Nazism In Popular Culture
Nazism is alive and all around us. The Third Reich is arguably the most studied and talked about regime of the modern era yet most people don’t understand that we are virtually surrounded by Nazism in our pop culture. Everything from: bands, slang terms and fashion are influenced by the powerful images and branding of the Nazi party. Branding that was the face of terror and genocide.
Every day we hear terms on the streets, film or television. Phrases like "Open Source Nazi", "Grammar Nazi", "ubergeek" and "Feminazi" are examples of those in use. These uses should be offensive and controversial. Seinfeld’s "Soup Nazi" episode is universally known and laughed at. It seems that it’s accepted by the public but should they be?
More innocent terms, like "fashion police" also bear some resemblance to Nazi terminology (GESTAPO, Geheime Staatspolizei, secret state police) as well as references to Police states in general.
My experience with Nazism as a 15 year old is quite remarkable once I started to really pay attention. Being a musician in the music industry I noticed that I was immersed with references and images of the Third Reich. Nazi influence is all around us in the music & fashion industry. I was shocked to see it.
MUSIC
A couple of years ago I had the chance to go backstage to a Slayer/Megadeth concert at the Hard Rock in Orlando. My dad was producing a segment for ESP Guitars on Slayer Lead Guitarist Jeff Hanneman. This meant that we would get to see his guitars and guitar rig. His guitar tech told us that Jeff was a huge World War 2 historian and was fascinated with the Third Reich. One of Jeff’s guitars (picture included) had the fret inlays made of the “SS” symbol and the 12th ...
... middle of paper ...
...d due to insufficient evidence in October 2011.
9. Theodor Szehinskyj (age 90. Last known location: United States)
10. Helmut Oberlander (age 90. Last known location: Canada)
I personally struggle with what seems to be a divided message. The Third Reich was the most horrendous regime of the modern era, committing genocide beyond repulse, yet we are strangely fascinated with them decades after the war and with full knowledge of what they did. Pop Culture seems to forgive and overlook when they should be holding them accountable.
Works Cited
http://www.mtv.com/news/1566234/marilyn-manson-sued-keyboardist-claims-rocker-spent-band-money-on-drugs-nazi-artifacts/ http://www.nazism.net/about/nazi_terminology_today/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Most_Wanted_Nazi_War_Criminals_according_to_the_Simon_Wiesenthal_Center
In Swing Kids, one follows the lives of a few so called “Swing-Boys,” as they dance to a type of music (i.e. Swing) banned by the Nazi’s. Later on one sees these boys join the Hilterjugend, which is an academy where young boys are trained to be a police force and to follow the polices set by the Führer. This trained paramilitary force exhibits the characteristic excessive use of force when they raid a popular dancing club in the ending. In this scene, the members of ...
“The future of the German nation depends on its youth and the German youth shall have to be prepared for its future duties”
This site is an unbiased historical perspective of the Nazi era. It provides valuable information about Nazi leaders, Nazi institutions, and Nazi propaganda. Also, links to other sites and biographies of the authors are listed.
...then and now by the immense controversy involved and the large amount of faith, responsibility, and bravery needed for the people. Pushing aside the major setbacks Germany had undergone, people today know Nazi Germany as the country that had always found a solution and pushed through, even during the least hopeful times. However, people also know the Third Reich as the horrific time of oppression and discrimination by Hitler and his colleagues; according to some, these actions that made Hitler all-powerful and everyone else weak or nonexistent actually led Germany to their success. This time period will always remain a many-sided topic of debate because of the many ways Nazis were victors, victims, and totalitarians.
Have you ever pictured yourself as a Nazi? Many would immediately deny the claim that they could resemble the traits of one of Hitler’s officers; however, many similarities have been found throughout experimental research. While the 21st century is strides ahead in the area of equality and civil rights, the morality of these times continues to be under question. The majority of this generation would fall victim to the pressures of obedience, persuasion, and conformity. When people become unaware of the effect of these influences, they lose sight of morality and make choices similar to the ones made by Nazis during the Holocaust.
Introductory Paragraph: Propaganda is a tool of influence that Adolph Hitler used to abuse the German population by brainwashing them and completely deteriorating an entire race. How does one person get the beliefs of an entire country? Hitler put Joseph Goebbels in charge of the propaganda movement. Goebbels controlled every element of propaganda, there were many varieties of Nazi Propaganda. Propaganda was also being used as a tool to gain the support of the German population for the war, and supporting their government. The Jew’s were the targeted race and were completely pulverized by the Nazi’s. Hitler not only tried to destroy an entire race, he gained complete control of an entire country.
Karin Lipson “The Young Germans Who Stood Up to the Nazis” The New York Times March 29 2013. April 11 2014.
The holocaust is a incredibly difficult for some people to discuss with others depending on their extent of connection to the event. It is believed to be the worst genocide known to man by many people. This explains discomfort many people experience when discussing the subject. People debate if the absolutely horrific events of World War II will be forgotten as generations pass. Survivors have many different ways of never forgetting the events that happened to them. Some people feel that it is better to completely wipe these events from memory because they do not want to remember what happened to them, while others want to tell all of society of tragic events hoping to prevent similar events from occurring in the future. Many people debate which method is best to never
World War II caused much pain for German, American and French composers and musicians, but also made the music what it is. Although it is sad and hard to listen to, it is still beautiful art and music. Only knowing what the composers and the musicians went through, and their story, can help you understand and appreciate their music.
Because of the length of the war and the devastation of this genocide, Germany will forever be remembered for the Holocaust and the effect it had on multiple people groups. This event sparked from the idea of absolute supremacy and would continue until the damage was complete. People’s views of the German population and the Jewish people alike will be changed, and the Holocaust forever remembered as one of the largest racist genocides in
During the years 1933 to 1945 was the twelve years of the Third Reich, a regime that changed history and the world forever; Hitler youth, a branch of the Nazi Party, was officially formed in 1926, but did not become popular until Hitler’s term of service. This gave its members excitement and a chance to revolt against parents and schoolteachers. Millions of boys and girls who belonged to this group wore the name proudly. At a time when the Fatherland, Germany, was suffering from a inadequate, rickety government, high-unemployment, and prevalent poverty, the Nazi Party promised young Germans a great future within the country- if they become loyal members of Hitler’s’ Youth. These children lived by the motto “For the flag we are ready to die.” Melita Mashmann, a fifteen-year old member of the girls’ branc...
South Florida, University of. “Holocaust Timeline: The Rise of the Nazi Party.” Holocaust Timeline: The Rise of the Nazi Party. Florida Center for Instructional Technology, 2005. Web. 18 May 2014.
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Hitler Youth [growing up in Hitler's Shadow]. New York: Random House/Listening Library, 2006. Print.
Germany's defeat in World War One created political, economic and social instability in the Weimar Republic and led to the rise of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) or Nazi party.
The Oxford Dictionary defines totalitarianism as ‘a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state’ . A totalitarian regime possesses power over affairs of the state and its inhabitants under one party and bears no opposition. A key attribute of a totalitarian government is that is looks to shape the mind and actions of society through determination, philosophy, and in general, force.