" The Work of Art In the Age of Mechanical Reproduction"

     The principal concept of this essay is the lost of  " aura" in the work of contemporary art. It is the hidden and mysterious which give us that aura. For Benjamin the aura contains all the essential qualities of the art work. Art has lost its original character of unique and unrepeatable work. The time from which Benjamin speaks , innovative techniques have been developed that makes an art work to be updated or copied very easily. It seems that the work of art in the age of technical reproduction has changed; it is no longer authentic and unique.

     Benjamin also gives reference to photography and films, about how the actor has changed his public by a camera. Therefore, the aura gets lost within the actor and the character it represents. On the other hand photography gives the opportunity to examine images at different speed and sizes ; by the time of Benjamin people debated if photography could really be called art.

"The Triumph of The Will"

     " The Triumph of The Will " shows the main messages of the Nazi ideology; it visualizes the concepts of command, leadership and mass support. This film shows a unified Germany under Hitler and the believe that the Aryan race is the ideal of the German people.In this film we can see the support that the Germans gave to Hitler; people of all ages and social status welcomed him. In this film Hitler is portrayed as some kind of savior, someone who had to be respected and admired. I find it difficult to understand how so many people followed or agreed with Hitler's ideals, he was praised regardless of the things he did.

      I think this film was a smart way to promote the Nazi doctrine because it could reach a wider audience, promoting an ideal of strength, hope, and sacrifice through social unity and the leadership of Hitler. The message that this film wants to transmit is clear: a beloved, respected and superior Hitler who represents hope and the solution to a better and powerful Germany.

Rosa Luxemburg

            Rosa Luxemburg was born in Zamosc, Russia on march 1871. She became interested in politics at a young age ,while she was still in school. Luxemburg is considered is considered one of the most important leader of the Spartacus movement. trying to scape the authoritarian government of Alexander III, she emigrated to Zurich in 1989; she studied law and political economy there. During the 1905 revolution Luxemburg was arrested soon after returning to Warsaw. The point of view that luxemberg had about international politics was changed by her experiences during the revolution. For instance, she used to believe that a socialist revolution was something that would take place in countries like France or Germany which are advanced, rather than in a undeveloped country like Russia but now she believed it could take place in undeveloped countries as well. She disagreed with Lenin which was the leader of the communist revolution in Russia in 1917; Lenin believed that a socialist revolution could not be brought about by the working class itself, on the other hand luxemburg believed in the spontaneity of the mass as the only way to create a equal and democratic society. In 1906 she published "The Mass Strike, the Political Party and the Trade Unions", sharing her thoughts on the revolution. How can be Rosa luxemburg related to nihilism? Rosa luxemburg always defended her beliefs regardless if people disagreed or not with her. She believed that the masses should govern themselves and take power into their own hands.

  

             

           

German Revolution 1918-1919

       The German Revolution was a civil conflict at the end of world war I. This civil conflict led to the replacement of Germany imperial government with a republic. The period of revolution lasted from November 1918 to August 1919 when the Weimar Republic was formally established. The revolutionaries were inspired by communist ideas and unlike the Bolsheviks they failed to take control in Russia, because the leaders of the Social Democratic Party in Germany (SPD) refused to work with those who supported the Bolsheviks. Fearing a civil war between the communists and the reactionary conservatives, the SPD did not plan to completely take away the power of the old imperial elites and instead wanted to make them part of the new social democratic system.The revolution ended August 11, 1919, when the Weimar constitution was adopted.

"Dream Story"

    I was able to watch the film "Eyes Wide Shut". I think this movie does a great job portraying the paranoia and insecurity that comes along with marriage.

    In "Dream Story" the relationship between Fridolin and Albertina addresses themes such as jealousy, guilt and infidelity. As soon as Fidelin and Albertina confess their fantasies to one another they start dealing with feelings of insecurity and resentment." Is anyone to blame in this story?" I do not think there is anyone to blame. However, I do think that it was a little inadequate for Albertina to confess her fantasy to Fidelin because maybe he took her confession as an excuse to act on his desires. "Is Fidolin wrong to attempt to pursue these kinds of affairs?" Of course he is wrong because by doing so he is putting his feelings and marriage at risk and also because he could have done something that could have had consequences for life, for example, sleeping with the prostitute supposedly infected with  HIV.

    "Does it suggest that monogamy is an outdated form of living for men or woman, one that confines and frustrate people? Or does it reaffirm monogamy by showing the decadent side of sex?" I believe this story suggests that monogamy is an outdated form of living because it is based on situations in which the characters feel the need to be sexually intimate with other people besides their partners.   

    "Is marriage and monogamy something we do just because it has been passed down this way for centuries, or does it have some inherent goodness in itself that leads to a healthy and full life?"  I believe both questions to be true. Marriage and monogamy is something that has been passed down for centuries as something you should look forward to, and as the highlight of a romantic relationship between a man and a woman. On the other hand, some people might be looking forward a long lasting commitment with another person, someone who they expect to be faithful, and maybe they believe that marriage can guarantee that to them.

" The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"

Reflection Paper #3

       The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is without any doubt one of the most important movies of German Expressionism. Many important elements of an expressionist film are present in this movie: exaggerated characters, deformed objects, irregular windows and doors, contrast of light and shadow and dark make up, among other things. All of these elements create an unreal atmosphere. This movie unfolds in an environment of crime, horror and insanity, which creates a disturbing scenario. I am really impressed about what a silent film like this one can achieve, a single word was not necessary in order to understand the feelings and the personality of the main characters. I really enjoyed watching this movie.

Quiz#1

TH 3/10: Quiz #1

1-Both the "Greco-Roman" and the "Judeo-Christian" have had a big impact on the society. Even though the Christian were weaker than the Romans they were smarter, which help them to gain power and institutionalize their values. Conventional definitions of nihilism tend to stay away from Christianity, however, Nietzsche thought that Christianity was Nihilistic because he believed that it along with others traditional belief systems had an ambition to destroy life. One of the evidence he used to support this belief was the severe moral standards of Christian doctrine or Asceticism.

2-Otto Dix experienced Germany's most shocking times of the early twentieth century, which he clearly expressed in his work. after the first Wold War the purpose of his paintings was to depict the realities of the war and its disastrous consequences. In the drawing "wounded soldier" Dix wanted to show the real face of the war. This drawing clearly shows the way Dix wanted the war to be seen. This image reflects the horrific experiences the author went through during the war. 

3- During the 1920's Germany went through difficult situations which caused distress and frustration. In the same way as Siddhartha, the Germans were trying to give meaning to their lives, they wanted to find peace. They wanted to reach a state of peace and happiness. 

4- In the movie " The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" the main psychological themes are crime, mind control and mental illness. Dr. Caligari really played with the mind of the people around him, especially with Cesare's leading him to commit those crimes.