Context, Themes and Symbolism in German Expressionism

Post WW1 anxiety (fear of the outsider linked to encirclement theory)

Social conditions: poverty (reparations/hyper-inflation), starvation, mental and physical disabilities.

Cabaret – culture of decadence

Mistrust of power and institution – linking to Marxist theories (proletariat Vs bourgeoisie). Failed revolution.

Mistrust of technology and technological advances

Freudian and Jungian symbolism (popular at the time)

Religion - fate

Conventions of silent films of this era – how did expressionism develop/subvert?

Expressionist techniques

o Subjectivity through style and performance (use of unnatural movements

that reflect inner psyche)

o Non-realistic plot structure – distorted chronology, dreamlike sequences;

streams of consciousness, told through flashback

Developing conventions of the horror, sci-fi and film noir genres

Context, Themes and Symbolism in Soviet montage

October revolution of 1917 left Russia a communist state (the proletariat overthrew the Tsar and the bourgeoisie)

Style – more documentary – focused upon the naturalness of the worker and the unnaturalness of the factory bosses and institutions (e.g. natural forest Vs unnatural, rigid, mise-en-scene of factory owners home) .

Narrative focused upon the masses as the hero as opposed to an individual. The classic Hollywood narrative viewed as capitalist by Eisenstein who needed to show the power of organised masses.

German Expressionism and Soviet Montage

The styles were not used exclusively by each movement. Expressionism is found in Soviet montage (the wheel – of revolution) and montage is found in expressionism (Nosferatu / Metropolis).