I watched a
video of Donald Trump that supposedly shows what a great person he is—but I
think the video is scary. No he doesn’t incite any one to violence in the video. He
doesn’t make racist remarks or suggest that an American soldier is not a hero
because he was captured. The video is light, happiness and promises—and yet—the
words, the music, (yes the music) and the devotion of the individuals and
massive crowds remind me of another time and place.
A sociology
class I took so many years ago, about cults, what we now generally refer to as
new religions, featured, during the last quarter a section on Hitler and the
Nazis. The professor understood the Nazis to be the ultimate cult; Germany was
a nation enveloped by a cult. A cult in the true sense of that word, not a new
religion but an intolerant movement led by an authoritarian individual.
When I
watched the Trump video I was reminded of a movie we watched in the class. Not
all of the movie but certain parts of it. In 1935 after Hitler had become chancellor
of Germany he commissioned Leni Riefenstahl to produce the film Triumph of the Will.
Although he also helped in its production. One of those who has posted the film
on YouTube wrote of it:
“Triumph of the Will became an example of propaganda in
film history. Riefenstahl's techniques, such as moving cameras, the use of long
focus lenses to create a distorted perspective, aerial photography, and
revolutionary approach to the use of music and cinematography, have earned
Triumph of the Will recognition as one of the greatest films in history.
Riefenstahl won several awards, not only in Germany but also in the United
States, France, Sweden, and other countries. The film was popular in the Third
Reich, and has continued to influence movies, documentaries, and commercials to
this day.”
It is the music, the positive outlook and the adulation
of the people toward Hitler which reminds me of the video about Trump. It isn’t
that I see Trump as Hitler but I see in both films an authoritarian leader or
potential leader whose authoritarianism is hidden because of the careless and
blind enthusiasm of the people following him. And it isn’t that the video about
Trump is a great work of art—it isn’t—but the way the music in the first of the
Hitler film and in the last of the Trump film is used is the same.
And so I am placing first the Trump video and then the Triumph of the Will movie. Be sure and listen
to the end of the Trump video and listen to the music. When watching the
Hitler film you will probably only want to watch the very early parts which
include Hitler flying in an airplane and being greeted by crowds of people all
raising their hands to him. In this film also note the music.
4 comments:
Last night Trump started out by bragging that it was folks who never voted before who are coming out to vote for him. That's 40% of the population, potentially. When I was in Germany last week, it was amazing to see how alarmed they are.
As unpleasant as it has been, it has also been enlightening to read comment threads at sites such as Hot Air and National Review. The Trump supporters, by and large, are so angry at Washington and politicians in general that they have invested messianic-like hopes in Trump. Many of them are apparently incapable of admitting that he may be wrong about anything, even to the point of claiming that his daily contradictions are part of some master plan to mess with the "establishment." The worst are the Christians who think that he's an evangelical despite him stating that he's never asked God for forgiveness for anything. If, in fact, most of his voters are people who have never voted before, I wish they would stay home. The chances are extremely high that they know so little about politics, public policy, or even basic civics that they are no more competent to vote than they are to run a hedge fund or do brain surgery.
David Fischler
Woodbridge, VA
You might be interested in Charles Pierce recent article online on last night's debate.He makes the comment that Trumps rallies have turned into Leni Riefenstahl's B-rolls.
I wish they would stay home too David. And thanks Andy for telling me of Pierce's article. I found it and read it.
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