German-American Day at McDaniel College Back to GAD

A History of German Cinema: From Caligari to the Hitler Boom

Questions of power – of the film medium over the audience; of authoritarian figures over the masses; of Hollywood global dominance over smaller national cinemas – stand at the thematic and aesthetic heart of German films. This interactive workshop will introduce participants to key questions, themes, and figures that have shaped and continue to shape German Cinema. In particular, participants will be asked to examine a variety of German films from key eras, including: the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, Divided Germany, and Post-Reunification. Participants will note how German cinema transitions from a national cinema in the 20th century to key player on the transnational filmmaking scene, and how this economic and commercial transition alters the look and content of films. Throughout, students will be encouraged to think critically and make comparisons regarding the historical and global contexts in which the films were made.