German Expressionism: Nosferatu vs Nosferatu the Vampyre
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
Ellensburg
Event Website
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source
Start Date
18-5-2020
Abstract
German Expressionism was a crucial movement in film history, and its influence can be seen all throughout cinema today. In 1922, F.W. Murnau produced one of the most influential films of the German Expressionist movement, "Nosferatu". German Expressionism gave birth to a dark and moody aesthetic in which "Nosferatu" has popularized. Deep shadows, silhouette lighting, and exaggerated sets/costumes are just some of the visionary choices that were utilized to personify the mental states of the film’s protagonists, and reflect the anxieties of society within the story world, and in real life at the time. New German Cinema, a German film movement spanning from the early 60’s through the 80’s, sought to ignore and move past the works of previous filmmakers and movements due to generational tensions, and a declining German film industry in the 50’s. Among the filmmakers of this period was Werner Herzog, who instead of ignoring his country’s cinematic grandfathers, decided to pay tribute to them. Herzog’s tribute came in the form of a re-imagined take on Murnau’s Nosferatu named "Nosferatu the Vampyre" (1979). By comparing both Murnau’s and Herzog’s renditions of Bram Stoker’s "Dracula", it’s clear that Herzog was paying homage to Murnau through a deeply expressionistic film that otherwise wouldn’t exist had Murnau not laid the groundwork for it. However, while "Nosferatu" and "Nosferatu the Vampyre" contain similar narratives, differing technology and directorial decisions created two vastly different films that both still manage to exemplify the values of German Expressionism.
Recommended Citation
Lien, Scott, "German Expressionism: Nosferatu vs Nosferatu the Vampyre" (2020). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 17.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2020/CAH/17
Department/Program
Film Studies
Additional Mentoring Department
https://cwu.studentopportunitycenter.com/2020/05/german-expressionism-nosferatu-vs-nosferatu-the-vampyre/
German Expressionism: Nosferatu vs Nosferatu the Vampyre
Ellensburg
German Expressionism was a crucial movement in film history, and its influence can be seen all throughout cinema today. In 1922, F.W. Murnau produced one of the most influential films of the German Expressionist movement, "Nosferatu". German Expressionism gave birth to a dark and moody aesthetic in which "Nosferatu" has popularized. Deep shadows, silhouette lighting, and exaggerated sets/costumes are just some of the visionary choices that were utilized to personify the mental states of the film’s protagonists, and reflect the anxieties of society within the story world, and in real life at the time. New German Cinema, a German film movement spanning from the early 60’s through the 80’s, sought to ignore and move past the works of previous filmmakers and movements due to generational tensions, and a declining German film industry in the 50’s. Among the filmmakers of this period was Werner Herzog, who instead of ignoring his country’s cinematic grandfathers, decided to pay tribute to them. Herzog’s tribute came in the form of a re-imagined take on Murnau’s Nosferatu named "Nosferatu the Vampyre" (1979). By comparing both Murnau’s and Herzog’s renditions of Bram Stoker’s "Dracula", it’s clear that Herzog was paying homage to Murnau through a deeply expressionistic film that otherwise wouldn’t exist had Murnau not laid the groundwork for it. However, while "Nosferatu" and "Nosferatu the Vampyre" contain similar narratives, differing technology and directorial decisions created two vastly different films that both still manage to exemplify the values of German Expressionism.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2020/CAH/17
Faculty Mentor(s)
Todd Maetani