...Michele Slater Dr. Woodruff PSY320 14 November 2013 Triumph of the Will Reaction My breath was taken away when I saw those beautiful roofs in that cozy German town. The smoke leaving the chimneys gave me a warm sense of home while the beautiful open sky begged me to walk down the city streets. As the camera drifted towards the grand gothic church with its bells ringing, I wanted leave immediately to go on a German vacation. The scene truly captured the best of the area, and left me wanting more. I would be proud if that was my home. The city streets were full of flags, flags symbolizing national pride, flags with swastikas on them. I can see the emotional appeal of this imagery, because it was working on me almost 80 years later, minus the swastikas. It is not hard to see or feel how the country men of Germany would have seen this film in their own hometowns after World War I. Imagine downtrodden people, in an economic depression and in need of a leader who could restore hope. The next scene with farmers presenting their crops to Hitler in traditional garb was also enchanting. Here is this man rising to power, bringing a message of hope and given homage to the past. People of Germany were in need of food and seeing this bounty would have look seductive and promising. I was also found myself admiring the beautiful cloths and heritage they represented. They looked festive, special and symbolic of better times. The farmers made their way to the German motorcade...
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...this and so try to show themselves in a more desirable light, which can be very deceptive. In David Geary’s play Lovelock’s Dream Run assumptions are made throughout and there is constant thought as to how others are viewing each other. In scene 10, pages 41-43, Geary is making us see that people try so hard to show themselves in a different light that they might be very different from first thought. People make assumptions based on appearances, yet these appearances can often be misleading, thus it is difficult to distinguish the appearance from the reality of what truly lies underneath it all. Leni Riefenstahl was a famous German film director. She helped create many propaganda films for Hitler during his time in power. The films she created support Hitler’s regime and presented a biased view of Hitler’s “true Aryan” (Geary 27) race that he created (Hinton 80). During the scene, Leni is taking photographs of Jack Lovelock, the 1500m 1936 Berlin Olympic Champion, using him for his appearance (which is very Aryan) to help their cause. We know this because previously in the play Hitler was upset that Jack wasn’t a German but justified it by saying that “at least he looks the part” (Geary 22) meaning that Hitler believes that he can take advantage of Jack for his own benefit and the benefit of his cause. Identities are very personal. The lighting helps demonstrate this idea as it is very bright and is described as “blasting” Jack when he is being photographed. This lighting creates...
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...Leni Riefenstahl was one of the most revolutionary and certainly most controversial filmmakers of the early twentieth century. The lasting influence of her innovative filmmaking techniques on twentieth century cinema is undisputed by scholars throughout history, but the exact nature of her work is surrounded by ongoing controversy. Riefenstahl’s production of the feature films “Triumph of the Will” (Source 3) and “Olympia” (Source 1) have left a lasting imprint on history; these films established Riefenstahl’s influential career as a film director under the years of the Nazi regime. Although these films are attributed by scholars and critics to be Riefenstahl’s greatest achievements they are also considered to be her greatest fault, for the political connotation attached to their purpose. Before World War II, Riefenstahl was praised for her artistic achievements of these films, however the post-war years present a hostile reception to her work, as they have since been decontextualised and criticised for their questionable propagandist content. Riefenstahl’s impact on history has changed greatly overtime, as she is remembered for both her artistic contribution to the social and cultural life of Germany and pioneering of revolutionary cinematography and in contrast, her association with Hitler and the Nazi party. Since a young age Leni has had a passion for dance and quickly became a star pupil. Riefenstahl gained a reputation on Berlin's dance circuit and she quickly moved into...
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...Research Essay: LENI RIEFENSTAHL a. Outline the life of the personality you have studied The German actor, filmmaker and Nazi associate, Leni Riefenstahl, has stirred one of the greatest controversies of modern times. Seen as either a Nazi propagandist or a pioneering artist of great ingenuity, the discussion regarding Riefenstahl is still a prevalent issue in today’s world. Born into a financially stable family on 22nd August 1902, Riefenstahl was reasonably sheltered from Germany’s economic and political unrest up until as well as after WWI. As a child, she was extremely passionate about dance and the theatre. Wanting to dance on stage, although acceptable to Leni’s mother, was seen as below their social status by her father. Throughout Leni’s adolescence, she caused a continuous rift between the family, as her enthusiasm for the arts never declined, leading to her secret enrolment in the Grimm-Reiter Dance School in Berlin in 1918, as well as agreeing to work as a secretary for her father’s company in order to gain his later approval for dance lessons in 1920. After being persuaded by Leni’s mother, he enrolled her in the Jutta Klamt School where Leni studied under the ballerina Eugenie Euardova. Riefenstahl’s career in dance began in October 1923 and was abruptly ended in June 1924. She performed her first solo performance at the age of 21 and received positive reviews. During her second recital she caught the interest of Max Reinhardt, a leading theatrical director...
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...Historical content Growth of German cinema in Weimar Germany • German film industry grew under the Wiemar Republic. • Economic stability translated into growing cinema attendances due to having enough money to pay for a ticket • Called the Golden age for German Cinema • Cinematography was considered highly artistic and used unusual camera angles, abstract shot composition, symbolism and dramatic lighting • At the end of the 1920's German film industry made a significant shift from expressionist inspired films • Expressionism films were losing appeal among film enthusiasts • Germany was swinging towards escapist films and films that promoted German nationalism • German film output peaked in 1930 • Cinema attendances rose throughout the Depression years • Cinema allowed the unemployed to escape the misery of their lives and go somewhere warm. The Berlin Olympics • Berlin was awarded to host the 1936 Olympics • This presented Hitler with a great propaganda opportunity • He wanted the world to see that Germany was peaceful • As a result of Antisemitism there were calls to boycott the Berlin Olympics • In the months leading up to the games Hitler tried to create an image of a peaceful nation by ordering the media to refrain from attacking the Jews • Olympic Stadium seated 100,000 • German Olympic team were the first to train full-time before competition • First time an Olympic Torch was...
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...their work in front of the camera. However, less known, yet possibly more influential than them in the cinematography business, Leni Riefenstahl shaped the cinematic world through her work behind the camera. Although being on the “wrong side of history” in terms of her alleged alliance with Nazi dictator, Adolf Hitler, having the influence of the Nazi philosophy shaped her films as the innovative pieces of work many recognize. Through several filming techniques, Leni Riefenstahl was a renowned film director in the 1930’s who was famous for her relationship between the Nazi Party and her relationship influenced the development and message of her films while also executing phenomenal and groundbreaking cinematography in the 20th century and its influence today. The 1930’s was...
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...to accommodate itself to the comprehension of the least intelligent of those whom it seeks to reach". During the promotion period of the Olympic Games, Hitler skillfully promoted the Olympics with colorful posters and magazine spreads. The image that Germany was throwing at us was that they should be superior. Germany compared themselves to Ancient Greece, the thought was that the Germans shouldn't lose. Even after the Olympics the Germans still used propaganda, in 1938 a German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. The film was used to show about the 1936 Olympics, hitler was trying to sway the public even years after the games. The Olympic Games in 1936 was a very influential time. The amount of situations that these athletes were put under was extremely difficult. Hitlers discrimination was a burden on anyone competing in the games whether it was a black Jesse Owens, or if you were a Jewish German. Even after the Olympics the Germans still used propaganda, in 1938 a German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. This film ...
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...That is correct that Stalin ordered the burning of these books in order to erase Jewish culture in the Soviet Union. Although unlike Hitler, Stalin did not target the Jews as a race, he embraced anti-Semitic stereotypes at times, such as in the infamous doctor's plot. See http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Human_Rights/plot.html We learn from our text, that "Stalin forced writers and artists to use the techniques of approved 'socialist realism' for artistic and literary expression" (235). Do you think that this is comparable to the Nazi book burnings? I think Stalin, like Mark mentioned, enforced only areas of education which benefited his plans for the government and its people. There was a big change in the way that classes of people were treated; Stalin cared much less about women than the previous leader and he aimed to increase profits through industry for the already wealthy elite and the military (Goff, 2008). During this time he promoted education which would reinforce the values of hard work and discipline, but did very little for the people who worked just as hard as others, the farmers. They were living in poverty. I think that the only difference between Stalin and Hitler here is that Stalin's goals were centered around earning more wealth and making people more productive, though at the expense of certain classes' qualities of life. Hitler sought to "extinguish" an entire race of people, based on superior beliefs of a duty to cleanse the world...
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...The general theme of the Riefenstahl’s film is to display the greatness in Adolf Hitler as a mighty leader while presenting the tremendous return of Germany to power. The director uses a variety of film making techniques like aerial photography, use of long focus lenses, and camera movement. Riefenstahl applies aerial photography in scenes like the landing of Hitler’s plane. She makes sure that the camera floats through the clouds before Hitler’s plane comes in to view. As the plane hovers above Nuremberg, it casts a cross shaped shadow on the crowd that has assembled to welcome Hitler. The film begins with the only commentary prologue in it. The prologue consists of texts shown in a grey background. The purpose of the prologue is to state the purpose of Hitler’s visit to Nuremberg. Hitler purposed to evaluate the columns of his truthful followers in the city. Then, Riefenstahl directs the film to an eye catching introduction. As Hitler enters, the city, the Nazi officials conduct a welcoming ceremony. Hitler stands before a Mercedes Benz that is in a motorcade. During the welcoming ceremony, a large crowd that consists of women, children, and uniformed soldiers wave and conduct a welcoming salute to Hitler. Thereafter, a woman holding a small child on one hand presents a banquet of flowers to Hitler. Within the scene, flags embolden with swastikas flying on many parts of the streets. Through the film, the director shows that Germany had suffered many political and economic...
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...Omar Diaz Professor Grimes 12/5/13 Final Paper The Use of Film During WWII At the beginning of World War I, America was neutral to what was happening across the pond. Americans went about with their everyday life. One of the new trends that came about at the time, were cinemas. Cinemas were used to entertain the masses, but that soon changed when President Woodrow Wilson saw how it affected the people. Wilson saw the cinemas as an opportunity to influence Americans to enter war against the Axis powers in Europe. Hollywood agreed with Wilson, and supported his ideas about reaching the audience with films. This was the beginning of film being used as propaganda in the World Wars. During WWII, the role of propaganda film changed a bit. World War 2 caused a spike in propaganda films, films now needed to be monitored by many government agencies, and one of the greatest propaganda films was created. Up until the bombing of Pearl Harbor, many American citizens were closed off from the war. Many of the citizens who remembered WWI believed it was a bad idea for American to join because America was still vulnerable and was just fixing itself after The Great Depression. They believed that Europe and Asia should worry about their...
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...Notwithstanding that he had seldom designed and constructed one sole building, Speer was rendered the position of responsibility for anticipating and planning the ‘new Germany.’ Even though less than two years ago he was an unemployed architect, Speer was able to make a swift and successful transition. His administrative adroitness was immediately employed in coordinating functions for the Nazi party (presently the German government). They played a consequential propaganda role amid a keen population, and when these functions were recorded on film they could reach a national and global audience. During this period, a relevant project for Speer was the 1934 Nuremberg rally. This was filmed by the German actress and well known film director, Leni Riefenstahl, and Speer’s work was broadcast in her controversial Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will. Speer is accredited for creating the ‘blood flag’ sequence of the film, the night rallies, the massed Nazi flags, and the ‘cathedral of lights’ – the most compelling image from Nazi Germany where one hundred and thirty high-powered searchlights, projected by anti aircrafts, display a ‘Dome of Lights’ into the night sky. Following the success of the overnight Nazi Rallies at Nuremberg, Hitler commanded an enlargement of the parade grounds and a rise in the city’s ability and power to accommodate vast quantities of crowds. He regarded Nuremberg as ‘City of the Reich Party Conventions.’ The city had ties with the Holy Roman Empire and was historically...
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...Nazi State and Population The Nazi state set out to achieve a population that comes together as a community under certain rules and regulations. In 1935, Nazism was on the rise and working towards unifying Germany. A movie was released called, Triumph of the Will, which demonstrated Hitler’s ideal nation. This was one of the first sound movies created and was used to illustrate a new Germany and the power of Nazism. This movie depicted Hitler’s beliefs of an ideal nation. Also during this time, the Nazis established a set of laws called Nuremberg Laws. These were created to set rules and regulations for all of those who wanted to be apart of the Reich. The Nuremburg laws were the first standards set for individuals to figure out if they were apart of the Nazi nation or not. By using a new creation of film to reach a broad audience and publishing Nazi expectations through law, Triumph of the Will and the Nuremberg Laws both reflect Nazi efforts to shape it’s nation through the use of propaganda and national symbols, creating a welfare program with security of jobs, and identifying what it is to be a Jew. One way the Nazi party sought to bring together Germany as a community was through the use of propaganda and national symbols. The movie, Triumph of the Will, had a great deal of propaganda incorporated in it. It showed hatred of communists through the use of the color red. There were also a variety of images related to religion throughout the movie such as: burning torches...
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...Nazi Propaganda: Selling Social Policy How was Hitler able to use social policy and propaganda to manifest support for the National Socialist Party Hitler’s radical antisemitism? by James C HIST2** Professor: Judith S****** The name Adolf Hitler, will be forever synonymous with one of the most oppressive and destructive eras in human history. Often regarded as the worst anthropological disaster in history, World War 2 was responsible for the deaths of millions of soldiers and civilians alike who. This would mark “...the first [war] in which civilian populations became systematic, strategic targets.” (Merriman page1049) Driven by his intolerance or perhaps hatred, towards the Jewish people Hitler was able to turn a largely personal vendetta against Jews, into an issue of public policy, and ultimately one of the largest genocides ever documented[1]. How did one mans ideas, Hitler’s anti-semitism, evolve from the hurtful words of Mein Kampf to anti-Jewish laws in Nazi Germany and ultimately the biggest recorded savagery in the History of mankind? Although the blood of over 6million Jews stains his hands, Hitler was not alone in his actions; he required support. This essay examines various theories regarding the conception of Hitler’s antisemitic values and asks how Hitler was able to use social policy and propaganda to manifest support for his would be genocidal Nazi regime. Central to comprehending policy decisions made by Hitler, is an understanding of his...
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...Sonn Eidem Eng 669 World Film: Germany Prof. Macanear Sept. 2014 German National Cinema: Nazi Propaganda Films German propaganda films were used by the Nazi party and Adolf Hitler in order to convey a message to the citizens of Germany. The messages would vary depending upon what Hitler and his party wanted to tell the people of Germany at that particular time. If it was pre-war propaganda it was Hitler on his rise to power. If it was wartime propaganda it was to keep Germany unite in their fight against the enemy and to keep them inspired with hope and promises of victory. "One of the most philosophically fascinating uses of cinema, is a vehicle for propaganda. Granted all mass media-books, television, music, newspaper, radio and nowadays the internet - can be used for propaganda, that is, as tools for getting a message broadly accepted in a target audience. But, it has been argued that film-as opposed to literature, the plastic arts, music and the other performing arts-has a unique power as a tool for propaganda" (Jason203). "The films of a nation reflect its mentality in a more direct way than other artistic films because films are never the product of an individual and the films address themselves and appeal to the anonymous multitude" (Kraucer, 5). This is why Hitler and the Nazi party decided to use film as a method for spreading their ideology. Film allowed them to reach the masses in a way that other mediums just couldn't do. Plus...
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...World War II Research The First World War started the decline of European power all over the world. At the end of the war, social equality, and joint defenses seemed to conquest however this optimism did not survive. The weakness of new democracy and the Great Depression pushed the continent back into war. Germany's Weimar Republic, born on November 9, 1918, in Berlin could not please the conquered people of Germany following World War I. German’s were fuming about the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles, which provided that Germany restore lands to other countries, admit accountability for starting the war, and return war criminals to the Allies. Large cash payments for the damages made were to be paid to the Allies. The Treaty of Versailles sternly limited Germany’s military. The Republic signed the treaty on June 28, 1919 from that day forward the German people viewed the Weimar Republic as a two-timing government for having signed a contract of terms they believed to be unreasonable and degrading. The United States stock market crash in 1929 was the final straw that set the world into a depression. A depression is a severe economic turndown marked by sharp declines in income and production as buying and selling slow down to a crawl (Kishlansky, 2008). The predicament of the United States rippled all the way through world markets. The U.S. Congress passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act in 1930 which shaped an unfathomable toll against agricultural and manufactured imports...
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