M (Fritz Lang, 1931) is a cinematic German piece that aided in introducing the psychological thriller genre to a wide audience across the globe. When compared to American cinema at the same time, M is distinguishable by its’ dark theme and clear opposition toward the Nazi regime in a time of censorship, American cinema during the time was experiencing the ‘Golden Age’ of Hollywood, producing very star-studded films that were transitioning from the family friendly to adult oriented and thus, also experienced a differing form of visual censorship. When analyzed from an individual outside of their culture, the film’s meaning can easily be interpreted as a pro-Nazi piece or even form of propaganda. Thus, an American is likely to understand this
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When comparing this film to American cinema at the time, it is most distinguishable by its grim theme and questionable but pretty prominent resistance towards the Nazi regime in a time of harsh censorship. However, during the same time America was experiencing their “Golden Age’ of Cinema which was characterized by the Hollywood star structure and films that were transitioning from a family-friendly nature to ones with adult themes. Consequently, this led to heavy censorship to retain strong religious values. When analyzed from an individual outside of their culture, the film’s meaning can easily be interpreted as a pro-Nazi piece. Thus, an American is likely to understand this and other German films of the 1930s very differently from the German audience at the time due to being a primary source to the historical events. In order to fully understand the overwhelming theme of the film as well as German cinema, cultural research is necessary, specifically political research regarding post WWI, the introduction of the Nazi regime, and the censorship differences between Germany and America at the time regarding religion and political
When comparing this film to American cinema at the time, it is most distinguishable by its grim theme and questionable but pretty prominent resistance towards the Nazi regime in a time of harsh censorship. However, during the same time America was experiencing their “Golden Age’ of Cinema which was characterized by the Hollywood star structure and films that were transitioning from a family-friendly nature to ones with adult themes. Consequently, this led to heavy censorship to retain strong religious values. When analyzed from an individual outside of their culture, the film’s meaning can easily be interpreted as a pro-Nazi piece. Thus, an American is likely to understand this and other German films of the 1930s very differently from the German audience at the time due to being a primary source to the historical events. In order to fully understand the overwhelming theme of the film as well as German cinema, cultural research is necessary, specifically political research regarding post WWI, the introduction of the Nazi regime, and the censorship differences between Germany and America at the time regarding religion and political