German Expressionism’s Distorted Realities: Ian Roberts and Ken Dancyger Unlock the Dark Aesthetic

Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, & Movements

German Expressionism burst onto the scene in the aftermath of World War I, ushering in a new era of psychologically charged cinema guided by striking visual styles. On this episode of Cinema Scope, Professors Ken Dancyger and Dr. Ian Roberts join host Andy Nelson to delve into the movement's most influential films to better understand its roots and lasting impact. From the distorted sets of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to the subjective camerawork of The Last Laugh, German Expressionism transformed how stories are told on screen while wrestling with postwar society's deepest questions.

The trio examines how The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari pioneered expressionism's signature warped worlds and psychological stakes. Meanwhile, The Street marked the start of dark "street films" depicting urban temptation and failure. Pandora's Box shocked with its sexually liberated heroine Lulu who meets a grim fate, reflecting societal tensions. And in Fritz Lang's masterwork M, sound arrived alongside a chilling study of a child murderer that remains deeply unsettling. Beyond these highlights, they mention a variety of other films of the Weimar era of cinema that fall under this umbrella.

Through these expressionistic works, German cinema found its voice after national defeat. While the movement briefly flourished, its shadows extended far into noir, horror and beyond. This seminal podcast episode peels back expressionism's distorted lens to uncover a formative movement's disturbing insights, aesthetic innovations and enduring influence on world cinema. So step into the shadowplay of Weimar Germany and see early film push psychological boundaries in inventive new directions.

Film Sundries

• Recommended and Discussed Movies
  • The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • The Street on Amazon
  • The Last Laugh on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Pandora’s Box on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • M on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Different from the Others on Amazon
  • The Holy Mountain on Amazon, and JustWatch
  • Asphalt on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • People on Sunday on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
  • The Blue Angel on Apple, Amazon, and JustWatch
• Our Letterboxd List
• Recommended Books
  • From Caligari to Hitler: A Psychological History of German Film by Seigfried Kracauer
  • German Expressionist Cinema: The World of Light and Shadow by Dr. Ian Roberts
  • The Technique of Film and Video Editing: History, Theory, and Practice by Ken Dancyger
  • Painting with Light by John Alton

• (00:00) - Welcome to Cinema Scope • German Expressionism
• (02:56) - Our Guests’ Background in German Expressionism
• (07:36) - What Is German Expressionism?
• (20:21) - Key Characteristics
• (01:13:42) - Influences on Other Genres
• (01:14:58) - Other Films to Check Out
• (01:17:49) - Wrap Up

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