German expressionism 1919-1927
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Transcript of German expressionism 1919-1927
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
Form & Style:Mise en scene most important
Narrative structure—(a) legends, (b) the supernatural, horror (but psychological)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Robert Wiene, 1919
Siegfried, Fritz Lang, 1924
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
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
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
Form & Style:Mise en scene most important
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!)
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
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
Background
Other Film Types in that Nation at that Time Historical spectacles (e.g., Ernst
Lubitsch’s Madame du Barry)
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)
Important Practitioners
Robert Wiene (Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1919)
Fritz Lang (1890-1976) (Die Niebelungen, including Siegfried, 1923; Metropolis, 1927)
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))
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)
Current Influences and Applications? The Style!
Most of Tim Burton’s films
The Crow, similar gothic-styled works
Tim Burton images
Edward Scissorhands, 1990Batman Returns, 1992
Beetlejuice, 1988
Beetlejuice, 1988
Nightmare Before Christmas, 1993
Tim Burton vs. German Expressionism
Edward Scissorhands, 1990
Batman Returns, 1992
Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1919
Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1919