Social guidance film
Often produced by government agencies or educational institutions, these films tackled topics such as peer pressure, substance abuse, and moral decision-making, using relatable narratives and characters to convey their messages.
produced by the U.S. government as "attitude-building films" during World War II,[1] the genre grew to be a common source of indoctrination in elementary and high school classrooms in the United States from the late 1940s to the early 1970s.
[2] The films covered topics including courtesy, grammar, social etiquette and dating, personal hygiene and grooming, health and fitness, civic and moral responsibility, sexuality, child safety, national loyalty, racial and social prejudice, juvenile delinquency, drug use, and driver safety; the genre also includes films for adults, covering topics such as marriage, business etiquette, general safety, home economics, career counseling and how to balance budgets.
Aimed at schoolchildren, the films used a combination of didactic storytelling and visual imagery to impart moral lessons, promoting ideals such as proper conduct, emotional control, and the American dream.
While their simplistic portrayals and moralistic tones may seem dated today, these films reflect a cultural effort to navigate the complexities of social norms and encourage ethical conduct in an evolving society.
Protagonist or social guidance films are typically depicted as part of the white, middle-class, ignoring and prioritizing other identities.
[2] According to Smith, the social guidance films were viewed as harmful in more rural and poorer areas, "the moral education was seen as a territory for parents and the church.
[7] Specifically elements of control were confounded in the mental hygiene film; presenting ideologies surrounding women's appearance, child care, and home cooking.
[7] As films in this genre are largely in public domain, they have been used in modern productions outside of their intended purpose, usually as a means of unintentional comedy.
