Otto Dix's Metropolis

[@aotoda486]

I enjoy your coverage of the postwar Weimar Republic, life in which, despite all things, is often glossed over today. In relation to 3:38 one thing I think is important to point out is the actual economic condition of the republic in the late 20's. It is commonly forgotten that by this point, especially in thanks to the debt restructurings and econo-monetary reforms of Chancellor/FM Gustav Streseman, hyperinflation had long been reigned in and life in Weimar Germany was increasingly stable and bearable. It was with the hits of the *global* Great Depression, which of course had really nothing to do with the treaty of Versailles, that tanked the economy and returned Germany to the desperation it saw just after the war ended, allowing the Nazis to take rise. Now, that's not to say the war had no demoralizing effects on the German populace nor were postwar actions like the occupation of the Ruhr irrelevant to the situation. I want to clarify that the Weimar economic situation certainly wasn't poverty or crime free, or even comparable to life in the US or even the UK and France. And the image that Dix paints (literally in this case) is certainly a believable one, I don't want to downplay the suffering of WW1 vets, or any vets of any war for that matter. Also, clearly, Dix was not a Nazi. But the reason it's important to address these myths objectively, is the extent to which this demonization of the treaty 1. is so commonly taken for granted outside of academic circles and 2. finds its roots in far-right espousings such as those of the Nazis. Of course it becomes obvious when you think about it that the Nazis would support the notion that the economic hardships of the 30's were to be entirely blamed on the loss of the first world war, not only to generate animosity against the Western Allies who could then be painted as foreign oppressors, but also propagate the relevance of the stab-in-the-back myth with the notion that Jewish and other such subversive elements not at the frontlines had somehow sabotaged the war efforts and not "let" the Germanic people win their war. In this perspective, blind attacks on the implication of the evil of war reparations not only cloud decisions on other impositions of sanctions or reparations, but in a long drawn-out consequence continues a belief that supported the idea that the Nazis, if not justified were at least to some extent reasonable or understable in their warmongering. In reality the background of poverty in which they assumed power was largely detached from the reparations which, again, may have worsened but did not cause the depression that impacted the _entire world_ not just Weimar Germany. Beyond this, since neo-nazis and other far-right organizations that simp Prussian militarism and reichism _do_ still exist, scapegoating the economic problems of the Germans in the 30's on "Jewish Versailles collaborators" is still a thing that probably goes on today in the murky bottoms of historical 4chan and whatnot.

[@randomtinypotatocried]

Sadly that I'm noticing those murky bottoms are feeling emboldened to go on blaming the Jews for it in more every day company lately. I'm hoping this isn't going to be a trend of it getting normalized

[@storozhevoy7551]

Woah, great comment, it was very informative!

[@waffelmeister9477]

„Guys can we please stop talking bad about a debt that took the 4th biggest economy in the world almost a hundred years to pay?“

[@aotoda486]

@@waffelmeister9477 do you object that Stresseman's policies did not cummulate in the Reichsmark, that ended hyperinflation, and the Dawes Plan which allowed Germany the dominant steel industry of the Ruhr Valley it would levy later in World War 2? Is it not clear that after the Dawes Plan, the Young Plan lowered still German reparations, and that they would have continued to be restructured as Stresseman had planned all along, *if not* for the Great Depression?

[@thewaywardpoet]

I feel like if the Weimar Republic could be summed up in a single work of art, this triptych would be it. Otto Dix was not only a master stylist, but a marvelous social critic, the latter of which he demonstrates beautifully with "Metropolis."

[@selenajarv8763]

I love your videos! Im learning soo much about art history

[@Shawn.Grenier]

Thank you so much Selena! That's very sweet of you!

[@galielkarmi995]

Yes! I absolutely ADORE this painting! Thank you so much for this video 🙏

[@Shawn.Grenier]

I'm happy you adore this painting and thank you for commenting!

[@galielkarmi995]

@@Shawn.Grenier @The Canvas what will the next video be about? Please make a video about George Grosz's "Pillars of Society"🙏

[@CookieMonsterMC11]

German and austrian art between the two world wars is so interesting, thanks for the great videos!

[@orionm-s7377]

I love Metropolis!! It hangs in the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart and I've seen it many times irl

[@1Laurboch9]

This channel is gold, thank you for these fantastic videos!

[@Shawn.Grenier]

Aww thanks Laura! :)

[@zak5941]

youre one of my favorite channels at the moment. cant wait to see your videos blow up!

[@Shawn.Grenier]

Wow! It's an honour! Thank you so much Zak

[@hawk0485]

I think you would really enjoy the show "Babylon Berlin", it's a german show and it takes place in Berlin durring the Weimar Republic, for a german tv show, the production value is extremely high and all these dynamics you describe play out in the show. It's interesting to imagine the painter showing this work to someone for the first time. First you see the party and then the suffering around it, as the side pannels are opened. Thanks as always!

[@Shawn.Grenier]

I'll have to check it out! Thanks for the suggestion and thank you for your constant engagement with the videos! It's super appreciated!

[@connycontainer9459]

Better to read Hans Fallada - If he was ever translated into english..

[@ArtReviews]

Very innovative use of the tryptych to give great social commentary. Even the richness of the colour on the middle panel compared to the two sides alludes to the disparity between those enjoying the decadence inside compared to those outside.

[@Elisa-sn4gt]

Fantastic! I was waiting for this video! 😊

[@Shawn.Grenier]

Aww that makes me super happy! The next video is on Otto Dix's images of War! I'm sure you'll enjoy it! :)

[@aliwright1016]

Stunning. The first + last panels evoke the movement in Henry & Hornets', 'The Druids: Bringing in The Mistletoe'.

[@jdsoccr13]

Such a nicely made video about a powerful artwork!

[@4CloudySky]

Thank you for these amazing videos, they are truly unique

[@maxr5648]

This is great! Thank you for making the video

[@yusadonmez6542]

Beautiful video essay!

[@helohalo3106]

you’re such a gift, thank you for these amazing videos and thank you for also highlighting the queer artists in history, your work is so meaningful.

[@taniamedinaduenas9844]

hola me podrias decir por favor en que mes y que año publicaste este video por favor. es para un trabajo y necesito sacar la cita bibliografia

[@heshan810]

gcse edexcel weimar 2023?

[@tylerhood5035]

Is the black man in the center painting bleeding? With the resolution I can't tell whats going on.

[@Xfire209]

No. He is playing as part of the jazz band

[@mendoza4789]

weimar was a disgusting place. reminds me of america 2023

[@urviechalex9963]

What´s so disgusting? The epoch suffered under the consequences of the war, but came increasingly to terms with it. It´s tempting to look at it from the end, but there were a lot of very interesting things going on: the first German democracy, a vibrant cultural life, women on the rise....

[@mendoza4789]

@@urviechalex9963 mass prostitution and pedophilia just like Hollywood today. It's a pecking order designed to humiliate regular people for wealthy sex criminals like Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein

[@FernandoLopez-tx6lr]

zzzzz zzzz