Franklin D. Roosevelt i Frank Capra: missatges per a un país en crisi

Abstract

During the socio-economic crisis of the early 1930s in the United States, certain political and social figures prepared messages to help citizens face the situation and, above all, restore their confidence in themselves and in the country. The present article analyzes the discourse and ideological contributions of two of the most outstanding people participating in that process of emotional reconstruction: President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Frank Capra, film director. The article describes the connections between these two discourses, their likenesses and differences, and offers a perspective of film as a medium of communication that goes beyond simple entertainment, frequently becoming an efficacious art form for providing the observer with an understanding of an era by decoding its most characteristic facets.