Framing the Past : The Historiography of German Cinema and Television

This collection of essays was selected from those presented in October 1988 at a conference sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, "Concepts of History in German Cinema." The contributors include notable historians, film scholars, and German studies specialists who explore the complex network of social, political, and religious institutions that have influenced the historiography of German cinema and television.Before the turn of the century, Germans began to employ the medium of film to represent the past when they attempted to document their Prussian heritage. Since then, German cinema and television have promoted history as a component of personal, cultural, and national identity by consistently providing prominent treatment of historical subjects.Although it is relatively easy to document changes in the selection and handling of these subjects, it is more difficult to determine precisely which factors have motivated those changes.In attempting to define these factors, the link between German cinema, television, and history has developed around three interrelated issues: (1) the reception of Weimar cinema, which for most film scholars continues to be mediated to one extent or another by Siegfried Kracauer’s work; (2) the inscribing of fascism in cinema and television; and (3) the nature of, and potential for, alternatives to mainstream cinema and television. This Remarkable New Book Is A Collection Of Selected Essays Whose Theses First Came Together In October 1988 At A Conference Sponsored By The National Endowment For The Humanities, Concepts Of History In German Cinema. The Contributors Include Notable Historians, Film Scholars, And German Studies Specialists Who Explore The Complex Network Of Social, Psychological, And Aesthetic Factors That Have Influenced The Historiography Of German Cinema And Television. Over The Past Decade, Media Specialists Have Engaged In A Variety Of Projects That Address Many Questions Concerning The Historiography Of Film And Television. Through Their Discussions They Have Reassessed Conventional Histories Of Cinema, Examined The Influence Of Cinematic And Television Narration In Constructing History, And Contemplated The Role Of Media In Historical Development. Germans Began To Employ The Medium Of Film To Represent The Past Before The Turn Of The Century, When, Among Other Things, They Attempted To Document Their Prussian Heritage. Since Then, German Cinema And Television Have Promoted History As A Component Of Individual, Cultural, And National Identity By Consistently And Prominently Treating Historical Subjects. Although It Is Relatively Easy To Document Changes In The Selection And Handling Of These Subjects, It Is More Difficult To Determine What Motivated Those Changes. Assessments Of The Link Between German Cinema, Television, And History Have Primarily Developed Around Three Interrelated Issues: The Reception Of Weimar Cinema, The Inscribing Of Fascism In Cinema And Television, And The Nature Of, And Potential For, Alternatives To Mainstream Cinema And Television. This Extraordinary Collection Presents A Provocative Dialogue By Distinguished Authors Employing A Diversity Of Methods, Theoretical Premises, And Styles. It Is A Book That Will Appeal To Scholars And Students Of German Culture And Media In The Fields Of History, Political Science, Film, And German Studies. History In The Making : Weimar Cinema And National Identity / Thomas J. Saunders -- Lubitsch's Period Films As Palimpsest : On Passion And Deception / Sabine Hake -- Imagining History : Weimar Images Of The French Revolution / Marc Silberman -- Eros, Thanatos, And The Will To Myth : Prussian Films In German Cinema / Jan-christopher Horak -- Leni Riefenstahl's Feature Films And The Question Of A Fascist Aesthetic / Linda Schulte-sasse -- Television As History : Representations Of German Television Broadcasting, 1935-1944 / William Uricchio -- Generational Conflict And Historical Continuity In Gdr Film / Barton Byg -- The Disposal Of Memory : Fascism And The Holocaust On West German Television / Michael E. Geisler -- On The Difficulty Of Saying We : The Historians' Debate And Edgar Reitz's Heimat / Eric L. Santner -- The New German Cinema's Historical Imaginary / Thomas Elsaesser -- History And Film : Public Memory In The Age Of Electronic Dissemination / Anton Kaes. Edited By Bruce A. Murray And Christopher J. Wickham. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This collection of essays was selected from those presented in October 1988 at a conference sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, "Concepts of History in German Cinema." The contributors include notable historians, film scholars, and German studies specialists who explore the complex network of social, political, and religious institutions that have influenced the historiography of German cinema and television. Before the turn of the century, Germans began to employ the medium of film to represent the past when they attempted to document their Prussian heritage. Since then, German cinema and television have promoted history as a component of personal, cultural, and national identity by consistently providing prominent treatment of historical subjects. Although it is relatively easy to document changes in the selection and handling of these subjects, it is more difficult to determine precisely which factors have motivated those changes. In attempting to define these factors, the link between German cinema, television, and history has developed around three interrelated (1) the reception of Weimar cinema, which for most film scholars continues to be mediated to one extent or another by Siegfried Kracauers work; (2) the inscribing of fascism in cinema and television; and (3) the nature of, and potential for, alternatives to mainstream cinema and television.