Nostferatu and Injured Germany
I once went to a conference where one of the guys presented a paper on how "Frankenstein" represented cultural fears of polio. Though I'm not quite sure how much I buy the association with Nostferatu, his absurdly twisted features can't help but remind me of something similar. Perhaps interwar Germany has a thing with the dispossessed, the lost, the twisted and the malformed. After all, veterans of the great war were frequently maimed, either physically or psychologically. I'm not saying that Nostferatu represents a WW1 victim, but he seems to come awfully close.
In any case, the parrallels between the Influenza epidemic and the "plague" are overwhelming. But why, but how?
Here are my notes:
Brilliant movie. Should be seen in light of Murnau's other films, particularly, der Letze Mann, and Faust. I can see the trend toward twisted horror, absurdity, and--most interestingly--plague. Throughout.
Physical acting and gestures was enormously interesting. Max Schreck (great name) gives a fantastic performance.
Should also see the original Frankenstein. I wonder if the kind of horrific acting plays over there.
See also Tony Kaes's book on Weimar for reference to how this film reflects post WWI problems. Nostferatu as some kind of "broken ornament himself"?
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