The 1936 Berlin Olympics were presided over by Adolf Hitler and served as a propaganda tool for the Nazi regime. But those sixteen days in August were also a significant event in the history of sport and of the world.

We will spend the first couple of weeks watching and analyzing Leni Riefenstahl’s ground-breaking 1938 film (two two-hour films, actually) entitled Olympia. We’ll look at American and global athletic stars—including Jesse Owens and “The Boys in the Boat.” Other topics of interest include manifestations of anti-Semitism, the boycott movement in the US and elsewhere, historic Olympic firsts in 1936 (including the torch relay), the presence/absence of Jewish and black athletes, the use of brand new technology (film-making, stop motion cameras, radio/TV broadcast techniques), musicians who composed the sound track of the Olympics (including Richard Strauss), and writings of those who attended the games including Thomas Wolfe, Charles and Anne Lindbergh, and William Shirer.

What was the attitude of the world at the end of the 1936 Olympics? Did holding the Olympics in Berlin in 1936 play an important role in determining subsequent political events in Europe?

Format: Each participant will be expected to lead 45-50 minutes of class on a topic chosen from the syllabus.

Resources/Expenses: Films available online at no cost, and online readings will be assigned.