The vast majority of theses in this collection are open access and freely available. There are a small number of theses that have access restricted to the WWU campus. For off-campus access to a thesis labeled "Campus Only Access," please log in here with your WWU universal ID, or talk to your librarian about requesting the restricted thesis through interlibrary loan.
Date Permissions Signed
5-15-2015
Date of Award
Spring 2015
Document Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
First Advisor
Leonard, Kevin Allen, 1964-
Second Advisor
Eurich, S. Amanda, 1956-
Third Advisor
Costanzo, Susan
Abstract
Abstract
My thesis examines the production and exhibition of left-influenced antifascist feature films in Hollywood from 1934 to 1941. Antifascist, and specifically anti-Nazi films drew upon the ideas and filmmaking talent of a growing antifascist filmmaking community brought together in organizations, associations, and campaigns centered in and inspired by the Hollywood Popular Front. My thesis is meant as a synthesis that ties together the newest scholarship on pre-World War II Hollywood message films, the relationship between the Hollywood studios and the European dictatorships, and the growth of an antifascist community in Los Angeles. It is meant to contribute to the scholarship on late 1930s and early 1940s Hollywood message films. The films analyzed in my thesis are tied together by the contributions of left-wing filmmakers and their success in engaging with audiences through the successful engagement with and utilization of realist aesthetics within the boundaries of the Hollywood studio system to bring antifascist messages to the widest possible audience. The thesis concludes with the legacy of this form of left-wing cinematic engagement on the World War II and immediate postwar message films.
Type
Text
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25710/2j5p-jx12
Publisher
Western Washington University
OCLC Number
910172633
Subject – LCSH
Anti-fascist movements in motion pictures; Anti-Nazi movement in motion pictures; Anti-fascist movements--California--Los Angeles--History; Anti-Nazi movement--California--Los Angeles--History; Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.)--History--20th century
Geographic Coverage
Los Angeles (Calif.); Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Format
application/pdf
Genre/Form
masters theses
Language
English
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this thesis for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Sager, Jacob T., "Keeper of the Flame: Antifascist Feature Films and the Hollywood Popular Front, 1934-1941" (2015). WWU Graduate School Collection. 411.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwuet/411