Art in the Nazi Regime

The exhibit of degenerate art put on display for the Aryan nation provides one with an interesting question to ponder. If Hitler was so intent on excluding “degenerate” art from German culture and focusing entirely on the classical and folkloristic art Hitler declared suitable for the nation to observe, why, then, focus an entire exhibit on the art declared unfit for human eyes? In my opinion it is because Hitler recognized that most working class Germans would be unaware of the differences between what he declared “degenerate art” and art worthy of being a part of the German nation.

It is clear that any form of modern or abstract art is unfit in Hitler’s eyes. The massive sculptures shown in Cohen’s film are perfect examples of Hitler’s ideal art forms: perfect representations of the ideals of the Aryan nation. In the case of the sculptures, the perfect, chiseled bodies that tower over all who walk by are symbols of what every German should strive to be. The extremely realistic paintings of German homes, factories, and landscapes are put forth for the public to see what they could have under the Nazi regime. The degenerate art is the exact opposite of the realistic art Hitler finds most aesthetically pleasing. Aside from being created being Jewish artists, the degenerate art is abstract. Faces are distorted and dark, landscapes are fuzzy, and most paintings cannot be classified as “beautiful”. Hitler uses the degenerate art exhibit to specify what he deems unfit to be a part of German society, and it clear from the images in Cohen’ film that after seeing examples of degenerate art one would be able to differentiate between good art and degenerate art.

Cohen’s film is political in the sense that he makes some sweeping generalizations about the basis of Hitler’s entire empire. He focuses solely on the art and architecture that so enthralled Hitler, rather than on his anti-Semitism. While it is an interesting point of view to take when looking at the Nazi regime, it is certainly a large political statement to focus solely on the art Hitler so appreciated and not the other factors that influenced his planning.