are more likely to be unwittingly influenced by it. The hope of the presenter is that the audience is able to turn a more critical eye on the images that inundate us with persuasive information every day.