1. Quick Write:
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?

2. The “Scoop” about Totalitarianism
As told through mass media:

3. You will learn: 1.) What totalitarianism is
2.) How totalitarian governments rose to power
3.) You will get the whole “SCOOP” about totalitarian governments.
4.) How totalitarianism is portrayed in movies and literature
Throughout this unit, keep in mind what you learn about totalitarian states, as we look at the leaders that emerged in Europe after WWI.

4. 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?

5. 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.

6. 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
How did Lenin come to power?
*Keep A and B in mind especially when we look at Hitler

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

8. 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).
You will especially see this in our discussion of Stalin, in what is known as the “Cult of the leader.”
Propaganda posters of Stalin during his reign.
How do you think Stalin would have perceived in these posters?

9. Totalitarian Element #2 Controls Society
2.) Government controls all organizations, including: schools, entertainment, the arts, labor unions, religion, and the economy.
Is this a laissez faire government?

10. Totalitarian Element #3 Owns the Media
Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451
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?
_______________
George Orwell’s 1984
Propaganda

11. 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:
organization of the government
Fear
Terror.
Nazi Germany 1930’s
Burma 2011

12. 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
Fahrenheit 451
What was the name of the secret police used by Lenin and Stalin?

13. 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 and read a few excerpts from novels.
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!!!

14. Activity
Once the clip/excerpt is over, take about a minute or 2 to write down all the elements of totalitarianism that you could find.
Once you are finished share some of your findings with a table partner.
After, we will discuss some of our findings as a class. Be prepared to discuss.
What your 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/book? How would you personally feel to be living in that world?

15. V for Vendetta (2005)

16. Click on the link V for Vendetta True story of our world today

17. V for Vendetta

18. 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.

19. Star Wars

20. Hunger Games

21. Lord of the Rings

22. Apple Macintosh Commercial

23. In the 1920’s and 1930’s the rise of totalitarian governments in Germany, Italy, and Spain was largely the result of
The success of the Communists in establishing a command economy in the Soviet Union
The Active support of the United States
The severe economic and social problems in Europe after WWI
Movements demanding the return of the old monarchies.

24. How did Totalitarian Governments come to power?
By promising that they would improve the conditions of their society
By gaining the support of those countries around them
By having the strongest navy
Only by a military coup

25. Closing Discussion: What did you learn
Closing Discussion: What did you learn? What did you observe in these clips?
What were some of the similarities that you noticed in all of the different movies? What about differences?
What was society like in these clips?
How did the governments and supreme leader attain their power?
4) Would you want to live in these societies? Why or Why not?

26. 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.

27. Homework
Totalitarian High School—Your job will be to transform your high school into a totalitarian government.