I do agree with Kracauer’s central thesis about the film produced in the pre-Nazi period up to 1933 reveal a desire for an authoritarian leader which the three films, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”, “The Blue Angel” and “M” portrays it.
In the film, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”, Dr. Caligari is shown as the authoritarian figure that uses his power or hypnotizes Cesare and orders him to kill people. The fairground represents chaos and anarchy. Also the carnival portrays the desire to be free. So, it shows the choice between chaos and Nazis and at the end as Dr. Caligari was shown as a hero figure which interprets that the desire of Nazis.
In the film, “The Blue Angel” the extreme repression shows aggressive students which reflects the Hitler youth and professor Rath who seems a very weak character who could not control his wife and his surrounding shows the requirement of a strong man or a authoritarian leader, otherwise their life would be a failure like professor Rath.
In the film, “M” it shows the society was in kind of mob rule and due to democracy people did not care of searching or helping the mothers whose children were abducted.
So, this film shows that the democracy or freedom created the terror of children killings and all kinds of instability and that needed to be stop or controlled by an authoritarian leader. Also in the end people wanted to kill the killer because they think that if he was given to government he could be free which shows people’s not trusting the government and law.
In conclusion, due to the worse economy, poverty, increased crimes people were looking for an authoritarian leader which could solve those problems and bring into control. So the movies that were made at that period reflect the society’s demand and their nature.
Hey there,im glad you agree. Something i began to wonder towards the end of my essay was if hitler had seen these films since these films were made in the pre nazi era, and if he had, did that encourage him to rule the way he did because he seen the films as a cry for order. That would add even more validation to Kracauers reference to hitler as far as the films.
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ReplyDeleteKinda prophetic don't you think? How could he have figured out that was the sentiments of the German people at that time. As I mentioned in my essay I think that Kracauers may have focused too much on the political significance of these films and not the necessarily the cultural aspect of it.
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