Metropolis evidence Flashcards
Disunity between capitalist and working class
Reflected in the visual juxtaposition of the capitalist and working class, with the capitalist class physically being above them in the tall skyscrapers, and the working class physically being at the bottom of the city underground, and under the machines they work with. Low angle shot of the tower of babel contrasted to full shot of workers marching and changing shifts.
Injustice in the lives of the workers (3 examples)
The rhythmic staccato movement of the workers synched with the rhythmic staccato movement of the clock, exposes how they are regimented by the clock, and thus by their role as workers.
- Full shots of workers marching through gates and changing shifts
- Full shot of the large 10 hour clock itself which looms over the regular 24 hr clock - motif symbolising how the workers are subjugated to the machines and the clock.
- The flood - cut from aerial shot of children scrambling to escape flood to the city above (full shot of tower of babel) experiencing no chaos.
Disunity - rebelling workers
- Shot of false Maria being carried by the rebelling workers as they head out to smash machines, her arms outstretched like a crucifix.
- Full shot of false Maria being burned
Disunity/disconnect between the classes - the tower of babel story
- Maria preaches the story of the tower of babel; “let us inscribe on top of it ‘Great is the world and it’s creator! And great is man!’” Maria states how those who wanted to build the tower could not, and so they “gathered strangers to labour for them”
- “The hands that built the tower of babel knew nothing about the dream of the mind that conceived it.”
- Full shot of workers climbing up the staircase to attack in vision of tower of babel being built
Good Maria who seeks unity amongst the workers and between the workers and the capitalist class
(4 pieces of evidence)
- Maria preaching “There must be a mediator between the MIND and the HANDS”
- “Mediator between the Mind and Hands must be the Heart”
- Mid shot of Maria with candles behind her as she preaches to workers
- Full shot of workers kneeling and listening to her
Freder as mediator (3 pieces of evidence)
- High angle shot of Freder as light shines on him, and the low angle shot of Maria from Freders perspective, showing Freder is willing to listen to Maria in order to help create unity amongst the two classes by acting as mediator.
- “You are the mediator! Finally you have arrived…”
- “you called for me - here I am”
Unity and restoration between the classes
- A full shot of Freder acting as mediator and joining the “head”, Joh Frederson and the “hands”, Grot, in a handshake which is a representation of Langs idealistic reconciliation between the capitalists and workers.
Aspirations - Good Maria aspires to achieve reconciliation
- Maria preaching “There must be a mediator between the MIND and the HANDS”
- “Mediator between the Mind and Hands must be the Heart”
Aspirations/motivations - Lang is anti-revolution (4 pieces of evidence)
- Lang wants harmony but he is anti-revolution - this idea is represented by evil Maria’s revolution which caused the flood, Lang condemns revolution through Robot Maria
- Full shot of workers climbing prison bars
- Full shot of workers scrambling to get in the lift
- high angle shot of workers surrounding evil maria as she encourages them to revolt
- long shot of workers scrambling up staircase
Robot Maria inspires anarchy in the workers
2 pieces of evidence
- leads to a revolt, and the flood
- Aerial shot of children scrambling from the flood with the help of Good Maria and Freder
- Full shot of workers running, ankle deep in water
Rotwang’s aspirations (3 pieces of evidence)
- to bring his love back to life - creates life through the robot
- Seen in mid shot of him extending his hand in passion as he presents his unfinished robot to Mr Frederson
- Mid shot of him operating his technology with a look of determination
- Full shot of Robot Maria burning - he’s taking on the role of God by creating life - he’s assuming dangerous power & loses control - his creation was burned at the stake - ethical transgression
Competing aspirations
Langs for harmony and the workers for revolution and justice which the handshake does not provide.
