Tennessee Valley Authority

This 1944 film was made by the U.S. Office of War Information’s Overseas Motion Picture Bureau. It details the history of the Tennessee Valley Authority, or TVA, which was founded in 1933 to address issues in energy, the environment, and economic development in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and Mississippi. During World War II, as Allied forces liberated cities and towns in Western Europe, they were quickly followed by crews with projectors and propaganda films such as “Valley of the Tennessee” to be shown for free in local theaters. The Bureau created 26 short documentaries designed to introduce America to liberated and conquered nations.

Description

Bell Ringer Assignment

Who is the target audience for this documentary? Use evidence to support your answer.
Describe the different roles that people play in the film. How are they used to convey a message?
What is the tone? How was light, sound, and music used to set a tone in the film? Give examples.
What is the purpose of the film? Why would the government need to create such a film?
Is this a trustworthy source? Use evidence to support your answer.