Expressionism

Assignment: Using the two films identify three major themes that you can find through both films. Explain how the films develop these themes and what do they mean. How do these themes relate to the theme of nihilism we have been discussing? Examples of themes could be ‘love’ or ‘madness’. So for example you would explain what are the themes of love you find in both films how do they relate, how are these themes developed and how does it relate to nihilism?

       
        Three themes that I found to be similar in both films, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Blue Angel, were: love, madness, and power. 
        The first theme love, is strongly portrayed in both films. It is noticed in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari when Francis and Alan who are friends, both have a secret love for Jane. Alan ends up dieing and Francis and Jane are together. Cesare is demanded to "kill" Jane, but he ends up falling in love with her also. In Blue Angel love is portrayed throughout the entire film. It is first noticed when Dr. Rath goes to catch his students at the club where Lola Lola performs and he lays eyes on this beautiful woman. He ends up spending the night with her and even resigning from teaching at the University. The theme of Love in both films can relate by having an important character fall in love and make sacrifices to be with that loved one.
        The second theme, madness, is portrayed in "The Cabinet of Caligari" where Dr. Caligari who is the somnambulist, hypnotizes Cesare and convinces him to murder people. He is actually committing the murders but through a "dummy". Although this was all a "fla shback" he was still the director of and Insane Asylum, looking for his next patients. In "Blue Angel", Rath is consumed by jealousy as he sees Lola to be a "sex appeal" and when he sees how many guys are actually interested in her. He becomes enraged when he sees her kiss another man and attempts to strangle her, but instead is beaten down. The theme of madness relates in both films as both of the main characters are insane. They start off as an "alright" individual but towards the end that normality digresses and it becomes pure insanity.
        The third theme, power, is portrayed in "The Cabinet of Caligari" where Dr. Caligari had the power of Cesare and could convince Cesare to commit the murders. As for the "reality" of the whole film, Dr. Caligari was also the head of the Insane Asylum, ultimately giving him power over all of his patients. In "Blue Angel" power is portrayed by a female this time. Lola has the power over Immanuel Rath, as he resigns from his teaching job just so that he could be with her and he spends all of his savings to pay the bills. Lola ultimately had power over professor Rath subconsciously as he knew he wanted to be with her and he would do whatever it would take. The theme of power in both films can be related by the fact that the person with the power in a way "manipulated" the other into getting what they want. Whether intentional, as in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, or unintentional as we have seen in Blue Angel.
          All of these themes are related to Nihilism because they show the destruction of an individual. What one once had was now gone. The feeling of despondency, where all hope is lost. Francis felt that way when he realized his best friend was murdered, and Immanuel Rath felt that way when he seen the love of his life kiss another man. The pure state of giving up the norms of society and not obeying rules anymore tends to take over.