Rhetorical Analysis: Leni Riefenstahl

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Hana Awadalla 900142735 Dr. Sanaa Makhlouf RHET 1010 Utopia/Dystopia – 02 Rhetorical Analysis/Draft1 02 October 2015 One Man to Change the World In order to create an effective propaganda documentary, Leni Riefenstahl gathered material and footage from the great historic event, the 1933 party rally, shaping it and editing it in several ways to produce Triumph of the Will. The film was made in order to achieve two main aims, as Germany seeked change and needed inspiration. These were: to glorify and exalt the Nazi Party in the eyes of all Germans, as well as, to strongly praise their führer Adolf Hitler. When one first encounters the main aspects of the film, they are shown to be the intense portrayal of the setting and environment, the depiction…show more content…
The first day of the documentary sets the tone for the rest of the film, as it portrays a sense of hope and rebirth. This is emphasized through the camera footage of Hitler being photographed against the sun, sky and clouds, as if a god. She reveals Hitler in a heroic manner, emphasising the idea that he will restore Germany to the highest extent possible, which is apparent in the opening scene where Hitler lands in a plane showing his importance, since planes were not discovered during World War One. Subsequently, Hitler moves serenely through the crowd, with the enthusiastic rallies cheering him on. The Nazi party propaganda professionalisms used sign, symbol and song to define the significance, power and strength of the Nazi party; repeated use of the eagle, the swastika and the song “Horst Wessel” explains the emotional concept between the leaders and…show more content…
Hitler’s speeches were very strong and persuasive, not because of his charismatic practices and mastery of approach and delivery, but because he spoke at the right time: all Germany were in quest of a sense of optimism, courage and revival from the anarchy they were living through. He provided them with that sense of hope by influencing the public and creating an ethos of assurance and self-belief. The simplicity of his speeches conveyed a sense of accuracy, precision and logical reason, additionally, the use of the straightforward discourses; “We want to be a united nation, and you, my youth, are to become this nation”, making a pure logical appeal. Riefenstahl films Hitler on more than one circumstance from underneath; she uses this technique to give Hitler an elevated sense of greatness and immensity, touching upon the quasi-divine image Hitler was presented where he is considered to have some attributes of a god at the beginning of the film. Hitler’s modesty is rendered when the camera lens focuses on him shaking hands with several individuals, appearing to be one of

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