History 474A

Devine

Spring 2009

 

PRIMARY SOURCE ASSIGNMENT

 

This essay is due on Sunday, April 5th.  (That is a change from the syllabus.) You may give it to me early in class, drop it off in the history office, or email it to me as a MS Word attachment by 11:59 pm the night of the 5th.

 

I prefer you email me the paper since this is the best way to ensure that it does not get lost.  When emailing, send a copy to yourself on the “cc” line. If you receive the email, it’s likely I did as well. I will send you a confirmation email when I receive your paper, however, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY (and not the email server’s) that I get it. (“But I sent it to you – didn’t you get it?” will not be a legitimate excuse for a late paper.) 

 

 

The essay must be 2400 words and (please!) no more than 3000 words. This comes out to approximately 8 pages. If you use MS Word, you can check number of words by pulling down the FILE menu, selecting PROPERTIES, and then clicking on the STATISTICS tab. Number your pages, give your essay an appropriate title, and include a works cited page at the end.  You should also cite your sources within the text as before, example: (Time, 6/6/1944, 16). 

 

For this assignment you will need to use as primary sources the collections of Life, Look, Time, and Newsweek magazines which can be found on the 4th floor of the Oviatt library.  In addition, you may want to reference and quote from Fussell, depending on which prompt you choose to answer. 

 

PLEASE PROVIDE COPIES OF THE ADS AND IMAGES YOU DESCRIBE.

 

If you have any questions or are in any way unsure about what you are being asked to do, be sure to speak with me or Laura via email or in person.

 

 

Option #1:

 

In his book, Wartime, Paul Fussell contends that it was not just the danger, fear, boredom, uncertainty, loneliness, and deprivation that drove soldiers to despair.  “It was rather the conviction that optimistic publicity and euphemism had rendered the experience so falsely that it would never be readily communicable.”  By drawing on stories and images in at least three issues of popular magazines from the war years, 1942-1945, evaluate Fussell’s assessment of wartime coverage on the home front.  How accurately did American popular magazines depict the war?  

 

Things you might look for include:  Does it appear the coverage is too sanitized?  Is it too upbeat?  Is it balanced?  Is it pessimistic?  Is it critical of U.S. policy or performance?  Does it change over time?  If you were a soldier in combat, how would you react to the coverage you see in these magazines?  Draw on specific evidence you find in the articles to bolster your thesis. 

 

 

 

Option #2:

 

During World War II, what messages did magazine advertisements try to sell their American readers?  Look closely at the ads in at least three issues of popular magazines from the war years and construct your thesis from what you observe.

 

Things you might consider:  What images or sentiments seem to reoccur?  How effectively have companies tied their pitches to the war effort?  What emotional response are they trying to solicit?  What values do they reflect?  What do the ads suggest we are fighting for?  How are Americans delineated from their enemies?  Draw on specific examples and be descriptive of their contents to back up the points you are making.