Aspects of Art and Power in the third Reich
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Nazis early on concentrated on culture = aim of politicizing middle classes to own advantage

Appealed to resentment of triumphal march of modernism – embittered conservative bourgeoisie and working class – modern art synonymous with social degeneracy – Bolshevism and Jewry also speculative capitalism

Kitsch – art appealed to crude expectations of parvenus, military men and petis bourgeoisie

Replacement modernist art with Naxi atrt – part of political process – consolidating Fuhrer states and volk community

Need clearly defined visual image for vague characteristics – aesthetic expression to an unequivocally value based judgment

Nazis set up an exhibition – unvalued (minority) valued “majority) art – degenerate art shown by picture of a Jew – polarizing social system

Visual image of the inferior self-evident and memorable, channel aggression away from real situation to individuals and groups perceived as agents of political and social evils – degenerate art – enemy not so much art itself as degenerate human being who it seemed to embody

Pure, German art – exclusion degenerates and by definition inclusion of pureness – negative and positive art policies are inseparable.

Patronage – security – Georg Kolbe = already well established in 1933, mobility, dynamic balance (page 332) – subjective to exemplary – dynamic, mobility to pose and stability – prime sportswomen

Galleries post war World – less figurative and representational art as seen to be easy to politically manipulate – abstract offer guarantee of independence for the artist Willi Baumeister “art has progressed along the path from dependence to independence, from the commission which is given to personal responsibility.  The free autonomous artist receive shifts commission from himself”  - representational art seen as easy to subvert in cause of totalitarianism propaganda.

Dictators used a literalist representation of human body to suggest favorite values like collective violence, credulity etc

Art and power – architecture of government projects- architecture of 1930s – government patron I am storings

, I am merciless I am an act of will – post war architecture – rueful modesty, utility, austerity – utility as opposed to architect’s impulse

Other Notes in this Category

1. Aspects of Art and Power in the third Reich
2. Battle for Art - David Elliot
3. Hobsbawn
4. The end of the avant garde - painting and sculpture - David Elliot

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