Metropolis Notes (Edelen)
Science Fiction masterpiece
Revolutionary film whose images are recreated in Blade Runner, Dark City, Terminator 2 (robot double concept), The Fifth Element, Gattaca, and Batman’s Gotham City. Also, Invasion of the Body Snatchers—idea of “people” without feelings/emotions/souls.
Lang employed 25.000 extras, vast sets, and special effects that were groundbreaking. Used real flames in stake scene.
Is often considered “the summit of German Expressionism,” with stylized sets, dramatic camera angles, bold use of light and shadow, and obvious theatrics
Lang saw himself as a “visual person” and this epic silent, tinted film relies on innovative visual imagery that was well ahead of its time
Union of head, hands, heart
Joh (John) Frederson—“master” of Metropolis, Freder’s father
Freder-upper ground “hero”
Maria- underground heroine
Rotwang- mad scientist, evil genius, disturbingly foreshadowing Dr. Mengele WWII
Hel-Maria’s robot double (evil twin?)
Concepts to consider—man vs. machine, Tower of Babel (built by slaves), catacombs (Christians hid in catacombs to escape death), Maria (virgin Mary & obvious religious symbolism)
Eyeballs
Yoshiwara’s—Japanese influence
Position of pentangle/pentagon
Estrangement—How does Lang force us to “re-see” the familiar?
Iconic images- pentagram, Christian symbols
Dualisms:
Science vs. Magic
Order vs. Chaos
New vs. Old
Workers vs. Thinkers
Belowground vs. Aboveground
Purity vs. Sin
Virgin vs. Vamp
Human vs. Machine
Light vs. Dark
Upper/lower—both linked and separated by technology
Does the film perpetuate stereotypes? Is the film misogynistic? Is the film technophobic?
(Double helix—Crick & Watson, 1951-53)
“Arguably the most influential SF film of all time”—agree or disagree? Why?
-inaugurates a genre
-is considered a prototype for so many other films
-continues to fascinate
-mirrors both fear and fascination with technology (technophobia)
-creates a female identity by patriarchal (authoritarian) forces to serve as a weapon of revenge and power
-Metropolis revolt is truly a Luddite revolt
“The Luddites were 19th-century English textile artisans who violently protested against the machinery introduced during the Industrial Revolution that made it possible to replace them with less-skilled, low-wage labourers, leaving them without work. Historian Eric Hobsbawm has called their machine wrecking "collective bargaining by riot", which had been a tactic used in Britain since the Restoration, as the scattering of manufactories throughout the country made large-scale strikes impractical.[1][2]
The movement was named after Ned Ludd, a youth who had allegedly smashed two stocking frames 30years earlier, and whose name had become emblematic of machine destroyers.[3][4][5] The name evolved into the imaginary General Ludd or King Ludd, a figure who, like Robin Hood, was reputed to live in Sherwood Forest.” (Wikipedia.org)
-Robot Maria runs amok- her purpose was to destroy the incipient revolt and discredit Maria. Instead, Robot Maria leads workers to destroy the machines that enslave them. Workers burn the cyborg/witch and Freder assumes the role of mediator
-Novum- world of the story: three spaces (catacombs, workers’ world, “pleasure gardens”/ aboveground)
- Workers reduced to robots = movements dominated by the mechanical rhythms of machines
- Dystopia—source of power; and yet on the surface…
- Thriving Metropolis—vast skyscrapers, aerial highways, stadiums, pleasure gardens…technological utopia
- Tech empowers and liberates for sensual and playful activities
- Third space—deeper in catacombs—pretechnological
- Preaching, peace, patience…. Constitutes an alternative to the dilemma posed by the other two spaces
- Catacombs are a womb-like space, a feminizing space—patience, peace… this space exists far below the spaces dominated by men.
Both Brave New World and 1984have this “3rd space” in their dystopian landscapes
Wealthy elite are mostly men
Drone workers are all men
Metropolis seems to be a city of mostly men, with few exceptions
Society is authoritarian & patriarchal, yet the robot is female: why?
--And SHE rebels!
Maria: surrounded by children, Christian symbols (haloed in 1st appearance), virginity, preaches love, reconciliation, patience
**why react against her? What is Joh Frederson afraid of?
What does the loss of Rotwang’s hand imply?
--Robot is dangerous
--Destroys power of elite
--Takes men captive (Yoshiwara’s)
--Unleashes repressed energies
Cyborg incorporate humans & thus erase human/tech distinction
Protocols: Extrapolates, Novum (world of the story), estrangement, iconic images, subjunctivity reality/unreality
Made in 1926—recut, colorized, soundtracked later on
Much of the original footage is completely lost to history.
Literary considerations--Story—use of symbols,references to myth
Cinematic—place of women, cultural icons,
Dramatic—body position, acting, costuming, makeup of actors—movement
Motifs:
-Garden of Eden
-Frankenstein—discordant piano at each step
-Time machine plot
- Hitler’s master race
- Elements of racist attitudes
-Crosses/Christian symbols
-Pentagon/pentangle
Movie took place prior to WWII and Hitler
10 years before Jem & Scout were spying on Boo Radley—Harper Lee & Truman Capote
“Robot” term was not invented until 1930 (RUR)
“The First Science Fiction Film”