Germany's Golden Age Flashcards
Why was there a ‘golden age’ in Weimar times?
Before the First World War, the Kaiser kept tight control on all types of entertainment - but these were removed in Weimar Germany and many people felt a new sense of freedom.
What film was the most technically advanced of the decade?
Metropolis by Fritz Lang.
Which German born actress became a worldwide star?
Marlene Dietrich.
Give some example of what nightlife was like:
-Plays
-Operas
-Theatres
-Musicians performed vulgar songs about politicians
-Nightclubs with bands that played Americans Jazz
-Naked dancers
-‘Transvestite evenings’
Give an example of a famous opera during these times:
Kurt Weill’s The Threepenny Opera.
How many newspapers and magazines did people have to choose from?
120.
What famous novel sold how many copies?
A German anti-war novel, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque, sold half a million copies in just 3 months.
What were avant-garde artists?
They believed art should show the reality of everyday life, in particular the differences in social classes and society.
Name one avant-garde artist?
Otto Dix.
What new group of designers and architects began work at this time?
Bauhaus.
What did the Bauhaus believe in?
Modern, simple and practical designs rather than the more elaborate designs of long ago.
While some Germans embraced the changes in culture, why did others hate it?
They wanted art, music, theatre, film and literature to celebrate the older, traditional values of Germany. They thought the new nightclubs, shows and painting were leading Germany into a moral decline.
How was Berlin viewed by some during its ‘golden age’?
Corrupt and sex-obsessed.
What was Hitler and the Nazi’s influence on this era?
The Nazi’s openly criticised nightclubs and art of this period, and when Hitler came to power in 1933, many Weimar artists and performers (like Fritz Lang) had to flee Germany.
