The Broken Jug

My initial impression of the Broken Jug was that it did not overtly convey political propaganda to the extent that other Nazi films of the time did, such as Hitler Youth Quex. However, as discussed in class, it is clearly important to evaluate this comedy based on the context in which it falls within German history and politics. Accordingly, if I were to write a paper on the Broken Jug, the film’s most direct parallel to Nazi film and propaganda would be based on its portrayal of Adam as a corrupt, gluttonous, dishonorable figure who fails to uphold his duties as a judge, effectively making him a detriment to society. By stereotyping Adam as the opposite of the German ideal, the film denounces cowardice, irresponsibility, and the failure to promote the welfare of society.

In addition, the Broken Jug’s apparent references to Adam and Eve – symbols of weakness when exposed to temptation – seems to allude to the Nazi’s disapproval of weak individuals who lack discipline, especially when the implications of their actions can negatively affect the greater good. Adam who is supposed to be an upright individual as a judge, fails as an individual society – he is a drunk and a liar. Eve also falls victim to similar shortcomings of character as she cannot stand up for herself until the end when she realizes her boyfriend will be sent off to jail – she is selfish.

The Broken Jug

The Broken Jug is best understood as a nazi film when it is related to the original play by Kleist. The differences between the two delineate a good place to begin understanding the nazi aesthetic of the film. When compared to the original play, the film reveals itself as a nazi film, but it is not propagandistic, really. The film is influenced by nazi ideals, as evidenced in the resolution at the end of the film versus the breakdown of law and order in Kleist's play.
There are other indications that this film is a nazi film; the character that is the comedic buffoon, [Judge Adam] is the 'villain'. This fits because overall, there was not very much funny about the nazis- the nationalism and work ethic left little room for humor, I guess. Or maybe the nazis were very funny: about half of the films they produced were considered 'happy films.' Maybe history has imposed this humorless stereotype.

The Broken Jug (This film has been edited for content)

So, the broken jug is definitely not a "Nazi" Film in the purest sense. This, however, does not mean that it wasn't made in such a way as to praise nazi values and to downplay anything suggested by the play which might be controversial. For instance, the idea of a person in a position of power abusing it is not the best story line for a film being released under a totalitarian regime. In response, the Judge is made an example of as a failed leader and an undesirable from the very beginning. In this way instead of causing people to question Hitler's authority they become grateful that their leader is not like the judge. Also the film takes advantage of the judge to show what kind of members of society should be outcast. Essentially, although "The Broken Jug" is not an overtly nazi film, it still falls in line with nazi values.

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Because the Broken Jug is a comedy, the message of Nazi imagery and propaganda is significantly less obvious because there are two goals, one is to promote the message of the Nazi Regime and the other is to make the audience laugh, two highly contradictory goals. The film is supposed to describe a society where the authority and order is broken, and the humor and opportunity for laughter in this situation. I liked to previous blog about this being a Nazi film, where we are able to laugh because this notion seems highly ironic and somewhat disturbing. My paper would focus on the challenge of promoting Nazi regime ideals in a way that is comic. It is easy to see why Goebbels did not like this film. The film’s moral of the story is that laws and authority cannot always be trusted, and Goebbels promoted that laws and authority will ultimately save the people. This film is most definitely a satirical false and my paper would focus on the irony that the judge who in the end is indentified as the guilty one conducts the trial. The message of the film is also about the failure of the justice system and how the judge allows his personal goals to interfere with his public ones and the harder he tries to cover them up, the deeper his lie becomes. The director begs the question, what does it mean if our judges are criminals? Who can we trust? What defines law if the system is corrupt? Because this film fits into the “happy films” category, there are strong elements of humor concerning the clumsy Judge Adams, who represents the disorder and uncleanly group that the Nazi Regime is so desperate to expel and exterminate. The propaganda in the happy films is much more covert propaganda, the message is that man’s private behavior disregards justice, which can be further analyzed that private behavior leads to corruption. Thus Nazi society should be thought of as a whole and not as individuals. We talked a lot in class about the significance of the male body; the physicality of the male body was a crucial part of the propagandist image of the Nazi in the 1930’s. The abnormal figure of Adam was both the object of humor and disdain and buffoonery is the embodiment of what a proper Nazi citizen should not look like. While his physical image is amusing, it sends the message to the audience that those clumsy in appearance will be clumsy individuals and make more private life decisions that affect the greater whole of society.

What the Judge Stands For

While this isn't the best way to start a 'paper,' I have to preface this with how unsure I am about my argument. The judge symbolizes everything the Nazi party doesn't stand for. He has broken the laws of society which he was supposed to enforce. He is an alcoholic who has not curbed his habit- this disease has made him a weaker person. The Nazi party is all about strength and will power. It is not about the blunders of one civil servant. The community would fall apart if individuals kept making the same mistakes as him. His immorality goes against the code of ethics that define the Nazi party. The fact that the judge failed in covering up his screw-up shows that those individuals who go against the society will hinder the progression of the society as a whole and will ultimately be found out.

From the Stage to Film to Paper

As was noted in class, German cinema during the 1930's heavily relied on the production of "happy" films. I believe it would be important to understand why the Nazi regime embraced this genre, and "The Broken Jug" in particular, when it is not the genre typically connected with propaganda or political messages. The first step would be to show which aspects of the movie fit the archetype for Nazi propaganda. Here I would detail how the lazy, alcoholic, disfigured, sinful judge broke the own laws he stood for until the noble court examiner thrust him out of town with the help of the good townsfolk; this was not so unlike the Nazi plan for the "plagues" on a pure German society (Jews, gypsies, etc.). Next, I would analyze the role of characters like Judge Adam in Nazi films. For instance, in Quex the Hitler Youth that was a drain on the Nazi cause (throwing away propaganda fliers and fraternizing with the Communist girl) was shown as an outcast due to his actions against the party. These sort of characters show what happens to those that don't fit in with the plan for a better Nazi future. Lastly, I would show any differences made from the original play to the film adaptation that better adapt to Nazi culture.

Nazi Comedy?

It would be very difficult to find any political propaganda in The Broken Jug, so the best way to look at the movie in the context of Nazism is to look for evidence of Nazi cultural norms. Of course it would be best to do this with a comparison to the original Kleist play, but it is possible to notice some peculiarities without knowledge of it. In class we discussed the portrayal of the judge, his deviance from accepted standards of conduct, and the portrayal of his body. Although it is a stretch to claim that disdain for a criminal is a specifically Nazi phenomenon, it is at least not anti-Nazi. One other aspect we could look at is the character of the official from Utrecht. His character evolves from inspiring fear and mistrust to, as the audience slowly learns of Adam’s guilt, being a species of hero. Indeed, I believe we mentioned in class that the scene at the end, where the official ensures Ruprecht that he is not required to go to the West Indies, was not in the stage version. I may be wrong on this, but regardless the progression of the character could be interpreted as representing the benevolent function of central government power. Another interesting point is the role of women in the film. I hesitate to analyze this without a comparison to the stage version, however, or even without having a full understanding of the dialogue (since I saw it on Sunday night). If one were to do so, one could look at how women are portrayed in both. Do the mother’s protests seem legitimate or hysterical and exaggerated? How do the other characters view Eve, knowing that she had a male visitor (i.e., do they consider her to blame for a perceived offense?) How is the woman who saw the devil portrayed, is she made to seem foolish? These are just some of the questions one could ask.

The Broken Jug, a Nazi Film?

I do think that there is a correlation between this film and the Nazi regime. I do think that Adam is a perefect example of the type of person that Hitler wanted to get rid of. He was definitely not the "Good German" that Hitler was trying to create, and the fact that Adam get's run out of town is parallel to Hitler trying to get rid of all the Jews, mentally ill, gypsies, etc. Adam, who is constantly drinking throughout the film is not only a drunk, but a horrible judge at that. At the begining of the film he is waking up late only to discover many gashes and bruises on his body. The representation of Adam being so unkempt is exactly opposite of how Hitler wants his german people to be. It makes sense that hitler would really like this film, because the loud, obnoxious, unkempt, drunk Adam is run out of town in the end, therefore the problem is solved. Ironically that is exactly what Hitler tries to do solve the problem of the Jews, through a more violent method.

Serving Two Purposes

Imagine you were writing a paper on the Broken Jug. How would you address its position as a Nazi film? Some helpful ways of thinking of this question (you do not need to use all of them or any of them!) What categories would you use to answer this question? How does the film associate with Nazi culture? How might you organize your argument?

The Broken Jug did not immediately strike me as a Nazi film, even though I knew it was. The movie centers around a fool and was based on sticky situations and slapstick comedy for laughs, all characteristics of comedies and not necessarily Nazism. However, upon further review, these characteristics of comedies can easily double as tools to further the Nazis’ cause. If I were to write a paper on The Broken Jug as a Nazi film, I would show how certain aspects of the film were used for comedic and propaganda purposes.

The “fool” (Judge Adam) represents the opposite of the ideal German man. He is a fat, clumsy and gluttonous drunkard. Although his job is to maintain order, he is the actual criminal and attempts to punish an innocent man for his own crimes. Instead of taking responsibility for his crime, he puts himself before everyone else and tries to protect his reputation and livelihood. The film uses him as the example of the weak, cowardly and greedy person, the opposite of the ideal for which they strive.

The sticky situations are comical in that we can see the characters trying to squirm out of them but are also telling of the Nazi agenda. Adam is forced to make up lies to cover for his missing wig, scars and lack of knowledge of the legal system. Instead of owning up to his shortcomings, he tries to weasel his way out. While his lies brought hilarious consequences, they showed how weak and cowardly he was, which ultimately led to his demise. This is another example of the ideal man shown by the Nazis and is persuasive as a Nazi film.

Wait. Wait. Wait. Nazis can laugh?

If I were address the Broken Jug in a paper I think it would focus on comparing in contrasting. Contrasting the original play with the film, contrasting the contextual influence of this film with more dramatic films of Nazi cinema, and finally contrasting the comedic value of the Broken Jug with its Hollywood counterparts. In so doing a more conclusive understanding of the film itself would be gained particularly defining its position as a piece of Nazi Cinema.

First, I would compare and contrast the Gustav Ucicky’s version of the Broken Jug with the original Kleist play. What was different? What was the same? Emphasizing that the Nazis had a purpose behind everything, what were the motivations in the alterations they made to the play, and what was the resulting impact.

Second, I would address the actual contextual location of the film within the scope of the party’s reign. Recognizing the importance that it is indeed a Nazi film, despite being a comedy, which is a point to me that was surprising (Seriously, I had no idea that Nazis had a sense of humor since that they are so mad all he time). Addressing the influence of comedic film under the party, and emphasizing the value of the breadth of Nazi film not blatantly having to do with political issues, as we see with the likes of Hitler Youth Quex. Importantly, the question of, “why they would use comedy?” must be answered. Was it to show that the party was well rounded, were they still political? This is probably the most critical question of Nazi “Happy Films,” being their true nature.

Finally, I would like to look at the film providing at the film as if it were not made in Nazi Germany, but perhaps by Hollywood. Does it still have comedic value as a film if you remove it form the Nazi context. Is that value increased? How would Hollywood have made it differently? Another interesting question that this would raise, and perhaps would not fit in this essay, but, what type of social messages do Comedies send, what is the extent of their commentary on societal values: was a Nazi comedy really all that different from a Hollywood comedy?

The Broken Jug

While perplexed in many ways about this film, there are some key points from this movie that could be used to help understand how this would relate to Nazi cinema. The first, and probably the most obvious, was the choice to use the names Adam and Eve. While there is some sort of "unknown" connection between Adam and Eve, which is implied to be sexual, I believe the use of these names help us to understand that corruption on any level will lead to destruction. Although you could say that Eve was the temptation for Adam's downfall, Adam is a man with free will and choice and it seems that Adam's actions bring them both down. Now, although the end of the movie seems to leave everyone happy, Adam and Eve are separated, which tears apart the "creators of the beginning". I'm not sure if you could look at this as a way for demonstrating what might happen if the creators of the Reicht did not stick together, but I think it is an interesting image to ponder.

Secondly, Adam is a man of power and position inside this society, and we once again see a character of standing fall into the hands of temptation and corruption. This is yet again another demonstration of what not to embody for the Nazi regime. A man of power was not supposed to in any way be a liar to those he worked with, even if what they stood for was unjust in itself. This was a way for the regime to illustrate to their men of power what might happen if they decided to keep secrets from the others - they would be cast out, left to find their own way, with everyone behind laughing and rejoicing at his demise.

“Der Zerbrochene Krug”- a piece of Nazi propaganda?

Thinking about “Der Zerbrochene Krug” as a piece of Nazi propaganda, the only connection that came to my mind was that it brings the chaotic world back into the right order. By dismissing the judge at the end of the play, order is restored. The judge can be seen as the “bad”, the “evil” that disturbed the order. When he is deleted in the end, the society is restored like it should be. Thinking about the Nazis that wanted to erase several groups from their society, from Jews to mentally retarded people, to create a pure, clean and perfect society, the play can be understood as a piece of Nazi propaganda. Especially if we regard the upper-judge as a symbol of the” perfect” German man: he embodies a lot of typical German values like punctuality, strictness, discipline or correctness. One could interpret that he stands for the Nazis who try to restore order to Germany by enforcing these values and deleting everything that is against them.
But there is no evidence for this theory except that it was produced during the Nazi period. Thinking about this fact I decided to check on the internet if I could find anything about being this movie Nazi propaganda. One of the descriptions of the movie I found was this: “The verbatim Kleist adaptation with which Ucicky wanted to save his reputation as an "unpolitical artist". Consequently it can’t really be a piece of Nazi propaganda because it is almost word for word spoken as in the original which was written in 1806 by Kleist. At this time the Nazis didn’t even exist. Furthermore the intention of the director Ucicky was an unpolitical one, thus it can’t be a piece of Nazi propaganda neither. This description was in accordance with all other descriptions that I found. That it isn’t Nazi propaganda although it was produced during the Nazi period.

The Broken Jug

If I were to write a paper on The Broken Jug and its position as a Nazi film, I would focus on the personal failings of the judge, Adam.  In the original text, The Broken Jug focuses on the failings of the judicial system, while the film adaptation focuses on the failings of the individual.  Adam embodies all of the failings that the Nazi party was so against.  Physically, he is scarred, overweight, and bald.  He has a club foot, a physical deformity from birth that the Nazis were vehemently against in their aspirations for physical perfection. As a person, he is a drunk and also put the good of himself above the good of the community, which the Nazis were against.  We do have two men in the film who the audience can have faith in; Light and the head magistrate.  Light is ultimately good, but clearly needs an assertive leader so that he can be fair.  That leader comes in the form of the magistrate, who is not fooled by the antics of Adam and ultimately brings justice to the community.

 

I think another, subtle, argument that I would bring up would be the Adam-Eve aspect of the story.  The names of the characters (Adam, Eve, Light) were not casually given.  Eve, the female protagonist, was ultimately the lure which brought about Adam’s downfall via the downfall (pun) of the jug.  Adam did not have the strength that he needed to resist, which he would presumably have had if he lived according to Nazi values.  The audience can clearly see these faults, and see them as Wrong.

What The Broken Jug Holds

If The Broken Jug were to be viewed as a film representative of Nazi cinema, one of the most prominent features would be Adam, not as a figure representing the strong, model individual that the Nazis promoted, but of a personality that the people of Nazi Germany should avoid emulating at all costs. He is cowardly and does not righteously uphold his role in his society. He betrays the overall system through his lack of honor and honesty - him, a figure of justice! - and consequently weakens it through the mistrust that he creates.

Additionally, the names Adam and Eve are of obvious significance. In this case, Adam is largely guilty of The Fall instead of the woman. This plays into the Nazi promotion of mothers and the female's role in supporting and building a stronger German society. Eve may have her own faults, but she is brought down through Adam's failed and unacceptable behavior. The fact that most of the problems are still attributed to the feiger Adam and his weaknesses only emphasizes the shame of his character, an exemplary model of what not to be.

Nazi Prop? Maybe...

The Broken Jug can come across as a Nazi Propaganda in a few ways.
One of those is the displacement of law and order. By the creation of a character like Adam you create a corrupt official, one which must be replaced by the well meaning and honest one after being disposed by the strong figure of order of the district Judge. So too does the Nazi party sweep in and save the day and replace the corrupt high-browed Adam with the common man in the Clerk, who, like the German people, has served without recognition for many years to ensure the world is judged truly and not as some people would like to view the world.

It can also be seen as a Nazi film as it is about the preservation of honor. The jug that was destroyed portrayed the glorious past of Germany, which was broken by some man who drew away from what was right and sought only the based of desires, that of a female. Furthermore, rather than perusing her in a correct and lawful manner, he threatened and schemed in order to gain control of her. Any honest man would not do this, or seek an early wedding day. This goes against the belief of a pure Germany, of well-meaning lads and family oriented maidens.

By looking at these ideas, the symbolism that the party supports is there, but it should also be noted that these are the ideas that any society desires and can be just as Nazi as not.

Der zerbrochene Krug's indirect support of National Socialism

Certain films that were produced under the Nazi regime, such as Hitler Junge Quex, blatantly promote Nazi ideals to such an extent, that one need not look beyond the surface in order to their intent. Der zerbrochene Krug, however, is not such a film. Without understanding the liberties taken during the piece’s adaptation and transfer from the stage to the big screen, and without focusing on group-specific stereotypes that prevailed in Germany at that time, it is quite easy to overlook the film’s political objectives and view it solely as a harmless comedy revolving around a clumsy man’s drunken adventures and his eventual sober realization of their consequences. With these in mind, however, one is able to view the film in its truest form, as a piece of Nazi propaganda.

While the play Der zerbrochene Krug focuses on a societal issue, namely the corrupt nature of human beings and the inevitability of dishonesty and foul play, the film concentrates on the flaws of one man, Adam, and his personal detriment to society. The film displays Adam as a lazy, sloppy, drunkard who tries to manipulate his authoritative position in the judicial system for personal advantages. The physical characteristics of Adam contrast those of the “ideal” German male described by the Nazi Party. He lacks the self-discipline that the Nazi Party links with valuable men. Furthermore, he does all of this while serving as the local judge. During and prior to the second world war, the Nazi Party emphasized not only the flawed nature of Jews, but also their unjustified positions in society. Jews were presented as both untrustworthy as well as dangerously-powerful. In this context, Adam embodies the societal issues that the Nazi Party promised to address. His corruption and deceitfulness eventually catch up to him, as he is charged with the breaking of the jug. The Nazi Party promised a similar fate for the Jews; over time they were stripped of their legal rights to certain jobs, living spaces, etc. In the eyes of the Nazi Party, the Jews had gotten away with their deceit (like Adam) for long enough, and it was time for them to be reprimanded for the better of society.

Der zerbrochene Krug may initially appear to be a light-hearted film lacking political objectives, but its true nature becomes clear after closer inspection. It highlights the virtues that were expected of German men under the Nazi regime, such as self-discipline and a strong work ethic. Furthermore, it exposes the problems that occur when the wrong types of people (specifically, those lacking the “ideal” German characteristics, such as Jews) have authority. Although this film never directly promotes anti-Semitism, it certainly helps one conclude that actions must be taken in order to save society from people, like Adam, who cheat their way through life and corrupt the otherwise blissful community.

The Broken Jug as Subtle Nazi Propaganda

There are many ways that you could go about proving that The Broken Jug is a facet of Nazi propaganda, but in my opinion the primary use of Nazi ideology in the movie is the justification of the Nazi eugenics agenda. Having been released in 1937, the movie was being screened after many of the Nazi T4 experiments and euthanasia programs had already been initiated without the knowledge of the public. However, the public was well aware of Nazi racial ideology and the promotion of physical perfection. The Nazis sought to rid Western society of all physical and mental imperfections in the attempt to make a master race of strong Nordic peoples, in other words a people that represented the antithesis of Judge Adam. In the Broken Jug, Adam seems to represent everything that the Nazis disapproved of: his body would have been considered atypical for a svelte German soldier, he regularly engaged in overeating and heavy drinking, he showed very little respect to women (as demonstrated by his treatment of Evie, as well as his daughters), and he slacked off on his job of upholding the law. This inability of Adam to uphold the law is another facet of Nazi ideology embedded in the film. There is a clear message from the filmmakers that in order for society to function properly, there must be competent lawmakers and judges to protect society. The choreography of chaos at the end was a clear metaphor for what happens to society when there is a lack of leadership, which would have been meant to resonate with audience members as a representation of post-World War I Germany. Furthermore, the idea of Adam’s excessive behavior and inability to maintain order share a clear link in the film: his heavy drinking the night before the “trial” for the broken jug resulted in his being unprepared to host the visiting judge. The Broken Jug set up for German audiences a relatable anti-hero in Judge Adam, for he is not intended to be an evil villain such as the Communists are depicted in other movies, but a product of excess and a lack of self control. The film can be construed as subtly sending Nazi-coded messages to the audience concerning physical restraint and attention to order.

Adam as the un-Nazi

Imagine you were writing a paper on the Broken Jug. How would you address its position as a Nazi film? Some helpful ways of thinking of this question (you do not need to use all of them or any of them!) What categories would you use to answer this question? How does the film associate with Nazi culture? How might you organize your argument?

To address the films position as a Nazi film I would focus on how Adam represents what Nazi culture is against. I would focus on all of the dimensions of Adam's character, lack of morals and honesty, his less than perfect physical form, and his extreme disorganization.  His corruptness as a judge is clearly something that should be viewed negatively, whether or not the film is looked at through the eyes of Nazis or being viewed as a simple comedy. In the Nazi view this defiance of the law, when put in a broader sense, is a defiance of the social order, which all good Germans should follow. Adam's physical appearance is very important in exemplifying him as something undesirable for the Nazis. He is overweight and clearly not in prime physical form. He also does not seem to be extremely clean, going against the Nazi ideals of excellent and rigorous hygiene. These physical attributes of Adam are the most obvious attributes that can be seen in the movie, even before the plot begins, which helps to very clearly illustrate that he is not what a German man should be. Adam also embodies the chaotic and disorderly pre-Nazi Germany with his clumsiness, messiness, and confusion.  Nazis strove for a unified and orderly Germany and Adam is clearly anything but.  The ultimate downfall of Adam in The Broken Jug shows the triumph of Nazi ideals over such immoral, unkempt and disorderly men. 

Hitler's Favorite Film

The Broken Jug was said to be Hitler's favorite film, now if that is not enough to convince someone of the connection to Nazi cinema, I do not know what would. The film mocks the failing of human nature and the judicial system that was set up to protect itself. It is quite easy to see the corruption and link it to the tainted court system in Nazi Germany. The film chronicles a corrupt judge who tries to cover up his attempted seduction of Eve, an attack in which the titular jug was broken, by sending the innocent Ruprecht to prison. Testimony is given by a number of quaint village types until the judge is finally exposed. It was Ullmann’s final opera written before his internment at the Terezinstadt and his eventual execution at Auschwitz, which is another link to the fact that it had strong ties to Nazi Germany, Ullmann knew what was going on in the higher parts of government and was not afraid to expose it in film, which unfortunately ended in his death in the gas chamber. For the paper, I would first discuss the origin of Ullmann and his life, then the political events that were occurring at that time, then the making of the film and research that was put into writing the screenplay, and finally what really led to Ullman's death in the gas chambers of Auschwitz.

The Broken Jug compared to other Nazi Films

In order to view “The Broken Jug” as a Nazi film I would look especially close at the role of Adam. Adam represents many characteristics that the Nazi party looked to oust through their euthanasia program and treatment of the mentally challenged. As seen in clips from the “Architecture of Doom,” Goebbels sought to rid the German world of the mentally challenged because of their lack of productivity and costliness to the state. He threatened the viewers by projecting false statistics about the increasing population of the mentally challenged and overtly implied ridding them of the world. Goebbel’s interpretation of the mentally challenged, as well as the portrayal of Adam, are recognized as lazy, gluttons, useless, corrupt, and disorderly. Also, the mentally challenged were murdered in order to create a better society, much like Adam was run out of town for the same reasons.

In “The Broken Jug,” Adam noticeably does not live up to his role as the judge in his county. He is seen drinking at many points, he refers to drinking often, and he is presumably drunk during the incident of breaking the jug. This leads to his clumsiness, disruptive behavior, and disregard for the law. The Communists in “Hitler Youth Quex” demonstrate these same characteristics and are the villains of society. When Adam is run out of town, order is restored and justice seemingly prevails. In conclusion, “The Broken Jug” holds many similar themes to the other Nazi films we’ve viewed and discussed.

The Broken Jug as a Nazi Film

If one watches The Broken Jug with only its comedic genre in mind, it is easy to ignore the symbols of Nazism that are hidden within the plot. For starters, the plot surrounds a jug, a seemingly plain object; however, one could look at the jug as chastity. When the jug is broken by Adam, the movie is also putting forth the idea that Eve’s chastity has been broken as well. Adam is ultimately punished for his role in taking Eve’s chastity away, showing the importance of the ideal of being chaste in Nazi culture. It is interesting that Eve’s mother is the one who brings forth the case of the broken judge to court, even though it is her daughter who has not been chaste, it is her family that would theoretically draw the shame.

Another aspect of the film that places it within the Nazi genre is the focus on Adam as an imperfect man. The first scene of the movie is entirely dedicated to portraying Adam’s flaws; the audience hears him grunt and moan as he cleans his wounds and watches as he drinks fluids that are not meant to be drunk. The audience is meant to be repulsed by Adam’s behavior, which is clearly not in line with the Nazi ideals of the strong, manly laborer. In contrast to Adam is the visiting Judge who is there to check up on Adam and the courthouse. He behaves in the opposite manner as Adam, and while Adam is chased out of the courthouse and ridiculed by the village, the visitor remains an upstanding citizen.

The Broken Jug and Nazi Ideology

Imagine you were writing a paper on the Broken Jug. How would you address its position as a Nazi film? Some helpful ways of thinking of this question (you do not need to use all of them or any of them!) What categories would you use to answer this question? How does the film associate with Nazi culture? How might you organize your argument?

If I were to write a paper on The Broken Jug and its function as a Nazi film, I believe I would begin by focusing on the connection the film has with the ideology of a perfect order and the way the audience is aware of the one who is guilty of disrupting this order. As we discussed in class, in its original conception in the play by Kleist, the jug represented an ordered world which, after it is broken, can not be fixed. However, the film version does not present this as the case. Instead, the one who has disturbed the order of righteousness and justice, Judge Adam, is cast out of society by the very order he disturbed. This, then, is clearly in line with Nazi ideology as it expressed its obvious wish for a perfect order. This order, they felt, was threatened by a very clear and obvious enemy, the Jew, who was the cause of disorder in society. This is why I feel the audiences awareness of the guilty party in the film is so crucial. Just as the audience member knew, near the outset, that Judge Adam was the guilty party, so to did the German people know that it was the Jew who was causing the disorder and chaos in Germany and the world. At the same time, those who are guilty, Judge Adam and the Jews, never admit their guilt and it will not be until the just order has cast them out that absolute order can be fully restored. To keep them around would be a constant threat to the purity of that order. Lastly, I think it is important to note that in this film, one man is the cause of an incredible amount of disorder. If one man can cause all of this chaos, consider how ten, or twenty, or millions could cause disorder. If there is a threat to order, then the order must, and will, rid itself of that which disrupts it.

October 6-8: The Broken Jug

Imagine you were writing a paper on the Broken Jug. How would you address its position as a Nazi film? Some helpful ways of thinking of this question (you do not need to use all of them or any of them!) What categories would you use to answer this question? How does the film associate with Nazi culture? How might you organize your argument?

If you use the Silberman article (on OAK) to help frame your argument, post your answer on the Readings blog. Otherwise, make use of the Films blog.

The Emperor of California

The Emperor of California embodies all three genres, being a Nazi, a Western, and a Trenker film all in one.  Being a Trenker film, it shows a man going on a noble journey, failing, and wishing that he could return to the Fatherland.  We also see the protagonist as an adventurer, with Sutter being the ideal for of masculinity. We saw some of this in The Prodigal Son, as Trenker was yet again let down by his new surroundings.  As a Nazi film, we see America in The Emperor of California as an unforgiving example of the modern world.  Similarly, The Prodigal Son shows a man who is abandoned by all in the new land, or helped by some who have false pretenses.  As a Western, which is the easiest lens to view the film through, we get the archetypical sweeping landscapes, sense of danger, and the example of men proving themselves.  I believe it is important to keep all three perspectives in mind when viewing such a film, as they all have several messages to offer.