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Deconstructing the Enduring Appeal of the Third Reich

Page, James S. (2008) Deconstructing the Enduring Appeal of the Third Reich. Journal of Intercultural Studies 29(2):pp. 189-196.

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Abstract

One of the interesting aspects of contemporary culture has been the continuing appeal of the Third Reich (1933-1945) in the modern imagination and this essay examines reasons for this continuing appeal. It is suggested that the reasons for this continuing appeal are complex, although possibly include: 1) the aesthetic and audio-visual nature of the regime, 2) the general appeal of a militaristic society, 3) technological achievements during the regime, 4) the historical idiosyncrasy of the regime, and 5) the discourse of tragedy which can be applied to the regime. The essay concludes with an attempt to examine the implications of the appeal of the Third Reich for the task of education for peace.

Item Type:Journal Article
Status:In Press
Keywords:Third Reich; Nazi; Nazi regime; Nazis; the past that will not go away; discourse; Soviet Union; fascinating fascism; cult of beauty; fetishism of courage; exotic; the unknown; popular culture; Holocaust; Shoah; aestheticization of politics; audio-visual; telegenic; swastika; visual discourse; propaganda; militarism; militaristic; culprits and victims; duty; self-sacrifice; Nazi technology; worship of technology; technological achievement; historical idiosyncrasy; otherwordly; American Civil War; discourse of tragedy; hubris; catharsis; tragic justice; romantic appeal; atavistic appeal; culture of peace; culture of violence; education for peace; peace education; Aristotle; Walter Benjamin; Paul Betts; Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Jacques Ellul; Adolf Galland; Heinz Guderian; Jürgen Habermas; Adolf Hitler; David Lowe; Friedrich Meinecke; Ernst Nolte; Leni Riefenstahl; Eric Rentschler; Erwin Rommell; Rudolf Rummell; Susan Sontag; Carl Tighe; Werner von Braun; Dr James Page; James Smith Page; Jim Page.
Subjects:420000 Language and Culture > 420300 Cultural Studies > 420302 Cultural Theory
360000 Policy and Political Science > 360100 Political Science > 360104 Political Theory and Political Philosophy
220000 Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts - General
420000 Language and Culture > 420300 Cultural Studies > 420306 Postcolonial and Global Cultural Studies
ID Code:10012
Deposited By:Page, James S.
Deposited On:09 October 2007
Alternative Locations:http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/carfax/07256868.html
Copyright Owner:Copyright 2008 Taylor & Francis
Copyright Statement:First published in Journal of Intercultural Studies 29(2):pp. 189-196.