Blitz coursework

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2. How useful are sources B and C in helping you to understand the effects of the Blitz on the people of Britain?

Sources B and C are contrasting images, C is a posed photo illustrating optimism while B is a photo of a bombed school. They are both useful in understanding the effect of the Blitz and how the government utilises photos to control morale.

Source B is useful as it is a photograph dated, January 21 1943, which was towards the back end of the Blitz. It demonstrates people rummaging through the rumble, and stacking dead bodies which shows that the British people working tirelessly throughout the campaign. The photo of the Catford Girls School is useful as the images captures the officers at work without realising that the observing camera, hence presenting the people as they actually are. This is why the caption was censored, to ensure that a negative impression was not projected nationally which further illustrates the usefulness of the source. Although the usefulness of the photo is limited as the amount of destruction is partial, with poor visual clarity. Also it can not account or capture the effects or the mood for the rest of Britain.

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Source C was published 8 days after Blitz commenced, September 15 1940. The source is therefore current and illustrates the effects of the Blitz on the people, that are generally optimistic and portrays a sense of togetherness, the ‘British grit’. The photo nonetheless obviously shows the people are posing for the camera, hence making the source less useful. Also the photo is 8 days after the outbreak of the Blitz; this does not provide any insight on the morale and impact on the British people. Also the photo was perhaps constructed for propaganda, to exemplify to the rest of Britain ...

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