Thursday, September 17, 2009
HW #11
The film "Downfall" is one of the first German-made movies about the Nazi regime and Hitler, made in 2005. The script was based off of several accounts of Germans in Hitler's inner circle or high in the Nazi command - for example, Hitler's secretary Traudl Junge, and the Nazi Doctor Schenck. This gives the film value for several reasons: for one, it shows the more human side of the Nazi regime. What they did was terrible, but it isn't just a caricature of them. It shows the bad but also some of their more compassionate side, which makes a more rounded portrait. Another value is that because these people were the insiders of the Nazi regime, the viewer gets a firsthand, unimagined account of what the regime and even Hitler himself were really like. The film is very historical and doesn't take liberties with the story. However the purpose of those memoirs were very likely to distance the survivors from the Nazi regime so that they would be looked upon more kindly after Germany lost the war. As a consequence, the documents the film was based off of might be more sympathetic towards the Nazis, and maybe even not always true because the writers wanted to escape the judgement of the world.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
HW 10
I missed the film today in class, so I will list some of the other things I saw in previous viewings.
1) The unwillingness of Hitler's circle and his subject to live without National Socialism; a woman refuses to leave the bunker with her children, not wanting them to live a life without National Socialism, a man kills his family with a grenaide rather than face life not under the Nazi regime, etc. It shows how persuasive the indoctrination the Nazis used was, how that cemented their power.
2) Another example of indoctrination was how soldiers were killing civilians in the streets for surrendering; shows their dedication and passion to a lost cause.
3) The Hitler Youth boy's toy German soldiers showed how the Nazis indoctrinated the children from a young age, and instilled them with a strong sense of nationalist pride (the adults as well).
4) There is reference to Social Darwinism, that the Germans had proven themselves too weak and did not deserve to live past the war since they had "failed".
1) The unwillingness of Hitler's circle and his subject to live without National Socialism; a woman refuses to leave the bunker with her children, not wanting them to live a life without National Socialism, a man kills his family with a grenaide rather than face life not under the Nazi regime, etc. It shows how persuasive the indoctrination the Nazis used was, how that cemented their power.
2) Another example of indoctrination was how soldiers were killing civilians in the streets for surrendering; shows their dedication and passion to a lost cause.
3) The Hitler Youth boy's toy German soldiers showed how the Nazis indoctrinated the children from a young age, and instilled them with a strong sense of nationalist pride (the adults as well).
4) There is reference to Social Darwinism, that the Germans had proven themselves too weak and did not deserve to live past the war since they had "failed".
Thursday, September 10, 2009
HW #7
1) In this clip of the film, the viewer sees how Hitler used propaganda to maintain power. A group of small children who had grown up with him as their leader are depicted faithfully fighting in the "Hitler Youth", despite the fact that they had essentially lost the war and they would die if they stayed. Hitler was revered as a God by them; indoctrination is a tool many dictators use.
2) Hitler's use of force is seen when he orders one of his top generals shot because he had supposedly moved his command post and men away from the front line. The man denied moving his troops and claimed he was at the front, which leads too-
3) Although the general hadn't done anything wrong that would warrant his being shot, he goes dutifully to the Nazi command center where Hitler is, to be executed. He doesn't try to run away at all, because Hitler's totalitarianism is so complete, and because he has a similar mindset to the Hitler Youth.
4) Hitler's cold reasoning shown in this film shows how some dictators stay in power by making ruthless decisions. In the film, Hitler does not make any attempt to help the civilians, saying that they were too weak to survive anyways and they were all part of the failed Germany, and so should perish.
2) Hitler's use of force is seen when he orders one of his top generals shot because he had supposedly moved his command post and men away from the front line. The man denied moving his troops and claimed he was at the front, which leads too-
3) Although the general hadn't done anything wrong that would warrant his being shot, he goes dutifully to the Nazi command center where Hitler is, to be executed. He doesn't try to run away at all, because Hitler's totalitarianism is so complete, and because he has a similar mindset to the Hitler Youth.
4) Hitler's cold reasoning shown in this film shows how some dictators stay in power by making ruthless decisions. In the film, Hitler does not make any attempt to help the civilians, saying that they were too weak to survive anyways and they were all part of the failed Germany, and so should perish.
"Downfall" Connection HW #6
1) In the film, the viewer sees how charismatic Hitler was, and how kind he seemed to the girl who hoped to become his secretary. This relates to the topic of how dictators stay in power- charisma is important to gaining support.
2) It is shown how Hitler was good at twisting things to fit his perspective- when discussing the bombing of Berlin, he states it is better that the city is being destroyed, because it makes it that much easier to rebuild. This is another example of how dictators stay in power using their powers of persuasion.
3) The movie shows that the totalitarianism of Hitler's regime was very complete: just days before his downfall, when everybody knew it was happening, officers were still rushing to carry out Hitler's bidding.
4) Hitler's use of force to maintain control was seen in the film when he had generals shot (and implied that the air force would be hanged) for not carrying out his orders as he wished. He had such a firm grip on the people because he used fear as a tool.
2) It is shown how Hitler was good at twisting things to fit his perspective- when discussing the bombing of Berlin, he states it is better that the city is being destroyed, because it makes it that much easier to rebuild. This is another example of how dictators stay in power using their powers of persuasion.
3) The movie shows that the totalitarianism of Hitler's regime was very complete: just days before his downfall, when everybody knew it was happening, officers were still rushing to carry out Hitler's bidding.
4) Hitler's use of force to maintain control was seen in the film when he had generals shot (and implied that the air force would be hanged) for not carrying out his orders as he wished. He had such a firm grip on the people because he used fear as a tool.
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