What is German Expressionism?

1. What is German Expressionism?

2. German Expressionism This artistic movement was in many ways a reaction to the conservative social values that continued at the turn of the 20 th century. Expressionist Artists rejected the stale traditions of the state-sponsored art academies and turned to boldly simplified or distorted forms and exaggerated, sometimes clashing colours. Directness, frankness, and a desire to startle the viewer characterise Expressionism in its various branches and arrangements. Many of the German Expressionism artists had served in the military during World War I. Two well-known German Expression artists , August Macke and Franz Marc, were killed and those who survived returned from the experience disillusioned, depressed, sometimes maimed and often shell-shocked. The Germany to which they returned was a country overwhelmed with major economic, social, and political problems. Parties from both the extreme left and extreme right were bitter political enemies that shared one common goal; to overthrow the current government. The final blow to an already shaky economy was the signing of the Versailles Treaty in 1919 which cost Germany not only some of its land (new states of Poland and Czechoslovakia were created) but massive amounts in reparation for the costs of the war.

3. Significant Themes (German Expressionsm ) As Expressionism evolved from just after the turn of the century through the early 1920s, a number of crucial themes and genres came into focus, many of which reflect deeply humanistic concerns and an ambivalent attitude toward modernity. These include: a fascination with the enticing yet often wretched experiences of modern urban life ; the enduring solace associated with nature and religion ; the naked body and its potential to signify primal emotion ; emotionally charged portraiture ; and , most pivotally, the need to confront the devastating experience of World War I and its aftermath .

4. Significant Themes (German Expressionism) As a result of an intensely rapid period of industrialization in the 19th century, German cities experienced an explosion in size and population density between German unification, in 1871, and 1910. The Expressionists approached the modern city with ambivalence. On the one hand, they recognized the dehumanizing and alienating effects of an urban lifestyle. Yet at the same time, they celebrated the excitement and vitality of its bustling pace and many and attractions.

5. German Expressionist Style Characterized by: Directness Frankness a desire to startle the viewer in its various branches and arrangements.

6. German Expressionist Films At the onset of World War I, the German film industry was dominated by imported films on German screens. To combat this competition the German government began to support the film industry so that t could create its own propaganda films and also to ensure a German film industry. The industry benefited greatly from this support, securing financing for state of the art equipment and studios even in the face of global resistance as a consequence of the First World War. A number of prominent German filmmakers left Germany to work and make films in Hollywood in turn influencing the look and feel of horror in Hollywood. Expressionism encompasses an artistic movement (including film, theatre, painting, and other art forms) that aimed to give shape to psychological states through highly stylised visuals in the early decades of the 20 th century.

7. Mise -en-scene and German Expressionism Formal elements of German Expressionist films According to Nancy West from the University of Missouri, Columbia, the formal elements of German Expressionist film include, but are not limited to, the following: Chiaroscuro lighting: lighting that employs extreme contrasts of light and dark, thus creating dramatic shadows a preoccupation with mirrors, glass, and other reflective surfaces t he use of anthropomorphism, which is the attribution of a human form, human characteristics, or human behaviour to non-human things an interest in abstractionism, which is a style of art that privileges internal form over pictorial representation

8. Lighting in expressionist films Expressionist films use simple lighting from the front and sides, illuminating the scene flatly and evenly to stress the links between the figures and the décor. In some notable cases, shadows are used to create additional distortion ( see chiaroscuro lighting ). --- Bordwell and Thompson

9. Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film Chiaroscuro lighting   lighting that employs extreme contrasts of light and dark, thus creating dramatic shadows

10. Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film Chiaroscuro lighting lighting that employs extreme contrasts of light and dark, thus creating dramatic shadows

11.   Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film Chiaroscuro lighting   lighting that employs extreme contrasts of light and dark, thus creating dramatic shadows

12. A preoccupation with mirrors, glass, and other reflective surfaces   Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film Preoccupation with reflective surfaces

13. Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film Preoccupation with reflective surfaces

14. Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film Preoccupation with reflective surfaces A preoccupation with mirrors, glass, and other reflective surfaces

15. The use of anthropomorphism anthropomorphism is the attribution of a human form, human characteristics, or human behaviour to non-human things   Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film Anthropomorphism

16. The use of anthropomorphism anthropomorphism is the attribution of a human form, human characteristics, or human behaviour to non-human things   Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film Anthropomorphism

17. Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film Anthropomorphism The use of anthropomorphism anthropomorphism is the attribution of a human form, human characteristics, or human behaviour to non-human things  

18. Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film Anthropomorphism The use of anthropomorphism anthropomorphism is the attribution of a human form, human characteristics, or human behaviour to non-human things  

19. A bstractionism is a style of art that privileges internal form over pictorial representation. Abstraction is different to a lot of more traditional styles of art because it is more focused on the use of imagination or ideas expressed through emotion. Formal Elements of German Expressionist Film

20. German Expressionist Films

21. Glossary of terms mise -en-scene French word meaning “placing on stage ” or “put in the scene” When applied to the cinema, mise -en-scène refers to everything that appears before the camera and its arrangement—composition, sets, props, actors, costumes, sounds, and lighting . The “ mise -en-scène”, along with the editing of a film, influence the realness of a film in the eyes of its viewers Click here to return to Learning Objective Slide Click here to return to Key Aspects of Mise -en-scene Slide

22. Glossary of terms MOTIF In narrative, a motif is any recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story . Through its repetition, a motif can help produce other narrative (or literary) aspects such as theme or mood. Click here to return to ‘Gothic-Horror Slide’

23. Glossary of terms Characterisation Characterisation : information that is given about a character This information can be given explicitly (told directly) or implicitly (told indirectly). Click here to return to ‘Characterisation slide’

24. Glossary of terms Multi modal More than one Way of Communicating information Therefore, a multimodal text is a text that uses more than one system of communication. Multimodal texts often employ systems of visual, audial and textual communications, because they (when working together) increase audiences level of engagement and interest. Click here to return to Outline of Assessment Slide Click here to return to Learning Objectives Slide