Weimar+Culture

The interwar years between WWI and WWII were especially explosive when it came culture. This is especially true for media and communication because of the emergence of film, radio, and cars. The society also became much more liberal and tolerant. Under the Kaiser, Germany had been extremely conservative, but now cultural artists were expressing their views and influencing society.1

The time period is often expressed as a time of Neue Sachlichkeit or new functionalism, which, similar to the Renaissance, was a time focused on reality and objectivity. Art moved away the wishful want to return to older days and to present social and political problems. Art often depicted harsh and ugly images, which as particularly prominent n work by Georg Grosz and Otto Dix.2

A new form of architecture emerged, called Bauhaus. The Bauhaus school, opened by architect Walter Gropius in 1919 in Weimar, began the movement. It emphasized the connection between art and technology in all aspects of life from furniture to textiles. It also focused on steel, cement, plastic, and geometric shapes.3

Contrary to this was literature. Many of the award-winning novels of the time were still focused on a return to 'better days'. The story //The Magic Mountain// written by Thomas Mann was one such story. As were stories by Hans Grimm. Authors more focused on the new trend of reality were Arnold Zweig and Peter Lampel. These authors looked at social issues and the distress working families felt. Two such works were //All Quiet on the Western Front// by Erich Maria von Remarque and //Berlin Alexanderplatz// by Alfred Doblin.4

Theatre of the time, being very popular, created a movement walled Zeittheatre. These productions often sided with the left, especially when directed by Bertold Bretcht and Erwin Piscator. They used bandwagon, slogans, films, slides, and focused on everyday life.5

Film in Germany took off in 1918 and the 1920s. It was the most advanced and with some of the highest quality in Europe and Germany had the most cinemas than any other European country. Filmmaker Fitz Lang directed //Metropolis//, which was a sci-fi that spoke of the terrifying direction industrial society, was taking. //Fridericus Rex// was traditionally patriotic. And //Blue Angel// spoke of female glamour and sexual issues. However UFA run by Alfred Hugenberg was the major movie industry, which made American 'movies,' such as those by Charlie Chaplin.6

Radio emerged, with one of four Germans owning radios in 1932 despite the Great Depression. Nightlife in the form of cabarets-a restaurant with entertainment-advanced, with clubs with comedy, jazz, and women dancers. This time period was also one of sexual experimentation, including cross-dressing and homosexuality.7

The Conservatives
Despite all this, Germany culture was not all creativity and liberty. And of course, these events were taking place in Berlin and it changed from city to city. Intellectuals Arthur Moller and Oswald Spengler condemned the democratic and industrial society. Many writers glorified WWI and its sacrifices. Many Germans were horrified by what they thought was a decline of morals and culture.8

The Nazis campaigned against the Bauhaus building and when they won it was torn down. As it was Germany began to split into those who did and did not support the changing culture, making it increasingly polarized.9

1 Layton 92 2 Ibid 93 3 Ibid 95 4 Ibid 96 5 Ibid 96 6 Ibid 96 7 Ibid 97 8 Ibid 97 9 Ibid 97

Layton, Geoff. _Weimar and the Rise of Nazi Germany 1918-33_ Third edition. London: Hodder Education. 2005.