American Masters

What sparked Hannah Arendt's ideas behind "The Origins of Totalitarianism"

Adolf Hitler projected his own narrative into his campaign speeches, giving his followers a coherent story that the Nazi movement was winning, even when they weren’t. Hannah Arendt began to come up with ideas for “The Origins of Totalitarianism” while observing what Hitler provided his followers: “The Nazis translated the propaganda lies of the movement into a functioning reality.”

What sparked Hannah Arendt's ideas behind "The Origins of Totalitarianism"

2m 49s

  • Maryam Taghavi: Estranged Letters: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Maryam Taghavi: Estranged Letters

    15m 4s

    This short documentary traces the Iranian-American artist Maryam Taghavi's journey toward her first major solo exhibition — a body of work where abstraction, perspective, and Islamic culture converge.

  • Phoebe Robinson Shows Her Work: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Phoebe Robinson Shows Her Work

    31m 45s

    In this episode, Phoebe Robinson talks about her comedy special, "I Don't Wanna Work Anymore." She gives us a candid look into the full arc of her creative process, from spreadsheets to the comedy club. We talk about the convergence of art and commerce, the shortcomings of today’s comedy climate, and how to resist making “fast-food” comedy in pursuit of something greater.

  • Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore

    S39 E7 - 1h 36m

    Learn about the life and career of 4-time Emmy nominee Marlee Matlin as she shares her story in her native American Sign Language. Known for roles in The West Wing and CODA, at 21 years old, Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Oscar.

PBS PASSPORT

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA+ and PBS Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.