The article, “Doing the Thinking For All of Us: Casablanca and the Home Front” discusses the theme of self-sacrifice for the country. Self-sacrifice involves the will to sacrifice, prepare, and die for the principles of the nation for the sake of victory. The article recognizes self-sacrifice as a patriotic behavior that a good citizen should commit in doing.
The major argument of the essay in the essay the importance of self-sacrifice to achieve victory for the nation. It has been argued that most Americans lack knowledge of what defeat means at the end of the war, and that is why most of them are complacent. Nachbar (2000) point out that the mass popularity of Casablanca has achieved its amazing longevity because of its mythic quality. The story of lost love and self-sacrifice has been passed to different cultures in the subsequent three generations.
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The elements of the film that the author’s argument relay on include that of love and self-sacrifice in times of crisis. The plot and message of Casablanca were specifically directed to the World War II. Pezzotti (2016) indicates that during the period of 1943, most Hollywood films were designed in reference to the war. The World War II was a world shaping event that informs the critical comparisons of the past and future as well as reshaping the historical thinking.
I believe the film played a significant role in assisting Americans to gain recognition that more was at stake for their country than the material possessions, which were limited and the shortages the citizens experienced. Nachbar (2000) indicate that IIsa sentiments to Rick on their last day in Paris that she detest the war “very much” and she loves him “very much” meaning that no one was willing to take part in the war. This statement reminds the audience that the war had buried the past, which was a happy one and if Americans desired to have the best parts of the past into their future, they need to fight and this requires the will to self-sacrifice.
Reference
Nachbar, J. (2000). “Doing the Thinking For All of Us: Casablanca and the Home Front.” Journal of Popular Film & Television 27:4, 5-15.
Pezzotti, B. (2016). INVESTIGATING ITALY’S PAST THROUGH HISTORICAL CRIME FICTION, FILMS, AND TV SERIES . Palgrave Macmillan.
