The purpose of the course is to historicize and theorize the concept of totalitarian culture by discussing traditional approaches of "totalitarianism" and more recent theories and histories in the context of various cultural manifestations of National-Socialist Germany and Stalinist Russia. A key theme of the course is the relation between propaganda, entertainment, and mass culture, in the context of how both Germany and Soviet Russia related to the Hollywood type of entertainment. The primary materials to be considered are American, German, and Soviet films of the 1930s and 1940s. Additional material includes diaries, memoirs, illustrative material on art and architecture, and scholarly works. The viewing and discussion of these films are integral parts of course requirements. Some of the films are available online; others will have to be watched at Media Commons.