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Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Alexander
This is the last scupture ever done by Arno Breker, Alexander the Great and the Eagle of Zeus from 1982. If you think it looks remarkably like his work for the Nazis, you wouldn't be alone.
I don't condone the philosophy behind it, and some of it was destroyed after the way due to the ideological content.. I post it here because there is a lesson, and that lesson is that beauty can have a dark side.
This art always mystified me. On one hand, the Nazis were busy promoting producing Aryan children and on the other, the produced a lot of art showing naked males, all muscle-bound and masculine. Years ago, I saw in French publication, a shot of Adolf inspecting a line of SS men, or some group, and they were buck naked. There were always undertones of homoeroticism in Nazidom, nicht wahr? BigDude
People have written dissertations on homoeroticism in Nazi art, symbols,l and rituals, so yes, it's there. Having said that, they brutally victimized homosexuals, especially those who weren't butch. There are believable reports that when manpower shortagers became dire, there was a bit of "looking the other way," but overall, it was a nightmare for gays of any type.
Very good post. There seems to be differences in opinion as to whether nudism was allowed during that political rule. Statues are one thing, but things like the FKK were banned according to my readings. After the war then nudism was more accepted. Of course, the statues symbolized what was considered ideal. This is my understanding anyway.
Let me be clear that nothing can ever excuse what the Nazis did. I recently learned that after initially banning FKK, they later tolerated it as long as no political activity took place. When the war came to totally dominate life in Germany, nobody had time for FKK.
I can't help but wonder if Freudian "reaction formation" is a factor in the homoeroticism displayed in Nazi Germany. Perhaps that can help explain the dichotomy that has been observed here. That defense might be used to explain a lot of crimes against humanity, but of course it wouldn't justify any of them. Just sayin'.
You raise an interesting point. I'm not aware of any war criminals using that defense. Usually it was, "This wasn't my idea. I was just following orders." Quite a few defendants who sued that strategy were hanged.
Interestingly "In 1946, Breker was offered a commission by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, but he refused, saying "One dictatorship is sufficient for me". In 1948 Breker was designated as a "fellow traveller" of the Nazis and fired, despite which he continued to thrive professionally." A couple of Breker statues are still at the Olympia Stadium in Berlin. see also https://www.dw.com/en/the-house-of-disgraced-statues/a-18572557
From an aesthetic view I like the deco classical look of some pieces, clean and streamlined. Beauty does have a dark side and the atrocities that followed must never be forgotten. I appreciate you posting this as it opens up a dialogue and gets people talking. And above all it makes you think.
Alexander the Great with a Nazi eagle, how fitting of Breker. Breker, like many other artists of his time, just couldn’t break from his Nazi past could he….:(
This kind of art should be banned and even destroyed.
ReplyDeleteSorry Jerry, I don't condone.
I don't condone the philosophy behind it, and some of it was destroyed after the way due to the ideological content.. I post it here because there is a lesson, and that lesson is that beauty can have a dark side.
DeleteThis art always mystified me. On one hand, the Nazis were busy promoting producing Aryan children and on the other, the produced a lot of art showing naked males, all muscle-bound and masculine. Years ago, I saw in French publication, a shot of Adolf inspecting a line of SS men, or some group, and they were buck naked. There were always undertones of homoeroticism in Nazidom, nicht wahr? BigDude
ReplyDeletePeople have written dissertations on homoeroticism in Nazi art, symbols,l and rituals, so yes, it's there. Having said that, they brutally victimized homosexuals, especially those who weren't butch. There are believable reports that when manpower shortagers became dire, there was a bit of "looking the other way," but overall, it was a nightmare for gays of any type.
DeleteJa, das homosexuelle Element ist da. In der Nazizeit fanden es einige amusant, andere waren beleidigt.
DeleteI found this series on Breker's homoerotic work very interesting and appreciated your comments on introducing him to us. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, VV!
DeleteVery good post. There seems to be differences in opinion as to whether nudism was allowed during that political rule. Statues are one thing, but things like the FKK were banned according to my readings. After the war then nudism was more accepted. Of course, the statues symbolized what was considered ideal. This is my understanding anyway.
ReplyDeleteLet me be clear that nothing can ever excuse what the Nazis did. I recently learned that after initially banning FKK, they later tolerated it as long as no political activity took place. When the war came to totally dominate life in Germany, nobody had time for FKK.
DeleteI can't help but wonder if Freudian "reaction formation" is a factor in the homoeroticism displayed in Nazi Germany. Perhaps that can help explain the dichotomy that has been observed here. That defense might be used to explain a lot of crimes against humanity, but of course it wouldn't justify any of them. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteYou raise an interesting point. I'm not aware of any war criminals using that defense. Usually it was, "This wasn't my idea. I was just following orders." Quite a few defendants who sued that strategy were hanged.
DeleteIt can't be a very effective defense strategy but it can account for some behaviors. The DSM-V does not list it as a mental disorder.
DeleteAllesamt Symbole der Schande Deutschlands !
ReplyDeleteJetzt ist Amerika vom Faschismus gebannt, eine widerliche Schande.:(
We Americans have a real threat, and sadly, many of us don't see any really good options.
DeleteInterestingly
ReplyDelete"In 1946, Breker was offered a commission by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, but he refused, saying "One dictatorship is sufficient for me".
In 1948 Breker was designated as a "fellow traveller" of the Nazis and fired, despite which he continued to thrive professionally."
A couple of Breker statues are still at the Olympia Stadium in Berlin.
see also
https://www.dw.com/en/the-house-of-disgraced-statues/a-18572557
I had heard about the Stalin commission, but thought it was an early day urban legend. So it was for real!
DeleteFrom an aesthetic view I like the deco classical look of some pieces, clean and streamlined. Beauty does have a dark side and the atrocities that followed must never be forgotten. I appreciate you posting this as it opens up a dialogue and gets people talking. And above all it makes you think.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat. Getting people thinking was the whole idea.
DeleteAn art historian termed it "Beauty with a monster hiding behind it."
DeleteAlexander the Great with a Nazi eagle, how fitting of Breker.
ReplyDeleteBreker, like many other artists of his time, just couldn’t break from his Nazi past could he….:(
The official line is that the eagle is some Classical mythical reference, but it looks Nazi to me.
Delete