Monday, November 17, 2008
Propaganda - Period 1
Propagandists have long known that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Therefore Hitler was determined that all works of art would reflect the ideals of National Socialism. He began by imprisoning or exiling what he called “degenerate” artists. Then he enlisted a corps of “obedient artists” willing to immortalize on canvas the fantasy world he described in his speeches and writings.
Is “a picture worth a thousand words?” What can pictures do that words cannot do? Which makes a stronger impression on you? The word degenerate means “evil” or “corrupt”; the word decadent, “decaying” or “rotting.” Why do you think Hitler used these adjectives to describe art he considered “unGerman”?
Keep in mind that art is never objective: art is always subjective. It forces a viewer to adjust his or her perception in order to make a decision about the value and meaning of a particular work of art. After World War II, the nations that defeated Germany had to decide what to do with art that glorified the Nazis. What would you have done with the art and why?
Post your reflective comment and response to one other student by the end of the day Friday, November 21st.
Mr. Gallagher
25 comments:
Pictures can creat an image in your mind that you might not imagined other wise. With words the same image might not be the same for everyone or someone might not know what kind of image the speaker is trying to creat, but with a picture its clear as to what is being shown. Pictures make a stronger impression because it's not just an assosiation with an object like a word is, the image becomes the object.
I think Hitler used the words degenerate and decadent because it makes him sound better by using words that don't sound as bad and at the same time makes the people he is descirbing sound terrible. They assosiate them with horrible actions and death, making other people not want to be around them.
-Taylor E.
Hitler used the term "unGerman" as a means of seperating the pieces of art that reflected his view of Germany from the views of artists whom he believe were "not german." He used this to continually conduct anti-Semitist movements against the Jews and other foreign people. In his pictures he had a vulgar looking figure to represent the Jews likely doing something that would insult German people. In my opinion, seeing something has a deeper impact on me than reading it somewhere.
In conjunction with what Taylor said, i believe Hitler used the words like "Decadent" and "Degenerate" as a way of keeping the opinionated "good and bad" seperate in germany.
I Think a picture is worth more than a thousand word because people can interprete a picture in many ways, and also describe it in many ways. A picture can make impressions that a word can not make pictures are meant for people to use their imagination and think of it as the way they want to as evil or good. A picture makes a stronger improssion on me becasue someone may say something and I might not belive it but if they show me a picture I might interpret in varius way. It is more interesting to see a picture than to read a sentence that exactly tell the same thing. I think degenerate means evil because it gives a impression that your soul in beeing degenerated so you became evil,and I Think the word decadent means decaying wich means some thing is disolving in a nicer way than rotting, but people can interpret in many different ways. I think Hitler used these words because they have many different meaning of evil to drive people to use what they know to figure out what he was saying and there would be no wrong answer because of the different meaning of words.As Taylor and Nick have said, Hitler used the words like "Decadent" and "Degenerate" as a way of keeping the opinionated "good and bad" seperate in germany.
A picture often is worth a thousand words because pictures are able to add a visualization of the idea that is being conveyed. I feel that pictures make a stronger impression on me than words since pictures add this level of visualization. Hitler likely said that art he considered "unGerman" was decadent and degenerate because he wanted to discourage the creation of art that would contradict Nazi ideas so that all of the art and media in Germany would express ideas of the Nazi Party. If I was in one of the nations that had to decide what to do with art that glorified the Nazis, I would take the art down and then likely use some of it the way many history classes and Holocaust documantaries do today by showing it in order to prevent the evils of Nazi Germany from happening again.'
Andy H.
I agree with what Thereza said that pictures are able to make impressions that words cannot make. I feel that while there are some different ways of interpreting both pictures and words, the pictures do add a level of visualization, whereas with words, the reader has to do this visualizaion. Because of this, pictures are often better for conveying ideas than words are. Also, I agree with Thereza that Hitler likely used the words decadent and degenerate to describe the art that he considered "unGerman" so that people would not want to associate with this art because in Nazi Germany, art that Hitler considered "unGerman" was considered evil.
Andy H.
I think a picture is worth a thousand word in the sense that it can communicate to so many people regardles of their language, which is what they can do that words cant, express something that everyone can usualy understand. Hittler believed that germans were the master race and he absolutely dispised jewish people and any one who wasnt german therefore he didnt like art unless it was german. I myself would of taken the art and put it in some form of museum because it came from an event that was so horrific yet important to world history so the art is kind of important.
I agree with andy that the art should be used for educational purposes, but also put in museums because whether or not we agree with what the art is saying it is a part of history
J.J.
I believe that a picture is worth a thousand words because seeing the actual event is better than hearing about it because our minds are more englightened when we see the actual image. And Hitler probably used those adjectives because he only wanted art that supported his views [Nazis].
I would have destroyed all the art that glorified the Nazis. However, it is in some way education because it teaches the later generations about what happened, because propagandas use pictures most of the time and since a "picture is worth a thousand words" the students will have a better understanding of the Nazis rather than reading about it in print or hearing about it.
~Marufa
And I agree with what Andy said about using the pictures in History classes to prevent such an event from happening again.
~Marufa
They saying "a picture means a thousand words" because no matter who the person is the picture means something to them. Pictures can be interpreted differently and no way are interpretations wrong. Hitler considered "unGerman" pictures to be "decaying" or "evil" because that is how he felt about them. As well, he wanted to pass on the message to others so they knew how he felt to. Since he was Hitler, people considered his thoughts to be just and tended to agree with him. After World War II I would destroy all the art glorifying the Nazis. I realize that it is still art, however, people do not need to be reminded nor should they be of the events that happened during WWII. For the sake of the civilians I would destroy the art.
I agree with Marfua, I think Hitler wanted people to view the art they way he did and that is why he used those adjectives to describe it. As well, I think it would be a good idea to destroy the art. I think later generations should know the truth and not be told differently through art.
I think that a picture is worth a thousand words. No two people are going to have the same view of a picture. What sticks out to some might be blind to others. People can formuate so many different opinions about a picture and it can impact someone in more ways than words can. Pictures definitely make a stronger impression on me. Pictures are one of a kind; words are used over and over in different ways. I think Hitler used those adjectives because he believed anything that was against what he thought Germany should be was evil and that is what the artists depicted. He didn't want Germany to come off as degenerate or decadent so he punished those that portrayed it in such a way. I think that the Nazi art should have been displayed somewhere for people to see what was actually going on. A lot of the times bad things are happening, people have no idea until they find evidence afterwards.
I agree with Katie, I think that Hitler only used those adjectives because that's how he felt and since he had so much power people agreed with him and went along with what he had to say.
There's a difference between hearing someting and actually seeing it. That's why images have such a powerful effect on people, thus, why the Nazi propaganda was so effective in portraying them in a bright light and all opposition in a negative one. FOr example, George Grosz, a German artist, was tried for blasphemy because he painted a picture of Jesus in a gas mask. The Nazis justified their anti-semitism with Chrisitan beliefs so this painting destroyed their positive identification with Christianity. They had to exile Grosz from Germany so that the German people wouldn't have access to that painting or any others would change the mindest of Germans allianced with Nazism.
A picture can be one of the most influential ways of communicating an idea. Pictures in the form of propaganda were utilized Germany by Hitler and the Nazis to preach antisemetic and nationalistic ideas. The visual propaganda in Nazi Germany was used to inspire feelings of nationalism, fear, and hatrid witin the average German worker. It was profoundly influential due to the terrible state of the country. The people needed change desperately, and they sought to see a strong Germany; the propaganda provided a glimpse into the root of these ideas; it showed the majestic power that could be Germany if the people believed in Hitler.
The Nazis not only created their own nationalistic art, but they sought to destroy and deride the "decadent", and "degenerate" art of those who were "unGerman." This had the effect of truely creating a unified, single minded people under the influence of propaganda, people who shared a common dislike of those who were different. The politics of the nation were vastly swayed by propaganda at this time. It was evident that the people succumbed to these clear messages of power and antisemitism in support of the idea of a new, powerful German empire.
the previous comment was by Jake Jablon
I do believe that a picture is worth a thousand words. What pictures do is cease a certain moment in time and we are able to pick apart different pieces of it. What picturesd are able to do is evoke certain feelings that words sometimes cannot. Visual representations are much more believeable then oral ones.
Because Hitler was so nationalistic, he considered anything "unGerman" evil or corrupt.
I agree with Molly, people tend to believe things when the see it rather than hearing it. People always say, "i have to see it to believe it"
I believe that a picture is worth a thousand words. It is able to act in ways that words can not by showing detail and specifics of scenes. Pictures also display emotions of the people at the current time and they allow you to relive moments as if they were real life situations. To me, pictures are able to make a stronger impression. They help me remember many moments and details that I may have forgotten about specific events. I think that Hitler used these adjectives to describe art he considered “un-German” because it went against his beliefs and ways. He wanted everything to go with what he thought and to follow his plans, and any art that was “un-German” did not do this. I think that after World War I the art should have been destroyed. It only brought negative aspects to the world and forced people to think in terrible ways. If the art was no longer there, then the Germans would no longer glorify the Nazis. The Nazi propaganda only brings up memories of the bad times, leaving no space to change. Without the propaganda, the past events could try to stay in the past and not be brought up again in the present or future.
I agree with what JJ said, that pictures can comunicate with so many people regardless of language. Looking at the Nazi propaganda proves that we dont have to be able to read the german on the posters to understand what the point the image is making is. I aslo agree that they sould be put in museums because even though it depicts crule images, it is world art that depicts a time in history that shouldn't be forgoten. And the only way to make sure its not forgoten is to expose people to it.
-Taylor E.
I feel pictures are worth a thousand words because while words can stir up some emotion in a person when orated well, a picture can drive people to do anything, if it's drawn well. Pictures allow the artist the oppurtunity to use symbols he knows will anger people in connotation with the "enemy," and therefore create in people's minds connections that have no actual, factual basis.
Hitler used the adjectives he did for the sole purpose of inciting disgust in his targets, and at the same time adoration for himself and his orations. He wanted to seem better than his targets both through what he was saying, and how he was saying it.
I personally would heep the art recovered from the Nazis because I feel it's important to see what horrible things can be done with art in order to avoid making such terrible mistakes over again.
I agree with Molly when she says that pictures deal with seeing things while words are only what you hear. They use different senses that allow you to do different things. Hearing words and seeing pictures have two very different outcomes but are both extremely powerful.
Pictures are worth a thousand words because they give the viewer the ability to think what they want of the art. Art can also use symbolic pictures to get the point across. Its hard to speak like that. It goes along the same lines as what Thereza said. Pictures allow your imagination to do the work.
Yes, a picture is worth a 1,000 words because it renders the viewer subject to interpretation. The majority of people consider themselves to be visual learners, meaning that they understand something better by seeing it. Often, when we hear or read something, we try to visualize it. Therefore, pictures make a stronger impression on me. Hitler used those adjectives because he wanted the German people to feel opposed to the art. He also wanted them to believe that unGerman art wasn't worthy of being displayed or accepted as art. After the war, I would have left the decision of what to do with the art up to the Jewish communities.
Joe S. has an awesome post. He says that because pictures are subject to interpretation, the facts aren't necessarily always obvious. I think the most apparent example of this is in propaganda involving stereotypes. The images aren't factually accurate because it is a generalization of a group. The stereotypes might also just display the negatives or even exaggerated speculation.
I agree with Joe, that pictures are so influential because they allow the oppertunity for the artist to portray powerful symbols. These symbols are left for interpretation to the viewer, who in Germany's case, was willing to accept the propaganda. Like Joe said, this will create bais opinions in the viewer's mind, even if its on the subconcious level. I also agree that it is essential to preserve these images. The Nazi propaganda was some of the most powerful and influential visual material in history, which aided in carrying-out of the holocaust. It is necessary to see the horrors of our past in order to make ammends for the future.
-Jake Jablon
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