METROPOLIS

&
MODERNITY

FIGURE 1, METROPOLIS,
1927 [POSTER]
INDUSTRIAL:
MODERN TECHNOLOGY OF ITS TIME

SOCIAL CLASS:
THE DIVIDE AND RESOLUTION

THE FUTURE OF GERMANY:

LANGS VISION FOR GERMANY

SUMMARY:
BULLET POINTS
MODERNITY- INDUSTRIAL
“The machine represents the underlying
metaphor that places the film within the
1920s discourse on modernity and
technology. The city, the workers’ bodies, and
the film itself are all associated with the
machine.” (Kaes, N/A)
FIGURE 2, METROPOLIS FILM STILL, 1927

FIGURE 3, METROPOLIS FILM STILL, 1927 FIGURE 4, METROPOLIS FILM STILL, 1927 FIGURE 5, METROPOLIS FILM STILL, 1927
 “The film was promoted to an audience
MODERNITY- INDUSTRIAL interested in how science would be used in
movie effects of the future.” Smithsonianmag,
N/A)

FIGURE 6, CREATING THE LABORATORY, 1927 FIGURE 7, THE ROBOT WITH ELECTRICITY, 1927

Concept designs for the laboratory scenes: (magazine also

contains planned out designs for complicated scenes)- making the technology as
realistic and thought out as possible. Film based on science. Early
technology for it’s time.
MODERNITY- SOCIAL CLASS
“In it [Metropolis] we are shown two distinct classes, their existences entirely separated. There
is the class of thinkers, who generate ideas for the sake of the city and their civilization, and
there is then the class of the workers, who carry out and act upon these enterprises” (Filmtank,
2011)

“Also, the film seems to be dealing with the nature of work itself. It analyses the nature of
dehumanization within an increasingly industrialized society.” (Filmtank, 2011)

“One of the ideas that had become popular during World War I in Germany was known as
volkgemeinschaft which was an expression that aimed to remove class tensions and create a
“people’s community.” (Ufilmanalysis, 2013)

-Social Divide (poor & rich / workers & operators / head & hands)
THE FUTURE OF GERMANY

FIGURE 8, BERLIN (2018) FIGURE 9, METROPOLIS FILM STILL ,1927

“Lang claimed he was ‘looking at Germany in the future’ when he made the
film. The futuristic aspect of the film suggests there may have been a sense
of conflict in relation to the state of contemporary Germany and where the
nation was heading on its road to modernization”
THE FUTURE OF GERMANY

FIGURE 10, DUSSLEDORF, N.A FIGURE 11, METROPOLIS FILM STILL ,1927

“One thing that must be understood is what dynamics were occurring during
the film's period. Germany at this time was undergoing a major reconstruction,
which made many of the citizens wary. The technological advancements were
praised by some and made others sceptical. Metropolis shows a gross
depiction of what modernity can do to society that is not prepared to handle
such a drastic change.” (Vikas Sodhani, N/A)
SUMMARY
■ Realistic science designs, pushed the limits for its time.

■ Social class divides was a point being made throughout the whole film about joining the classes
and becoming a more modern society.

■ Lang had a good idea of the future of technology.

■ Lang’s vision for the future of Germany had some accuracy, inspired by American
architecture (modernizing times)

■ Film effects, design and costume were very futuristic and modern for the time.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATIONS
FIGURE 1- Metropolis (1927) [Poster] At: https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Metropolis-German-Movie-Poster-1926-Posters_i6258718_.htm (Accessed on: 26 September 18)

FIGURE 2- Metropolis Film Still (1927) At: http://silentfilm.org/archive-by-year/2010-festival/metropolis (Accessed on: 27 September 18)

FIGURE 3- Metropolis Film Still (1927) At: https://spfilmjournal.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/metropolis-by-fritz-lang-1927/ (Accessed on: 27 September 18)

FIGURE 4- Metropolis Film Still (1927) At: https://cruxnow.com/life/2016/03/04/silent-rage-against-the-machine-metropolis-and-modern-times/ (Accessed on 27 September 18)

FIGURE 5- Metropolis Film Still (1927) At: https://spfilmjournal.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/metropolis-by-fritz-lang-1927/ (Accessed on: 27 September 18)

FIGURE 6- Metropolis concept art (1927) At: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1927-magazine-looks-at-metropolis-a-movie-based-on-science-4328353/ (Accessed on: 27

September 18)

FIGURE 7- Metropolis concept art (1927) At: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1927-magazine-looks-at-metropolis-a-movie-based-on-science-4328353/ (Accessed on: 27

September 18)

FIGURE 8- Berlin (2018) At: https://www.alltur.ro/pagina/city-break-2018-berlin-900.html (Accessed on: 27 September 18)

FIGURE 9- Metropolis Film Still (1927) At: https://yts.pt/movie/metropolis-1927 (Accessed on: 27 September 18)

FIGURE 10- Dussledorf (N/A) At: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/gehry-buildings-dusseldorf-harbor (Accessed on: 27 September 18)

FIGURE 11- Metropolis Film Still (1927) At: http://www.criticalcommons.org/Members/kfortmueller/clips/metropolis-1927-opening/view (Accessed on: 27 September 18)

Filmeducation, 2010, Metropolis themes and context [PDF] At: http://www.filmeducation.org/metropolis/pdf/Metropolis_Themes_and_context.pdf (Accessed on: 27 September 18)

Filmtank, 2011, Metropolis- The polarization of class, At: http://filmtank.org/forum/forum/film-development/films/846-metropolis-fritz-lang-1927-%C2%96-the-polarization-of-class

(Accessed on: 27 September 18)

Kaes, A. (N/A) Metropolis, city, cinema, modernity. [PDF] From: http://mariabuszek.com/mariabuszek/kcai/Expressionism/Readings/KaesMetropolis.pdf (Accessed on: 27 September 18)
Smithsonianmag, N/A, At: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1927-magazine-looks-at-metropolis-a-movie-based-on-science-4328353/#ChBg2cWgAKiWV6UW.99 (Accessed
on: 27 September 18)
Ufilmanalysis, 2013, Is the film Metropolis a reflection of German culture in the 1920s? At: https://ufilmanalysisfall13.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/is-the-film-metropolis-a-reflection-of-the-
german-culture-during-the-1920s/ (Accessed on: 27 September 18)

Vikas Sodhani, N/A, Metropolis student journal entries At: http://www.mit.edu/course/21/21f.055/www/metropolisreviews.html (Accessed on: 27 September 18)