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German History: 4 Culture - The FRG - Coggle Diagram
German History: 4 Culture - The FRG
Experimental/ avant grande art and culture
Fluxus and Performance Art
Founded by George Macinaus in the 1960s who was influenced by the pre-war Dada movement
Involved taking art out onto the streets and having audience participation
Joseph Beuys was a key figure with "How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare" (1965) where he covered his head in honey and gold leaf and walked round the Gallery with a dead hare
German Abstract Expressionism
Spontaneous expression of freedom
Developed by painters such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning in the 1940s and 1950s
Inspired by Surrealists idea that art should come from the unconscious mind
Willi Baumeister who work was distinct but also connected to international trends in the US and France
Reaction to Nazi control
Anti-fascism
Writers confronted the past to avoid resurgence
Gerald Richter painted 'Uncle Rudi' (1965) emphasised the evil associated with familial ties to Nazism
1969 Anselm Kieffer took photos of himself doing the Nazi salute across Europe to confront
Gunter Grass's wrote 'The Tin Drum' (1959) which tackled Germany's dark past portraying the horror through the eyes of a child
Critique of the West German State
Rejection of capitalist values seen amongst hippies in groups like Kommune I which embraced free love, communal living and anti-authoritarianism
German New Cinema Movement
emerged in the 1960s due political upheavals which questioned the structures of society
Broke away from mainstream media and made films that were bold and politically engaged and relevant
Filmmakers included Wim Wenders, Werner Herzog and Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Fassbinder's film 'The Marriage of Maria Braun' (1978) showed pursuit of wealth
'Wings of Desire' (1987) by Wenders demonstrates need for consolidation for those in despair
'The Lost Honor of Katherine Blum' written by Heinrich Boll (1974) condemned the press and government collusion in the 1970s
Anti-war art
In 1960s and 70s there was anti-war sentiment to the Cold War and opposition to US foreign policy including the Vietnam War
Wolf Vostell's 'Lipstick Bomber' is a critique of the destructive nature of war
Promotion of Classical German art and culture
Promoted composers like Beethoven, Bach and Mozart and writers like Goethe
Gave funding to support art and culture for example the Berliner Philharmonie concert hall designed by Hans Scharoun in 1963
Tried to demonstrate civility and inclusivity after the Nazi years
Sport
1954 winning of the World Cup 'Miracle of Bern' gave sense of national rebirth and renewal for Germany
Athletes like Franz Backenbauer (captain of wining 1974 World Cup side) Steffi Graf and Boris Becker (Grand Slam tennis champions in 1980s) gave sense of national pride
International Influences
1950s American Rock and Roll was popular with figures like Bill Haley and the Comets, Chuck Berry and Elvis
Later heavily influenced by psychedelia with bands like the Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd etc
US movies and TV were popular with shows like "Dallas" and "Dynasty"
US fashion was increasingly popular especially those associated with the youth like blue jeans and leather jackets
American fast food like burgers and fries became popular
Teenage Rebellion in the 1950s
1950s rapid economic growth changed the youth's views making them clash with older traditions
Teenagers embraced American influence with jazz and rock and roll which the older generations had an ambivalent attitude towards
US films like 'The Wild One' (1953) and 'Rebel Without A Clause' (1955) caused alarm
French actress Brigitte Bardot was seen to have bad influence on teenage girls
The '68 generation
Reasons for the protests of 1968
The Frankfurt Auschwitz trials of the mid 1960s
Increased university enrollment
Expansion of higher education opportunities so more young people engaged in intellectual discourse
Radicalisation due to the Vietnam War
New Left Ideas
International student protest movements in the US with civil rights
Anger at the Grand Coalition government as they were seen as dissolusioned
Opposition to the emergency laws
Gave the younger generation an opportunity to confront the adults
Were called 'Gammler' which meant lazy generation and were seen a shabby
Adults were worried about the younger generation dropping out of society altogether and that they were a threat to social order
1968 survey showed over 50% wanted Gammler to be sent to compulsory work camps
More conservative older generation views were echoed by the tabloid press owned by Axel Springer