This thinker delved into the phenomena of modern society, from detective novels to film and the culture of mass entertainment. His analyses focused on how individuals turn to the "distraction industries" when feeling spiritually adrift, leading to sharp critiques of capitalism and totalitarian regimes. Kracauer's works lay the foundations of modern film criticism and explore the psychological underpinnings of social phenomena.
This book brings together a broad selection of Siegfried Kracauer's work on media and political communication, much of it previously unavailable in English. It features writings spanning more than two decades, from the 1930s to the early Cold War period.
An essential work of the cinematic history of the Weimar Republic by a leading figure of film criticism First published in 1947, From Caligari to Hitler remains an undisputed landmark study of the rich cinematic history of the Weimar Republic. Prominent film critic Siegfried Kracauer examines German society from 1921 to 1933, in light of such movies as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, M, Metropolis, and The Blue Angel. He explores the connections among film aesthetics, the prevailing psychological state of Germans in the Weimar era, and the evolving social and political reality of the time. Kracauer makes a startling (and still controversial) claim: films as popular art provide insight into the unconscious motivations and fantasies of a nation. With a critical introduction by Leonardo Quaresima which provides context for Kracauer’s scholarship and his contributions to film studies, this Princeton Classics edition makes an influential work available to new generations of cinema enthusiasts.
Kracauer's profound theoretical investigation revealed film as the form that best captured the new modes of experience that characterize modernity.
Set against the backdrop of World War I, the story follows a young architecture student in Munich who cleverly avoids military enlistment. Through the character of Ginster, a Chaplinesque antihero, the narrative explores themes of self-absorption and societal demands. The horrors of war remain largely offstage, with civilian life heavily influenced by military language. As Ginster grapples with his desires and the relentless pressures of the world around him, the novel reflects on the absurdity of war and its pervasive impact on everyday life, making it resonate in contemporary times.
Focusing on the unique qualities of film, this study argues that motion pictures are fundamentally different from traditional arts like theater and literature. Dr. Kracauer emphasizes film's ability to capture the everyday world, highlighting its strength in portraying fleeting moments and authentic experiences. He posits that if film is indeed an art, it distinguishes itself through its photographic nature, adept at revealing the subtleties of life, such as the ripple of leaves and the nuances of human behavior.
Die Errettung der äußeren Wirklichkeit
Kracauers zuerst 1960 in Amerika erschienene Theorie des Films ist eine materiale Ästhetik, die sich mit Inhalten beschäftigt. Sie beruht auf der Annahme, daß der Film im wesentlichen eine Erweiterung der Fotografie ist und daher eine ausgesprochene Affinität zur sichtbaren Welt hat. Das bedeutet eine Absage an alle Filme mit ›theatralischer‹ Story, mit ›künstlerischen‹ oder ideologischen Ambitionen. Filme, die ihrem Medium gerecht werden, registrieren jedoch nicht nur, sondern enthüllen, ›erretten‹ die äußere Wirklichkeit: sie öffnen unseren Blick für das Kleine, Zufällige, Unbeabsichtigte und Unbestimmte.
