Pictures and motion pictures give us visual evidence that many other mediums of communication cannot. Sure, everything can be edited, but being able to see something makes it more believable than just reading or hearing about it. That's why films are used so often in newscasts. Yet, conversely, that's also why movies are used as propaganda. Being able to see something helps us believe in it. However, the downside is that these films have the ability to be fabricated just like anything else.
In the museum, I learned that one of the earliest forms of editing included taking individual frames out of reel. Physically cutting and stitching film together would create an edit. This is amazing to think of because of where we are today in terms of video editing. As a communications student, I know about complex editing softwares such as Avid and Final Cut. With a simple click, you can do anything from add music to completely rearrange clips.
One of my favorite exhibits in this museum was about how audio editing can affect a film. There was an interactive screen that had a clip from the movie The Matrix with three sound controls. There was one for dialogue, one for background music, and one for sound effects. You could turn these controls up or down, for example, to see how having louder dialogue and quiet background music could change the feel of a scene. Also, there was another screen that allowed you to change the music along with the clip. One of my peers changed the background music of an intense sports scene to a lullaby. It was amazing how even the slightest change in audio would affect the mood of the clip.
This just goes to show that editing has great power. As we discussed in our fall presentation, the Nazis were very deliberate in their production of films for propaganda purposes. Films released to the public tended were edited to concentrate on themes such as the Jews, the greatness of Hitler, the Nazi way of life, and how badly the Germans were treated. In my previous post about the German Documentation Museum, I analyzed the famous film, The Triumph of the Will, and how it was edited to portray such themes. Some other notable films of the time regarding these themes include The Eternal Jew and Hitlerjunge Quex.
The Eternal Jew was a film made in 1940 by the Ministry of Propaganda in Germany and directed by Fritz Hippler. It sought to portray Jews in the way the Nazis wanted people to think of them. This meant that each scene was shot and edited to paint a negative depiction of the Jewish people. Most notably, the film showed scenes of Jews living in poor conditions and poverty as if this was a normal state for them. It also utilized narration to compare the Jews to rats. Throughout the film, the narrator would say that Jews spread diseases just as rats do. Putting this audio along with scenes of squalor reinforced the idea that Jews are dirty and undesirable to the German population.
Furthermore, Hitlerjunge Quex was another film that served as propaganda for Germany. It was made in 1933 and was directed by Hans Steinhoff. Similarly to how The Eternal Jew painted Jews in a negative light, Hitlerjunge Quex depicted the socialists/communists negatively. The film showed the story of Heini, a boy that wanted to join the Hitler Youth. Heini was originally rejected by the Youth but later is allowed to distribute leaflets in Berlin for the Nazis. As he is doing so, he is attacked by communists and becomes seriously injured. With his dying breath, he speaks the words of a Nazi marching song. This story is clearly Nazi propaganda and its message is enhanced by the way it was filmed and edited. Cinema specialists Curtade and Cadars once said, "with refined use of light and shadow, integration of the urban landscape, expressive use of the face in close-ups, adroit editing, stirring music, it must be said that Hitlerjunge Quex is technically and aesthetically an outstanding film." With all of these film aspects carefully controlled, the Nazi party was more effective in using this movie as propaganda.
As one can see, film is a vital communication medium. After the aforementioned films were released to the public, they achieved what they sought out to do; people fell victim to the propaganda-driven messages within them. The careful shooting and editing of these films allowed this subtle brainwashing to happen. This goes to show that well-placed shots and audio clips are important to make a film powerful.
Citation:
Curtade, F/ Cadars, P: Geschichte des Films im Dritten Reich. München, Wein 1975.
-Chelsea Weber
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