What is Fascism? A Study Through Popular Media

Fascism is a topic that is frequently discussed, but also frequently misunderstood. When asked, many can only name Nazi Germany as a fascist nation, when in fact there were many other countries who were fascist, such as Spain, Italy, Argentina, and Brazil. 

This class seeks to gain a deeper understanding of what fascism is by exploring recent popular media as well as primary source documents from the founder of fascism himself- Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy, as well as related documents. 

In this class, we understand fascism is a 20th century phenomenon borne out of World War I fears that liberal governments were outdated and the only way to survive the future was by preparing for endless war in which only the strongest would survive. 

Students will read three novels, watch a film, and read primary source documents outside of class. We will discuss all of them throughout the class. Students will be encouraged to evaluate what fascism is and identify the different ways it presents itself through different media analyzed throughout the class. 

For the end of class, students will write an essay about a topic relating to fascism of their choosing. We will discuss student interests and I will help guide them to a suitable topic. The essay should be at least 5 paragraphs and argue a point about fascism. 

Required Texts: 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Required Film:

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, 2022  (available on Netflix)

Students must acquire the above books and film on their own. I will also provide a reader of primary source documents that students can print out or read digitally. 


Class Schedule:

Week 1: World War I 
-Major social divides 
-Nationalist movements
-Trench Warfare and Shell Shock 

HW: Read the documents on Italian fascism (provided)


Week 2: Mussolini
-His origins 
-His rise
-Discuss what he identified as the problems in Italy (based on the texts) and his approach to fixing them
-Mussolini's definition of fascism 

HW: Watch Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, 2022  (available on Netflix)

Week 3: Fascist Education
-Indoctrination of children
-Specifically discuss Fascist Italy & Nazi Germany's approach to education
-Guillermo del Toro's fascination with fascism and how he approaches it in his work

HW: Read All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Week 4: Fascist Priorities 
-Weimar Republic, briefly
-Werner Pfenning's life from Weimar to Nazi Germany
-Discuss why the Nazi's chose Werner despite his humble origins & how this reflects fascist priorities 

HW: Read the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 

Week 5: Dystopia
-Discuss what Dystopia literature is and seeks to accomplish
-Suzanne Collins' background and approach to writing THG
-The purpose of the Hunger Games within the context of Panem
-Discuss what elements of fascism exist within the universe 

HW: Read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Week 6: Endless War
-Discuss the theory of Endless War and how it benefits a government like Panem 
-In Groups and Out Groups: how does status look among the most privileged in a fascist state? 
-Discuss Coriolanus Snow's character growing up with high status but low means after a war and how that shaped his perspective

HW: Submit essay topic 

Week 7: 
-Discuss: Is fascism zero sum? Can a country or government have fascist elements without being fascist? 
-Discuss essay topics 

Week 8: Closing Discussion
-Students will discuss the main points of their essay arguments