Reel History and the Cold War: A Lesson Plan

Abstract

Objectives While the political and diplomatic history of the Cold War can be made accessible for students through simulations, discus sions, lectures, and traditional modes of research, it is more difficult to capture the extent to which the Cold War dominated American culture. One way the teacher may assist students in better understanding this period is through an examination of popular Hollywood films in cultural and historical context. Using film as a primary source allows students to look at the formation of values and ideology in a mass society often overlooked by more traditional sources with a focus upon elites. Film is an important form of communication in modern society, and students need to be made familiar with how this art form both reflects and influences their culture and lives.