German Expressionism

Question 1

What is a defining characteristic of German Expressionism?

Answer 1

Art wherein forms derived from nature are distorted or exaggerated and colours are intensified for emotive or expressive purposes.

A symbolic or abstract representation of reality is also a defining characteristic.

Question 2

Name a film considered a German Expressionist film.

Answer 2

Nosferatu
M
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
The Hands of Orlac
Faust
Metropolis
From Morn to Midnight

These films exemplify the themes and styles of the movement.

Question 3

Who is Ernst Toller?

Answer 3

A playwright who wrote about the horror of war in Transformation.

He is one of the early Expressionist artists.

Question 4

What themes are commonly explored in German Expressionism?

Answer 4

• Madness
• Identity
• Guilt
• Violence
• Coercion

These themes reflect the psychological and emotional turmoil of the era.

Question 5

What influence did the Dadaists have on German Expressionism?

Answer 5

They rejected logic and reason and embraced the absurd.

This avant-garde movement influenced the themes and styles of Expressionist artists.

Question 6

What were the two styles of cinema that emerged at the beginning of film as an art form?

Answer 6

• The Realist
• The Expressive

These styles represent contrasting approaches to filmmaking.

Question 7

What is ‘helldunkel’ as defined by Lotte Eisner?

Answer 7

A sort of twilight of the German soul, expressed in shadowy, enigmatic interiors, or in misty, insubstantial landscapes.

This term encapsulates a characteristic aesthetic of German Expressionism.

Question 8

What is a primary characteristic of German Expressionist cinematography?

Answer 8

Asymmetrical cinematography.

This technique contributes to the disorienting and expressive nature of the films.

Question 9

Is Sunrise considered a German Expressionist film? True or False?

Answer 9

True

It features impressionistic cinematography, highly stylised lighting, and expressionistic mise en scene.

Question 10

Why did Expressionism emerge in Germany after WW1?

Answer 10

As an attempt to try and make sense of the horror of the War and its aftermath.

The socio-political context played a significant role in the development of this art movement.

Question 11

Who were some early Expressionist artists?

Answer 11

• Ernst Toller
• Thomas Mann
• Franz Kafka

These individuals contributed significantly to the literary and artistic landscape of the time.

Question 12

What is the German state known as after the First World War?

Answer 12

The Weimar Republic

This period was marked by political instability and cultural experimentation.

Question 13

Fill in the blank: The defining characteristics of German Expressionism include _______.

Answer 13

Expressionistic shadows
Tilting, physically impossible sets
High angles and Dutch Angles
Chiaroscuro lighting
Themes including madness, identity, guilt, violence and coercion

These elements contribute to the unique visual and thematic style of German Expressionist films.

Question 14

What was the impact of German cinema during the early 20th century?

Answer 14

Became perhaps the most exciting in the world, pushing boundaries in set design, narrative, lighting, and cinematography.

This period marked a significant evolution in cinematic techniques and storytelling.

Question 15

What critique is made against Sunrise as a German Expressionist film?

Answer 15

It is too redemptive and produced in Hollywood, which may distance it from its specific contexts.

This raises questions about genre classification and cultural authenticity.