COMM2287 · Communication

Totalitarianism in Representation and Reality

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

This course may be used to satisfy one of four required electives within the Communication major. This course will critically examine the discourses, practices, and psychological foundations of totalitarian forms of government. Totalitarianism refers to a system of social organization that subordinates the free will of individualsubjects and cultural institutions to the dictates of the state, which is helmed by a charismatic leader. Under totalitarianism, every aspect of an individual's life falls under the jurisdiction of the ruling party, allowing little space for independent thought, expression, or action. This course will focus on historical examples of totalitarian rule, with particular emphasis on Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, and contemporary manifestations in the West and Middle East. We will also consider the ethics and effectiveness of various modes of resistance to totalitarianism. Students will analyze and critique the rhetoric and imagery of totalitarianism in literature, film, and media and develop a greater understanding of the dangerous appeal of this ideology for many people in the past, present, and, perhaps, the future.