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German expressionism 1919-1927

COM 320—History of the Moving Image. German expressionism 1919-1927. Defining Characteristics.

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German expressionism 1919-1927

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  1. COM 320—History of the Moving Image German expressionism1919-1927

  2. Defining Characteristics • ►”Goal to express feelings in the most direct and extreme fashion possible. . . extreme distortion to express an inner emotional reality rather than surface appearances”; S. S. Prawer (Caligari’s Children) raises the possibility that this distortion is quite “real”--e.g., Caligari sees aspects of the world not readily apparent to others. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Robert Wiene, 1919

  3. Form & Style:Mise en scene most important • Narrative structure—(a) legends, (b) the supernatural, horror (but psychological) Siegfried, Fritz Lang, 1924 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Robert Wiene, 1919

  4. Form & Style:Mise en scene most important • Narrative structure—(a) legends, (b) the supernatural, horror (but psychological) • Distortion, stylization of sets, costumes, makeup, acting, lighting The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Robert Wiene, 1919

  5. Form & Style:Mise en scene most important • Narrative structure—(a) legends, (b) the supernatural, horror (but psychological) • Distortion, stylization of sets, costumes, makeup, acting, lighting • High contrast (in film, B&W; in the other arts, with colors) Nosferatu, F. W. Murnau, 1922

  6. Form & Style:Mise en scene most important High contrast (in film, B&W; in the other arts, with colors) The Scream, Edvard Munch, 1893 (Norwegian) Piggies, Franz Marc, 1912 Self Portrait with Hat, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, 1919

  7. Form & Style:Mise en scene most important • Narrative structure—(a) legends, (b) the supernatural, horror (but psychological) • Distortion, stylization of sets, costumes, makeup, acting, lighting • High contrast (in film, B&W; in the other arts, with colors) • Entirely studio-made (control!)

  8. Entirely studio-made (control!) Siegfried, Fritz Lang, 1924

  9. Background • In a commercial film context • Growth fostered by inflation/reparations that favored export of products including film, import ban 1916-20 • Artistically, part of movement begun about 1908 • During the Weimar Period • The origins of a national cinema--UFA

  10. Background UFA • UFA = Universum Film AG (originally Universum Film Aktiengesellschaft) • Created by German government in 1917 as a WWI propaganda arm, by consolidating most of Germany‘s commercial studios • After a 1921 merger with Decla-Bioscop, "with government, industrial and banking support," UFA enjoyed a near-monopoly • Produced many great and influential works during the Weimar Republic years (1919-1933 approx.) • Through many incarnations, UFA still exists today

  11. Other Film Types in that Nation at that Time • Historical spectacles (e.g., Ernst Lubitsch’s Madame du Barry)

  12. Other Film Types in that Nation at that Time • Historical spectacles (e.g., Ernst Lubitsch’s Madame du Barry) • Kammerspiel (e.g., F. W. Murnau’s Last Laugh)

  13. Importance of Movement • Widespread impact, due to Germany’s status as #2 filmmaking nation 1918-1933

  14. Important Practitioners • Robert Wiene (1873-1938) (Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1919)

  15. Important Practitioners • Robert Wiene (Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1919) • Fritz Lang (1890-1976) (Die Niebelungen, including Siegfried, 1923; Metropolis, 1927)

  16. Important Practitioners • Robert Wiene (Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1919) • Fritz Lang (Die Niebelungen, including Siegfried, 1923; Metropolis, 1927) • F. W. Murnau (1888-1931) (Nosferatu, 1922; Faust, 1926; Sunrise (U.S. release, 1927))

  17. The Death of the Movement • Displaced artistically by new realism, e.g., “street films” (G. W. Pabst)

  18. The Death of the Movement • Displaced artistically by new realism, e.g., “street films” (G. W. Pabst) • Prominent German Expressionist directors and performers were lured away to Hollywood (including the 1925 Parufamet agreement. . . PAR – UFA – MET) • G. W. Pabst • F. W. Murnau • Emil Jannings • Fritz Lang (he ran, rather than being lured)

  19. Current Influences and Applications? • The Style! • Most of Tim Burton’s films • The Crow, similar gothic-styled works

  20. Tim Burton images Batman Returns, 1992 Edward Scissorhands, 1990 Beetlejuice, 1988 Beetlejuice, 1988 Nightmare Before Christmas, 1993

  21. Tim Burton vs. German Expressionism Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1919 Edward Scissorhands, 1990 Batman Returns, 1992 Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1919

  22. end

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