Doppelgänger is used intensively in German film of the early 20th century to represent cinematic themes throughout particular movies, usually in the form of reflection, shadows and impersonation of different characters. In the cases of The Student of Prague and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, this cinematic technique is used throughout these films to link two or more images of the main character to illustrate a larger idea of film making history in Germany.
In The Student of Prague, doppelgänger technique is used through reflections. The embodiment of anxiety is the most important theme in the movie and is associated with the disintegration of a unified self in a rapidly modernizing world. In this case, uncertainty of modernization is disguised as doubles. These doubles are the representation of a menacing “other self,” an important motif of fantastic …show more content…
Expressionist Stage Design
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was a representation of the artistic style of German Expressionist movement in the period following World War I. This art form came to life after Germany was defeated and under control of the American government.
The German population was afraid to face the truth about their economy’s downfall and the take over of American culture. In order to overcome these fears, their best option was to turn to the arts such as plays and movies to escape the harsh reality and end up in an imaginary setting. Weine used the German Expressionist art in his film to persuade the audience into a world of insanity by incorporating unconscious forces disguised to motivate the characters to act upon something that will ultimately turn into something good or evil.
The audience is faced with distorted and unnatural mise-en-scènes to represent one of the characters in the film. These settings were created to represent the rural town where the movie was set but the scenes have an unrealistic feel, determined through paintings, to stimulate the idea of a theatrical
In The Student of Prague, doppelgänger technique is used through reflections. The embodiment of anxiety is the most important theme in the movie and is associated with the disintegration of a unified self in a rapidly modernizing world. In this case, uncertainty of modernization is disguised as doubles. These doubles are the representation of a menacing “other self,” an important motif of fantastic …show more content…
Expressionist Stage Design
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was a representation of the artistic style of German Expressionist movement in the period following World War I. This art form came to life after Germany was defeated and under control of the American government.
The German population was afraid to face the truth about their economy’s downfall and the take over of American culture. In order to overcome these fears, their best option was to turn to the arts such as plays and movies to escape the harsh reality and end up in an imaginary setting. Weine used the German Expressionist art in his film to persuade the audience into a world of insanity by incorporating unconscious forces disguised to motivate the characters to act upon something that will ultimately turn into something good or evil.
The audience is faced with distorted and unnatural mise-en-scènes to represent one of the characters in the film. These settings were created to represent the rural town where the movie was set but the scenes have an unrealistic feel, determined through paintings, to stimulate the idea of a theatrical