The Fine Art of Genocide? (Was Holocaust a Work of Art?)

WSJ Opinion Journal/LEISURE & ARTS ^ | 8-15-2002 | LEE ROSENBAUM

[stands2reason]

Critics uncritically buy addled view of Adolf the aesthete.

In 1936, Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels banned art criticism as a form of extreme intellectualism, evincing "typically Jewish traits of character." In a society where mindless mass obedience to authority was obligatory, there was no room for skeptical discernment.

[stands2reason]

These people really do live in their own little world...

[sharktrager]

Martin Knelman, in his Aug. 11 review for the Toronto Star, saw Hitler as a master at staging "a really big show--the kind that millionaire rock stars now routinely offer their fans." Only Mel Brooks could do better.

I have to agree with this guy, although I don't think we should be praising Hitler for what he did. The rallys filmed prior to the war show a degree of spectacle that is absolutely shocking.

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

But Hitler wasn't in charge of making those films. Those films were the brainchild of Geobbels (a far more brilliant propagandist than some give him credit). The only propaganda film Hitler was behind was a distinct failure. It's also the one shown most often (from what I've seen anyway) in shows about Nazi sentiment concerning Jews. I've forgotten the name, but it's the one that shows images of rats scurrying around and a voice-over that compares Jews to rats.

Goebbels hated the film saying it was too vulgar and overt. He said people would be disgusted by it, and, from what little I've read, he was right. The Nazi's found far more success with a film by Goebbels that told the story of an Aryan couple in the dark ages who find that their once loyal and subservient Jewish servant has been plotting against them. There's a particularly fiendish scene where the Jewish servant is trying to have his way with the Aryan wife, telling her that he will save her husband from death if she'll just sleep with him.

It's a brilliant, disgusting, frightening piece of propaganda, and from what I've read it disturbed many Germans. Forget Hitler. Goebbels was the one with artistic sense, no matter how twisted it was.

[sharktrager]

I'm not talking about the films, but the rallies themselves. They are a spectacle unlike anything that was seen during the 20th century.

[stands2reason]

Thanks for the coment. I agree with you.

[eshu]

But Hitler wasn't in charge of making those films. Those films were the brainchild of Geobbels (a far more brilliant propagandist than some give him credit).

What about Leni Reifenstahl?

[The Great Satan]

Martin Knelman, in his Aug. 11 review for the Toronto Star, saw Hitler as a master at staging "a really big show--the kind that millionaire rock stars now routinely offer their fans."

I think David Bowie got into a bit of hot water for suggesting this during his "Thin White Duke" period.

[stands2reason]

Freaky (literally!) that you should mention Bowie---I just saw Velvet Goldmine a couple of days ago, which is mostly based on his life and the glam rock era of the seventies. I enjoyed the movie; of course, seeing as how I'm a big fan of Ewan MacGregor and he, well, goes the "full monty"----I'm probably biased! ;-)

[The Great Satan]

And I like Vince Gallo too!

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

Ah. Don't know who was behind those (might have been a joint thing between Geobbels and Hitler) but you're right. They are an eyeful.

Have you ever seen any of the footage from the NYC Nazi rally? Same kind of spectacle, but on a slightly (and I do mean slightly) smaller scale.

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

Man, I'm kicking myself over here because that name sounds so incredibly familiar. I should know it. Hint to jog my memory?

[Stallone]

NAZIS WERE SOCIALISTS

And the media are Socialists.

Coincidence?

[stands2reason]

This should jog your memory...

[Democratic_Machiavelli]

Ah, yes. I'd almost forgotten about her. Hitler's hire of her was (haven't looked at the whole website, so I'm going off of what I remember from studying Geobbels) a way of getting back at Goebbels's reluctance to overexpose Hitler. Haven't read much about her political views. From the bits I've seen of her film, she's not as subtle as Goebbels, but certainly better than Hitler.

Bookmarked the site. Thanks. :^)