Anton Kaes is a leading scholar in German studies and film and media. His work delves into the intricate relationship between cinema, history, and society, particularly within the context of German film. Kaes critically examines how cinematic art both reflects and shapes cultural and political atmospheres. He offers insightful analyses of the visual language of film as it interacts with significant historical moments.
'Shell Shock Cinema' shows how classical German cinema of the Weimar Republic was haunted by the horrors of World War I & the trauma of Germany's humiliating defeat. Anton Kaes argues that even films which do not depict war reveal a wounded nation in post-traumatic shock.
This edition of Anton Kaes' study delves into Fritz Lang's groundbreaking 1931 film M, exploring its themes, historical context, and cinematic techniques. It offers a critical analysis of the film's portrayal of morality and society, making it a significant contribution to film studies. The book situates M within the broader landscape of German cinema and examines its lasting impact on the thriller genre.
Reproduces (translated into English) contemporary documents or writings with an introduction to each section.
Examines changing attitudes among Germans as evident in films of the modern German era, leading away from guilt and atonement and seeking national identity