Nazism

   The Nazism from the beginning identified themselves as representing the true Germans, Das Volk (the people).  The other conservative parties also tried to identify with the "volk" and used it in their names.  The Nazis were given political legitimacy when they were endorsed by the DNVP as a junior partner.  Many of the old school aristocrats were equally anti-Semitic and had equal contempt for democracy, they foolishly believed that they could control Hitler and the Nazis while using popularity.  This changed after 1930 when the Nazis became the dominant partner in the alliance.  Most of the conservative elements in Germany believed that Germany had been "stabbed in the back" by foreigners and intellectuals who had too much influence in society.  The Nazis promised to "get their country back" and restore Germany to its proper place.

   In this passage its said that the Nazis represented themselves as the people given themselves a name that will allow the country to trust them.

   I choose this passage because it says that at one point the Nazis were kind off betray foreigners which were looking to find a way on how to controlled them and take over their country and liberty.

1.  Some of the major reasons that lead to the rise of Nazi Germany were the political system and the economy hardship.

2.  The Nazis resolve conflicts between workers and owners by having them compromise on how to sell goods and services which will allow business to pay their workers and pay their expenses and still have a profit.  I believe tghis was an attractive model for the business executive because the Nazis had created a plan that worked for both business and workers because without each other a business will not function.

3.  The phrase "Arbeit Macht Frei" has a significance that "work sets you free" and/or "work liberates".  But any intelligent person know that work sets free only part of someone way of living and that the liberty to do with your hard earning money whatever you pleased.  Total freedom will be be can off ironic because must people work endlessly until their death.

4.  State capitalism is the commercial economic activity of businesses that are controlled and manage by the state.

5.  Anti-Semitism is describe as a term in which it only concentrates in the Jews, and how they are hated.  But what is more ironic regarding this issue is that violent riots launched against Jews were encouraged by government authority.

Max Weber: Politics as a Vocation

   "The will to power, narrowly stated as the need for power or motive for power, is defined more accurately as the ability to overcome resistance in the achievement of values.  The individuals who are able to overcome the most resistance are the Ubermensch or "superman".  The idea that humans are motivated by the need to realize values became the core of Weber's theory of human action, or what motivates human action.  The concept of ubermensch became the foundation of Weber's notion of charismatic domination".

   In this quote it is said that human are driven to succeed in life by having a purpose, and that's to reach their value or goal.  The need to gain power will always have a value which individuals will want to have in their hands.  I choose this quote because its a reality when it comes to humans.  When someone has a purpose in life and for them to achieve their goal they will always encounter a rough path to get to it.  As the saying says "not all that glitters is gold", and all humans will under go trial and error to get to what they want.  Having your price at the end of your journey will be something that anyone will appreciate even more after seeing all the bumps along the road that they had to move out of the way to make it.  "The grass its always greener on the other side" and having succeed in life is ever sweeter when you know you gave it all you had to reach it.

The Weimar Republic

I.  Article 58
     "Reich government decides by majority of votes.  In case of a stalemate the president's (10) vote is decisive"
This article says that to be fair on choosing someone to be part of the government the winner is based on who has the most votes.  In case of a tied the president has the final vote if needed.
I choose this article because a country as a whole, every individual should make their voice be heard on deciding whats best for their country.
II.  Article 117
      "Privacy of correspondence, of mail, telegraphs & telephone are inviolable.  Exceptions are admissible only if based on a Reich Law"
Article is referring to that that any time of privacy stated above are secure from violation of profanation.
The fact that everyone's privacy is protect by law make every citizens for at ease with their personal belongings, unless the law is require to search an individual privacy for investigation purpose.


1.  An advantage of proportional representation is that it can be proportional.  When voting the outcome of the result is based on majority of votes.  An disadvantage is that if the party with the fewer votes can win which its extremely unfair.
2.  The leading cause of the decline of the Weiner Republic was the depression.
3.  Hyperinflation is when a country experiences very high and usually accelerating inflation.  Where inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.    "source: en.wikipedia.org"
4.  I would judge the Weimar constitution as compared to the American constitution, in the way that they treat everyone equally to set an example for everyone in the country.
                               

The German Revolution 1918-1919

   "The first real "Welfare state" was created in Germany in the 1870s........  It is very interesting that the first welfare state was created basically to control the poor and the working class......  Since Germany had develop one of the first real organized labor movement in the 19th century they were able to put pressure on the political system........  relieve public pressure generated by economic hardship."
   In this passage it is stated that the welfare state organization was created to help those cope with the crisis of the economy after the war.  I choose this passage because it shows how others fought for society to have an organization looking after their best interest and thats to at least have food on their table when the economy was bad.


1.  Luxemburg believe the war of 1871 created a path for the war in 1914, because this cause Europe to split into two separated group in 1870 resulting in chaos which led to the 1914 war.
2.  Regarding the claims made about "Russian despotism" supported by the SPD, Luxemburg reacts to it by not agreeing with it.  Judging it as a threat for the German society.
3.  Nationalism focuses on the pride in ones country and its people.  While capitalism, is a economic system which allows individuals to have business that provides goods and services to others while getting a profit out of it.  To make this system run a bit more smooth government interference is very minimal.  I believe the relation of the two is that since capitalism allows the the creation of businesses as a way to be independent and gain a profit.  Nationalism was created so those under capitalism will have a better business relation without having conflict, which makes it better and easier when trading goods and services.  Nationalism gives everyone the opportunity to be treated equally without permitting no one to think they should have preference because of how wealth they are.
4.  Luxemburg believe that the war supported business interest of steel and the banks because those were two major alliance that will help them with supply (weapon) and capital (money) so that they can succeed in the war.

" M "

     The scene where Hans is being question by the police is very interesting.  By trying to say his motive of killing and by letting police know that he can't control what he does seem to work a bit with the officers.  But that didn't happen.  I choose this scene because Hans as the killer seem to show as if it was okay for him to kill just because of his condition.  But by all means he could have try to get help to resolve his issues.  Many killers tent to always be in denial of what they do, but there could always be light at the end of tunnel even by just trying to get help.


1.  In "Dr. Caligari" the police power just didn't make its presence known.  They show lack of interest in solving the crime at hand.  But in "M" the evolution of the police power did let everyone know that the killer will be caught one way or another and justice will be serve.  Their need to know who committed the crime was visible and because of it, society did their best to help.
2.  Whether the killer deserve to die or not, I believe is a very very sensitive subject.  No one has the right to take someone else life by all means.  But if the decision is one or the other, I guess that the motive of the crime and any evidence involve can help in the decision.    No matter what, killing someone is just not right, its very inhumane.
3.  The criminals ability to organize themselves in the capture of Beckert made a huge effect on the capture because they were thinking with their criminal minds.  Is as if they question themselves "if it was me they were looking for, where would I hide?".
4.  I would judge the depiction of the Nazis as criminals in the way that even though their profile wasn't great they help in the capture anyways.  They knew where to look and what to do since their knowledge in the dark side of society was something that police may have not experience in their own.
5.  The significance of the media in this film is to let society know what could happen or what is happening among their own people.  It could be use as a wake up call to be aware of their surrounding. 

The Blue Angel

     In overall the film was very good.  The scene that I choose was the one where Rath goes to "The Blue Angel" in search for his love Lola and ask her for marriage.  Lola's reaction to this situation is one that can happen in today's society.  Just by Lola's reaction, Rath emotion were crushed.  At that particular moment, Rath could have become blinded with rage and the result might have been devastating.  I choose this scene because we should all be aware and conscious of what we are going to say to others.  Since someones reaction is unknown, its better to be safe than sorry and we should all choose are words carefully when approaching an individual.


1.  I would compare Rath/Lola to Siddhartha/Kamala by looking how different women and    men see life during that period of time.  The women's see life as an amusement park where they just want to have fun.  In contrast, these men's where just falling in love with someone totally different from their persona.
2.  I think Lola is a totally impassive woman.  She wants to do as she pleased without caring if she might hurt someones feeling a long the way.  
3.  The significance of the clown should be view as what the reaction could have been of those persons who entered "The Blue Angel".  It can also have a significance of how society laughs at those individuals who live the easy life in the dark world.
4.  Chaos is thematically represented through out the whole film.  The chaos in "The Blue Angel" by showing those who go to that place in search for some activity out of the normal behavior.  Even in the school there is chaos as the students don't follow rule that they should obey.
5.  The overall meaning of the film by all means is that people need to take a second before putting into action what they are going to say.  The result will have or can have a negative impact for someone.
6.  I believe your comparison was to show that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover.  Those with ugly covers can hold the most valuable information for our life's.  But the one with pretty colorful covers can be the must deceiving ones.   

Expressionism: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

     The movie "The cabinet of Dr. Caligari" is clearly way to different form our times now.  Being the fact that is black & white and that there is no voice, is for anyone of us to turn off the movie and click play to one of our current color movies.  But I do have to say that from time to time is good to see how films started to play a big role in society.
   In the movie, there is a part where Caligari wants to get a permit to operate his conseccion while a fair is in function.  But not being his luck, he's treated very bad and poorly by the clerk official.  His intention to get a permit done was unsuccessful and he was force to leave the place. 
   This part is very important because it's something we can relate to in today's society.  Who would have inagine that such behavior have lived for so many years.  In my opinion, when I  come across a situation like this it makes me ask myself "why people act like this towards others?".  Why there is so many ignorant people out there? why is it so hard to help others when your job description is just that, Help others?.  I believe that most of the times humans tent not to care for others even if their job requires it.  It's very bad behaviour and manners to treat someone else as if they are trash and don't deserve the respect that they should be given.  As of today, there is plenty and plenty of people that are to stock on judging someone by their looks, ethic background, skin color, etc.  But as the old phrase says "don't judge its book by its cover", everyone should take this phrase with them and live with it every day.  Just because he/she works at a certain place "like this clerk" it doesn't give that person the right to choose whether to help someone or not.  Maybe if we try to put ourselves in the other person's shoes and see what their issues or problems they are going thru it could be a lesson to treat each other with respect and equality every day.  But since they see that someone elses problem doesn't affect them, they don't try to care. 

1.  The symbolism of caligary's power over Cesare is presented as Caligary's being a government and Cesare as the people of that country being control by Caligary.
2.  The profit motive affected cultural production in the modern age in the way that it created another form of how to be creative for society & entertained them while getting money as a profit out of it.
3.  I would evaluate the Frankfurst School elitism regarding mass culture as a form of organization that was only interested in making money.  the profit motive was the only primary reason they wanted to obtain, and the artistic integrity of making the product was of no value to them as long as their profit in money was increasing.
4.  (a) how the carnival and film genereated money for the German economy after a bad lost following the war.  (b) The control that Caligari had over Cesare reflects German gosvernment.  (c) Seeing how situation can be either good/bad, and making or creating a better way.
5.  kracauer interprets the film as a choice between tyranny and chaos by showing how much control and power Caligari had over Cesare and seeing all the chaos the carnival created among the public.
6.  There was an increase pressure to develop the German film industry after the first world war because,  the country had experience bad economy after the war.
7.  I don't think the claim that expressionism breeds excessive inwardness and withdrawal.  Everyone has a mind of their own and they can think, believe, and follow what they think its right or wrong.  Sometimes because of the lack of not having an open mind, many people don't allow themselves the opportunity to see someone elses point of view regarding any type of issue.
8.  The film foreshadow the Nazi regime according to Kracauer by showing what the German country is going to become.  "A country control by a commander that will tell everyone what to do".
9.  Praxis is the process by which a theory, lesson, or skill is enacted, practised, embodied, or realised. (Ref. "Widipedia.com").  It relates to cultural criticism because it shows and demonstrates how something new to society can be critizied without given the chance to generated what it can attribute to society.

Siddhartha

     "Very beautiful are your verses," exclaimed Kamala, "if I was rich, I would give you pieces of gold for them.  But it will be difficult for you to earn thus much money with verses as you need.  For you need a lot of money, if you want to be Kamala's friend."
"The way you're able to kiss, Kamala!" stammered Siddhartha
"Yes, this I am able to do, therefore I do not lack clothes, shoes, bracelets, and all beautiful things.  But what will become of you? Aren't you able to do anything else but thinking, fasting, making poetry?" 
"I also know the sacrificial songs," said Siddhartha, "but I do not want to sing them any more.  I also know magic spells, but I do not want to speak them any more.  I have read the scriptures-"
"Stop," Kamala interrupted him.  "You're able to read? And write?"
"Certainly, I can do this.  Many people can do this."
"Most people can't.  I also can't do it.  It is very good that you're able to read and write, very good.  You will also still find use for the magic spells."


     In this passage, its clear that Kamala is interested in Siddhartha but there is more to it.  She has showed him how well she can kiss and those kisses can very well be a trap for her convenience.  She knows he can think, fasting, and make poetry, but she wants more than that.  She tell him that for him to be her friend he will need a lot of money and lots of it, since she does not lack clothes, shoes, bracelets, and all beautiful things.  Moreover, her learning that he can read and write makes it more interesting for her to get to know him.  It opens up the idea that with him reading and writing he will obtain more money as she made it obvious that it will be something that he most have to be with her.
     I choose this passage because when she says "For you need a lot of money, if you want to be Kamala's friend" it caught my attention.  It made think of today's society and how there are so many people around us that only use their so called "friends" as a way for them to get something out of the friendship.  It's a sad world knowing that there are plenty, plenty of people who are just ignorant and only use others to get what they want.  They won't value the meaning of priority in life, and they are just stock in their own "bubble word".


1.  To my understanding Siddhartha leaves his father so he can escape life his father and other teacher were teaching.  He want it to follow his own path and learn from his own decision the good and bad of life.  They knowledge he was seeking for was something nor his father or teacher were going to be able to provide to him, it was something that he needed to learn on his own.
4.  The significance of the river, its life itself.  Its the road, path, or stream that one can choose to experience life by our own decision and gain knowledge by own trial and error of life, and not live only by what they teach us.
7.  Siddhartha feels the priest cannot see the true beauty of the world because they only live by what they are taught.  To uncover the meaning of the world will only be learned through experience.
8.  Vasudeva is the ferryman he encountered when he first began his journey decades ago when still a young man, which he confides in.  It's like an inner voice that kept him company through his path of life.
10.  Siddhartha decide not to follow Buddha because he didn't want to reach the level of enlightenment by just "believing" in the what he was being taught.  He want it to understand, explore, and learn form his own experiences of the world through trial and error.  How can one say that they have learned from their mistakes when they haven't encounter that bumpy road to experience on their own.






  

Hannah Hoch

     Hannah Hoch was born (Anna Therese Johanne Hoch) on Nov. 1, 1889 in Gotha, Germany.  Her mother was an amateur painter and her father a manager for an insurance company.  By the time she entered college she wanted to study fine arts, but in the attempt to please her father she studied glass design and graphic arts at the College of Arts and Crafts in Berlin from 1912-1914.  By this time, World Ward I was beginning  and her studies had to come to a stop for the moment.  In 1915 she resume her studies in graph class at the National Institute of the Museum of Arts and Crafts.  Also in 1915, she began a friendship with Raoul Hausmann who was a member of the Berlin Dada movement which later on became a romance but terminated on 1922.  While she was involve with Hausmann she did learned a lot, and both artists entered into the world of collage.  Even though there was evidence of their work together, she didn't received any credit for her talent.  She as a woman was not treated as equal as man, so she had to remain on the background while Hausmann was presented as the only one with talent.
     While in the Berlin Dada group, she began to witness the hypocrisy in the German society and that's when her photomontage came in to play "Da-Dandy".  "Many of her pieces point out the faults of beauty culture comparing reality to depictions targeted to women", the media and the reality of woman was not the same.  Women were not giving the same respect as men's, and they were not allow to decide for themselves.  In the 1920's Hoch saw herself as part of the women's movement.  In her art work she shows the equality of women and men as one, and that was totally the opposite of the reality.  Women's were punished if they break the law of the traditional gender role "Men Law".  Must of her pieces always involved women and that was mostly because of her bisexuality.  Women were supposed to follow a law, a rule, and that was something the Hannah Hoch was not.

en.wikipedia.com
yellowbellywebdesign.com/hoch/bo.html

In this artwork< Hannah want to portray and illustrate the many opinions an issue can have coming form society.  Also the many eyes color seen here can be representing a different point of view regarding a particular case.

In this piece, we can see how many individuals can take pride in their country by wearing military / officials clothing.  On the other hand, there will be always those particular persons who tent to show nothing but disrespect to their nation.  As seen here, we can see men's almost without clothing and exposing themselves without caring about it.

In this artwork we can see how two men are appreciating a woman's leg.  But what takes me by surprise is seeing the lips of a woman on the tip right corner.  This could have been a sign that same sex sexuality was starting to rise but everything was kept on the shadow where no one will know about it.

"Dada Manisfesto"

Dada - "Defense Against the Dark Arts"
Dadaists - "Suggested a new form of expression which was simultaneously anti-art, anti-establishment, and anarchist."
     
     "I don't want words that other people have invented.  All the words are other people's invention's.  I want my own stuff, my own rhythm, and vowels and consonants too, matching the rhythm and all my own."
    
      The word "Dada" is suppose to be a nonsense word, a word with no meaning.  The Dada movement was a way, an attempt to break away from the current system.  A system where all individuals where to follow the law and formulas given to them, and nothing less.  Having the option think and express  their own feelings was no allow.
     In "Dada Manifesto", I can see how Hugo Ball wants to be acknowledge and recognize as his own person.  In the text that I choose the author is saying that as an individual, he should be allow to think whatever he wants, create his own ideas, mark his own life, follow his own path, and all should come from his own words.  Following someone else words and inventions will only allow himself to walk a certain direction without being permitted to step out of that row.  As a human being with its own mind, the freedom to express himself as he knows best, will give others the opportunity to see and learn from his point of view regarding the world.  I do agree with Hugo Ball, every individual has the right to be themselves no matter what other think.  Freedom of mind and expression is a beautiful way as to show our feelings, what we think, and all without having anyone telling us what to do and how it should be done.  Having someone tell you that you can't do something, or give you the impression that your goal in life is to far to reach, is just a person that doesn't respect nor gives support to other to at least try and succeed in life.  
     A certain procedure or process can be done in more that on way as long as your results are accomplished.  Example;  planting a plant on a nice soil ground works better for must people, but there will always be someone that will prefer on planting a plant on a plastic container.  They use different methods to reach their goal, but they still will get a growing plant.  I believe that each one of us as an individual will have our way to shine throw life.  A perfect person without no faults, doesn't show the struggles in their path.

Introduction
This is my first semester at Lehman College as a transfer student.  I currently have an A.A.S in Accounting and I'm pursuing my Bachelors degree in Accounting as well.  Taking courses that are not accounting related can be very powerful as to we can learn from other countries, their people, and their history.