Date of Award
2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Cuomo, Glenn
Keywords
German Film, Alpinism, German History � 20th Century
Area of Concentration
German Studies
Abstract
Alpinism gradually emerged as a cultural practice in German-speaking Europe over the course of the 19th century and 20th century. The Bergfilme, or mountain films, of the 1920s and 1930s were the first representations of alpinism accessible to the whole of Germany, regardless of geography or income. They thus constituted an essential element in the national perception of the Alps and alpinism. The films appeared around the era of an increasing politicization of the Alps, as war and the rise of reactionary politics began to appropriate the mountains as a symbol to their own ends. This thesis will examine the history of the alpinist movement, tracing it from its origins and ultimately focusing on its manifestations in the first decades of the 20th century. It will also examine a selection of mountain films to explore the ways in which German identity is represented on screen, focusing on the relationship between person and nature, the development of the Alps as a German cultural realm, and the legacy of Romanticism.
Recommended Citation
White, Lauren, "The Alps as Symbol of National Identity An Analysis of the German Bergfilm" (2010). Theses & ETDs. 4356.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4356
Rights
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.