Cleveland, Ohio (PRWEB) November 07, 2014
A multimedia exhibition that vividly illustrates propaganda’s insidious allure is coming to Northeast Ohio. Organized by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda is on view at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage (2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, Ohio 44122; 216.593.0575; maltzmuseum.org) November 13, 2014 through March 15, 2015.
“Propaganda is a truly terrible weapon in the hands of an expert,” wrote Adolf Hitler in 1924. During the subsequent two decades the Nazis showed the world bold new ways to use this tool to win public support, advance political agendas, wage war and facilitate genocide. “Hitler was an avid student of propaganda and borrowed techniques from the Allies in World War I, his Socialist and Communist rivals, the Italian Fascist Party, as well as modern advertising,” explains exhibition curator Steven Luckert. “Drawing on these models, he successfully marketed the Nazi Party, its ideology and himself to the German people.”
Examining the Nazis’ keen understanding of mass communications and how they manipulated it in their quest to acquire power, State of Deception offers lessons for today and challenges museum-goers to think critically about the messages they encounter. “From political campaign ads to ISIS videos, propaganda regularly infiltrates our world,” says Maltz Museum executive director Ellen Rudolph. “The barrage of information from a dizzying array of sources makes media literacy—actively questioning and analyzing the messages we read, see and hear—more important than ever.”
In conjunction with State of Deception, the Maltz Museum is offering a series of public programs on topics ranging from the power of cinema to ethics in the digital age. “These events encourage visitors to contemplate what constitutes propaganda, the relationship between words and actions, and the way they consume information,” says Rudolph.
For more information on related events and programs, follow @MaltzMuseum on Twitter or visit maltzmuseum.org.
# # #
FOR FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR LINKEDIN: Psychology of deception + power of propaganda explored in @holocaustmuseum’s “State of Deception” at @maltzmuseum Nov 13 - March 15
MALTZ MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE The Maltz Museum celebrates culture and identity to encourage connection and promote a greater appreciation of Jewish heritage and the diversity of the human experience. Personal stories of struggle, courage and creativity are brought to life through interactive exhibitions and thought-provoking programs. For more information, visit maltzmuseum.org and follow us on Twitter @maltzmuseum and @stopthehateUS.
STATE OF DECEPTION: THE POWER OF NAZI PROPAGANDA is produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and presented by the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage. State of Deception was produced in part by grants from Katharine M. and Leo S. Ullman and the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, with additional support from the Lester Robbins and Sheila Johnson Robbins Traveling and Special Exhibitions Fund established in 1990 and by Dr. and Mrs. Sol Center. This installation is generously supported by John P. Murphy Foundation; Ratner Family; Wolf Family Foundation; Stanley G. Blum; Donna Yanowitz; Marilyn B. Cagin; Cleveland Jewish News; The Fernanda and Josef Friedman Holocaust Education Fund; Albert and Norma Geller; David and Rebecca Heller; David M. King; Krause Family Foundation; Noreen Koppelman-Goldstein and Barry Goloboff; McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co., LPA; David and Enid Rosenberg; The Nathan and Fannye Shafran Foundation; and Dan and Ellen Zelman.
