NAZISM:

Despite the obvious militaristic nature of the fascist governments many celebrate Hitler’s success. The economy grows by about 9 percent between 1933-1939 that is similar to the level that the Chinese economy is growing today. Unemployment was lower in Germany than in the United States during the 1930s, although workers were paid less on average than U.S. workers. Many U.S. business executives at Ford and General Motors praise the Germans success like William S. Knudsen, who called Nazi Germany "the miracle of the twentieth century" and later as head of GM was the first civilian to be made into a general and played a key role in directing the economic side of the U.S. war effort in the 1940s. Hitler in turn praises industrialists like Henry Ford both for their success in business and anti-semitism. The Nazi Volkswagen project was meant to imitate the success of the Ford Model T, while Ford published articles like The International Jew. In 1936 Germany hosts the Olympics and in 1938 Hitler is named Time man of the year. Groups like the America First Committee (largely funded by business executives) were committed to non-intervention in the war and peace with Germany right up until the attack on Pearl Harbor in late 1941.

This was a period of a huge economic growth for Germany. Just like how the Nazi party rose to power riding on a wave of propaganda, so did the policies implemented by it. The money that came from creating jobs was used to finance the production of war fare machinery. Hitler was a power hungry person who wanted to rule more than just Germany, and he knew that could be achieved only by the use of force.

I choose this passage because it underlies the progress Germany made under the Nazi regime. What must be noted here is that the motive of such was to ultimately conquer major parts of the world.

Another thing is that America took it’s time to enter the Second World War. It waited for Russia to drain all it’s resources and until Pearl Harbor happened it did not enter the war. Another argument could be put forth that America saw the fall of Germany and its allies were coming. And it waited for Russia to finish the work. Had Pearl Harbor not happened, who knows what the outcome of the war would have been, or its aftermath.

1. What were some of the major reasons that led to the rise of Nazi Germany?

The rise of the Nazi party in Germany was a gradual process and many factors led to this development. Following the loss of the First World War and the Treaty of Versailles (which put the blame of the First World War squarely on Germany) many people were anger and this created a bitterness to which Hitler’s expansionism appealed. The Nazi party gave the German people hope and a chance to regain their lost pride. Secondly, the government was crippled by the weak constitution and there were loopholes in it, to which Hitler capitalized on. The Great Depression of 1929 sent shockwaves across the World and Germany was adversely affected due to its strong ties with the American economy. Widespread unemployment resulted from the crash in the stock market and the unemployed number of people rose to four million by 1930. The Nazi party capitalized on the severe economic disaster and by 1930 had become the second largest party in the Reichstag and it now became impossible to form a government without their support.

2. How did Nazis resolve conflicts between workers and owners and why was this an attractive model for business executives?

The Nazi party portrayed itself as the alternative to non-communist to the working class. They strategy was to substitute racial struggle for class struggle. They controlled class struggle by controlling the prices and wages of products and workers. Independent unions were destroyed in favor of a Nazi controlled union. It was attractive for the executives, as they were left in control of their business organizations, unlike the communist model. Moreover, the government became their biggest customer, as demands grew to supply the production of materials to support war.

3. What is the significance of the phrase “Arbeit macht Frei”?

This sign was infamously put up on many Nazi concentration camps during their regime. This phrase literally means “work makes one free”. However, on the contrary it had the opposite meaning. This was a place used to murder the Jews that were brought there to work. This sign became a defining symbol of the holocaust as it served as a reminder of the atrocities that the Jews underwent during the rule of the Nazi party in Germany.

4. What is State Capitalism and how does it relate to Nazi Germany?

State capitalism is a form of capitalism where the state performs the role of capitalist employer, exploiting the workers in the interest of the State. This can also be stated as the form of governance where there is the presence of a significant number of state owned business enterprises. During the regime of the Nazi party, most companies were directly or indirectly linked with the government. For example, Hitler believed the auto industry was vital in reviving the economy, and so his regime set up many companies that were run by his subordinates.

5. How would you evaluate the psychological causes of anti-semitism in the context of German society?

Anti-semitism was rampant during the reign of the Nazi party in Germany. People of the Jewish faith were denied basic civil rights, their property destroyed or confiscated. Jewish people holding positions in business and academics were removed from their jobs. The holocaust was set to mass murder Jews and by historical accounts about six million Jews perished during the holocaust. The German society was affected and more particularly the Jewish people were adversely affected by the actions of the Nazi party. Anti-semitism created a resentment among the German people against the Jewish people and that burden had to be carried on to the next generation.

Max Weber: Politics as a Vocation

The connections between Weber and nihilism deal with the central conflict of trying to find meaning and purpose in a nihilistic world. For Weber the solution is politics, which he regards as a vocation. Vocation itself refers to a “calling” in the German Lutheran tradition, a specific calling to serve God. Weber draws upon this meaning while redefining it in a secular way, to refer to devotion to one’s work and through that finding a sense of fulfillment and purpose in life. “Vocational training” also refers to the teaching of “procedural knowledge” and is used to refer to the teaching of trades like carpentry or plumbing that require specific technical knowledge. He develops this concept for professional politicians to what he refers to as status honor a sense of achievement deriving from the ability to perform the work processes that are necessary to carry out political decisions. At the same time he says everyone who lives ‘for’ politics (vocation), also lives ‘off’ politics (avocation) in that they are financially dependent upon politics for a livelihood. However, the typical way in which politics, status honor, and vocational meaning intersect and mediate each other is through nationalism. The nation then becomes the substitute for the loss of meaning in traditional authorities caused by the rise of nihilistic thought in the late 19th century. The nation becomes a substitute for God. The concept of civic religion is related to this idea and is closely related to the development of republican states in the ancient world.


Max Weber was a German sociologist whose influence on the discipline of sociology had far reaching effects. In the above passage Weber tries to find reason in a person choosing politics as a career option. He tries to tie the concept with dedication to God by means of devotion to one's work and service to society. There are two ways to make politics your vocation: you can live for it or off it. It you live for it, you make it your life in an internal sense, either because you enjoy power or because you serve some cause. If you live off it, you strive to make it your permanent source of income. All party struggles are struggles for the patronage of office, as well as struggles for objective goals. Setbacks in participating in offices are felt more severely by parties than is action against their objective goals.

This passage typically explains how some people begin to make politics their career option. However the general good of the people is lost as power and money become their motto. This is true in the United States and in many countries across the world. Power corrupts and Weber was critical of this concept and was quick to point out the vocation aspect to bring some understanding in the minds of people to choose politics as a career move. Religion was a dominant force in the lives of people and Weber tried connect politics as service to people which invariable meant service to God.

The Weimar Republic:              

Article 43:
The term of office of the Reich President lasts seven years. Reelection is permitted. The Reich President can be deposed by plebiscite, which has to be suggested by the Reichstag. This Reichstag decision requires a majority of two thirds of the voted. Such a decision bars the Reich President from continued exercise of his office. A rejection of the deposition is regarded as a reelection and results in the dissolution of the Reichstag. The Reich President can not be persecuted in a penal matter without the approval of Reichstag.

This articles lays out the term of the President and the process of his impeachment. In the United States the Senate and House must vote for two thirds majority to impeach the president. So in this aspect the German and American system is similar. However, I feel that the term of seven years is too long. Most governments across the world have a term of five years. The article also mentions that the president has the power to reject the deposition of the Reichstag regarding his removal. This move invariable dissolves the house and mid term elections have to be held. I think such powers make the president misuse his power. 

Article 109:
All Germans are equal in front of the law. In principle, men and women have the same rights and obligations. Legal privileges or disadvantages based on birth or social standing are to be abolished. Noble titles form part of the name only; noble titles may not be granted any more. Titles may only be granted if they indicate an office or occupation; academic degrees are not affected by this regulation. The state may no more bestow orders and medals. No German may accept titles or orders from a foreign government.
The article explains the basic equality right of every German. However, what baffles me is that in reality this ideal situation seemed far fetched. Inequality was rampant and many Germans did not enjoy the rights specified by the constitution. This situation can be compared to the United States today; we still have racism, although the Civil Rights Act outlawed racial segregation. We as a nation have been successful in curbing this curse, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.

1. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of proportional representation.
Some of the advantages of proportional representation are that it allows more parties to have seats in the parliament. The people can also be assured that their representative’s vote will have an equal value as all other representatives.
Some of the disadvantages are that it may not always provide a party with a clear majority. In this case coalitions are likely to be formed between different parties. Also this can make the functioning of the government difficult  because smaller parties with vested interests within the government can take the government hostage over certain issues. This can also be seen as one of the ways Hitler's party became a voice in the government despite garnering only a few seats.

2. What were the leading causes of the decline of the Weimar Republic.
There were number of events leading to the decline of the Weimar Republic. Notably among them was the inflation after the war, followed by the shocks of the Great Depression of the United States. Germany's economy was closely tied to the United States' economy and so it was natural for its economy to be affected by the fall in the American economy. This is similar to the crash of the American economy in 2004 following the housing and mortgage crisis. This fall had repercussions across Europe, because the European Union’s economic health is closely tied with America.

3. What is hyperinflation?
Hyperinflation is a condition when we have a surplus of paper money in the market. This can occur when a nation experiences very high and uncontrolled inflation where the Federal Government prints money to meet the needs of the country, rather than collecting raising money by raising taxes. Too much money circulating in the market leads to a devaluation of the currency resulting in rising prices and a battered economy.

4. How would you judge the Weimar constitution as compared to the American constitution?
The Weimar constitution and the American constitution had a lot of similarities. However, under the Weimar constitution the President enjoys extensive powers unlike the American president. Too much power lay in the hands of one person and therefore it defeated the purpose of a democracy where people's voice spoke and government was accountable to the people.

The Junius Pamplet:

Thus proletarian policy is locked in a dilemma when trying to decide on which side it ought to intervene, which side represents progress and democracy in this war. In these circumstances, and from the perspective of international politics as a whole, victory or defeat, in political as well as economic terms, comes down to a hopeless choice between two kinds of beatings for the European working classes. Therefore, it is nothing but fatal madness when the French socialists imagine that the military defeat of Germany will strike a blow at the head of militarism and imperialism and thereby pave the way for peaceful democracy in the world. Imperialism and its servant, militarism, will calculate their profits from every victory and every defeat in this war – except in one case: if the international proletariat intervenes in a revolutionary way and puts an end to such calculations.

The passage explains the dilemma of the working class in it decision to choose between democracy and progress in the war. The writer is saying that in all situations, the working class will end up on the losing side and the rich will end up making the money. However, the solution to the impasse lies in the belief that if all the working class in the world got together and rose against the ruling class, then the tide will turn in its favor. I choose this passage because I feel it is relevant in today's capitalist society, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The middle class as some scholars predict will disappear some day. The need of the hour is the unification of the working class, which today is the middle class to rise up to the challenge of the politics of rich . However, I feel that it is not a realistic scenario, but if that were to happen then the world would be a better place to live in.

Why does Luxemburg believe the wars of 1871 affect the wars in 1914?
Luxemburg believes that the war of 1870 paved the way for Europe to be split into two major factions which led to a arms race resulting in the present war.

How does Luxemburg judge the claims made about "Russian despotism" supported by the SPD

When the Reichstag issued a statement making their position clear on Russian Deportism during the war, Luxemburg was against it. She goes on to describe the spoils of war and the ramifications of it.  Luxemburg also tries to explain the propaganda that the Reichstag is trying to propagate in the mind of people to make their case. Her next words serve to elucidate her stand, “But in normal human beings this systematic murder is possible only when a state of intoxication has been previously created."

What is the relationship between nationalism and capitalism?Nationalims is the love for you country and the desire to fight for its freedom.  Capitalism is a society ruled by the profit motive. The wealthy hold disproportionate power within capitalism and use it to preserve their interests, especially the ability to make more money.

Why does Luxemburg believe that the war supports the business interests of steel and the banks?

Luxemburg believed that the war would support a capitalist society where the banking and steel industry would manipulate the market.

The Film "W"

The scene that I choose from the film is the one in which the police department heads are discussing how to catch the killer and simultaneously the band of criminals are also discussing how to catch the same killer. Although the meetings are taking place at different places, the film maker's decision to picturize them together makes the scene beautiful, as the topic of discussion is the same however, the approaches are different. The police department, being a law agency, wants to adopt the legal way. However, the criminals are ready to try any method to fulfill their motive. The viewer can also sense the desperation in the voices of the criminals who want this impasses over as soon as possible, because the police have done so much to make their lives miserable, by intefering in their daily lives and activities.

1. Discuss the evolution of police power as it is depicted in Dr. Caligari and M?

The evolution of police power between the two films Dr. Caligari and M is phenomenal. The police force depicted in Dr. Caligari is shown as having old methods of conducting their operations, where as the police force in M has begun to resort to new means of technology. I also noticed that in the film M, certain sections of society had begun to distrust the police, and therefore decided to take the law into their own hands.

2. Does the killer deserve to die?

Firstly, the killer deserved a fair trail. During the climax of the film the killer claims that he killed people out of a desire to suppress his fears and voices that were haunting him. I believe, a fair trail would have adjudicated him as a mentally unstable person and sentenced him to a mental asylum. Even if he was found guilty, he should not be killed, but rather sentenced to life imprisonment.

3. How does the criminals ability to organize themselves affect their ability to capture Beckert?

The criminals ability to spread people all over the city and especially from the beggars union was a smart move. They also showed great determination in breaking the law to capture Beckert.

4. How would you judge the depiction of Nazis as criminals?

The Nazis came to power around that same time period on a broad agenda that they could turn the fortunes of the nation around. In the film, the criminals achieved their means by breaking the law, so did the Nazis achieve it means by doing a lot of injustices.

5. What is the significance of the media in this film?

The media certainly keep the public informed. It also helped to make the authority more accountable for its actions.

The Blue Angel

The scene that I choose from the film is the one where the professor goes to the cabaret for the first time, with the intention of catching his students there and subsequently disciplining them. I think the viewer begins to see the real person inside the professor, who exudes an impression of being a hard task master. This event begins a series of transformations that the professor is due to undergo. In the end we see, the professor in complete contrast to the person that he initially was. So, his first visit to the cabaret is pivotal in the character’s transformation.

1. How would you compare Rath/Lola to Siddhartha/Kamala?

To begin with, there are similarities between Rath/Lola and Siddhartha/Kamala characters. Though set in different time periods, this is a case where the west meets the east. Seduction is a common language employed like by woman like Lola or Kamala, although I reckon the motivation of the women are different. In Lola’s case she is shown as a seductress who can play with the emotions of men to use to her advantage. Kamala on the other hand is not shown to be conniving; in fact she encourages Siddhartha to get a job and gets him to learn new things. Lola’s manipulation and subsequent humiliation of Rath leads him to absolute shame and we see in the end that he dies. Siddhartha manages to come out of the situation, and it can be said that he learnt from his mistake and decides to go back to his former life. Two different stories, similar plot, but different endings.

2. Is Lola an emancipated woman or “totally impassive?”

Lola is portrayed to be an impassive woman, who has no emotions to begin with. Even if she had, she never showed them in a genuine way.

3. What is the significance of the clown.

A clown in real life is a stupid person. The clown in the movie signifies the change in the professor as he goes from being an intellectual person to a puppet.

4.  How is chaos thematically represented in the film?

Chaos has many representations in the film. It must be noted that chaos

is mainly shown to present the changes in the professor’s life, as he goes from being a respected professor to a lowly puppet and finally ending his life.

5. How would interpret the overall meaning of the film.

The film brings a message that lust can be a very powerful emotion. The professor fell in love with Lola on the basic premise that she was a beautiful woman. He did not see her true nature, all he saw was her facial beauty. So the interpretation of the film is that lust or blind love in most times brings misery.

6. Why did I compare Rath to the Haussmann painting/montage. Would you suggest a better comparison.

Rath was the personification of perfection in his life as a professor. The Haussmann paintings portrayed a  revolt against the status quo. Rath transformation was a revolt in a subtle manner against the way of his present life. So in essence Rath’ s life and the painting are similar as it signifies change.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

From the movie “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”, I decided to pick the opening scene between the two gentlemen and the woman in a white gown. Like many films, the opening scene sets the pace and mood for the rest of the film. Being a silent film, the characters rely on facial expression and background music to gives us the effect of the scenes. The interaction between the two men, one being Francis the narrator and the other an older gentleman is particularly noteworthy. I believe that the voice of Francis is the voice of common man, which at that time in Germany was not given its due. The lady walking away from Francis, also shows how the common voice was largely ignored by the people in power. Now to cut to the ending scene, where Frances is shown as the lunatic, and Caligari as the hero, is very surprising, because all along Caligari was portrayed as the villain. I think the ending opening scene and ending scene are depicted in a very contrasting manner. The opening scene has Francis as a smart man, and in end he is shown in a very bad light. I felt the ending should have been straightforward, without the twist.

1. What is the symbolism of Caligari’s power over Cesare?

The symbolism of Caligari’s power over Cesare is comparative of a master over a servant or a slave. So, when the master commands the slave to do something, the slave just follows the orders, without questioning the intentions of the master.

2. How does the profit motive affect cultural production in the modern age?

I believe that the profit motive of the modern age, has adversely affected originality. We have people churning out films, products, and things just with the profit motive. However, I would like to also commend the Academy Awards, for recognizing films like the “The Artist”, which was also a silent film and did well to come across as a film about love and had a deeper message.

3. How would you evaluate the Frankfurt School’s elitism regarding mass culture?

My evaluation of the Frankfurt School’s elitism as the name suggests is one that caters to the needs of the elite in society, with no regard to the mass public.

4. Explain three aspects of the film that relate to the attributes of the culture industry.

a) First aspect is the film is how like a regular industry, it tends toward monopolies.

b) Mr. Pommel, the producer of the film liked the script, but like many people made the

film with the profit motivation.

c) The ending of the film is twisted with Francis as the villain and Caligari as the hero. This shows traditional authority as being restored and the killing of artistic brilliance in favor of division of labor, with a profit motivation.

5. Why does Kracauer interpret the film as a choice between tyranny and chaos?

The film was a depiction of the dilemma faced by the German people of the 1920’s and 1930’s. A time after the first world war, when mass changes were taking place in the German economy.

6. Why was there increased pressure to develop the German film industry after the first world war?

The German film industry was seen a profit making enterprise for the German economy and so it was heavily promoted.

7. How would you evaluate that expressionism breeds excessive inwardness and withdrawal.

Expressionism helps to do self evaluation and one begins to look inside oneself to see the strengths and weakness of oneself. So much like the detachment philosophy of Siddhartha, where the person has given up attachment to the exterior world and looks inward to see the faults and tries to improve oneself. 

8. How does the film foreshadow the Nazi regime according to Kracauer?

It depicts Caligari as the tyranny that Hitler was about to bring.

9. What is praxis and how does it relate to cultural criticism?

Praxis is the fusion of theory and practice. It helps to keep a check on reality at the same

Time keeps theory from being obsolete. It relates to cultural criticism by helping to keep practical events alive and theory to back up those explain those events.