University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

The Role of Film in Teaching Political Science: 5 Fingers and Operation Cicero

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 09:23 authored by William BostockWilliam Bostock
The idea that “film is an extraordinarily powerful teaching tool” (Champoux) is explored in relation to the film 5 Fingers that presents an account of the true story of the reproduction and sale of top secret documents held by the British Ambassador in Ankara, Turkey to Nazi Germany by Elyesa Bazna, code named Cicero, arguably the most successful spy of World War II. In the classroom setting, it is proposed that the film can be viewed and assessed in relation to the books Operation Cicero by Moyzich, I Was Cicero by Bazna and academic texts, such as The Cicero Spy Affair by Wires. The conclusion can be reached that the situation presented filmicly should be largely confirmed by literature and scholarly text, and, if this is done, a powerful learning situation can emerge. In the case of the Cicero affair, the initial questioning of the spy's underlying rationalities is answered with a deep and wide comprehension of motivations, a valuable technique in the teaching of political science.

History

Publication title

Journal of Political Science Education

Volume

7

Issue

4

Pagination

454-463

ISSN

1551-2169

Department/School

School of Social Sciences

Publisher

Taylor and Francis Inc

Place of publication

US

Rights statement

Copyright 2011 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Government and politics not elsewhere classified

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC