- How the political, social and economic context of the Weimar Republic affected the production and content of classic German Expressionist Cinema
The Weimar Republic is the name given to the German government between the end of the Imperial period which started in1918 and ended in beginning of Nazi Germany in the year 1933.
German Expressionism was a visual arts movement. Its language was one of jarred lines, crooked shapes, violent, unnatural colours. Especially after the first world war, it concentrated on the more distorted physical human characteristics in an expression of the horrors of war.
2. Some of the stylistic conventions associated with the expressionist art movement
Extreme angles, flattened forms, harsh colours, and distorted views distinguish were major components of the art expressionist art movement.
It delved deep into surrealism not trying to look like the actual world as expressionist art tried to convey emotion and meaning rather than reality
In order to express emotion, the subjects are often distorted or exaggerated.
4.Films identified as classic German expressionists films by critics.
Destiny (1921)
From Morn to Midnight (1920)
A cashier is a small bank gives in to the power of money by stealing from a rich old lady.
The Hands of Orlac (1924)
5. Films from the 40s, 50s and 60s influenced by German expressionism.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Touch of Evil (1958)
Blast of Silence (1961)
6. 2 Films that appear to gain inspiration from German Expressionism.
The whole movie is using low key and high contrast lighting. The setting in this movie is typically German Expressionism and appears to be quite Gothic. From the shots of the London streets which is reflected by the setting and the way the character dress are all in black and white which evokes German Expressionism with its dark Mis-en-scene.
The Crow takes many influences from German expressionism including the dark, well designed and elaborate costumes, the use of makeup also matches the types of makeup worn by actors in films from the German expressionism movement.