The Golden Age-cultural achievements Flashcards
Cultural
1) Architecture and and art thrived. The most influential visual arts movement in Weimar was the Bauhaus school, founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar 1919.
2) The Dada movement started in Zurich during WWI. It was the biggest protest against traditional conventions of art and western culture. Its output included photography, sculpture, poetry, painting and collage.
3) The New Objectivity movement started after WWI. It challenged its predecessor, expressionism, which was more idealistic and romantic. Artists such as Otto Dix returned to a more realistic way of painting, reflating the harsh reality of war.
4) Cinema boomed in the 1920s. Expressionism became common in films. Economic instability meant less funding and lower budgets for the arts. This led to the Kammerspielfilm movement, with atmospheric sets made without much money. Dark storylines such as horror and crime were favored such as Nostferatu, a German interpretation of Dracula directed by F.W Murnau.
5) There was also a huge increase in nightlife all across Germany. Recreational drug use skyrocketed and jazz music gained popularity.
Political/economic
1) Hourly wages increased hugely from 1924-1930, with a 10% increase in 1928 alone. Pensions and sickness benefit schemes were introduced. Compulsory unemployment insurance was increased to cover 17 million workers and government subsidies were provided for the building of local parks, schools, and sports facilities.
2) Germany was now a triumph of liberal democracy which rose above the extremists of 1918-1923. It has also been internationally rehabilitated. Germany is playing a role in the League of Nations according to the agreements made during the Locarno treaties (1925).
3) The German economy recovered remarkably well. Modern industries started up again and consequent government revenue went straight to social provisions such as improvements in the standard of living and helped women play a role in the economy and the political world.
Conclusion
Nobody looks back on the Weimar Republic and remembers the ‘Golden years’ because of political instability. It is mostly remembered for the culture.
