culture

• Weimar Culture

  The Weimar Republic was called the Golden Age of German culture. As there was no censorship (deliberate removing of content from the media) in the Weimar Republic, German culture began to thrive.
• Architecture - the Bauhaus school

  • The Bauhaus School led a new movement in architecture.
  • Walter Gropius set up the Bauhaus School in 1919.
  • Attracting many designers and artists, the Bauhaus movement overturned (got rid of and changed) traditional ideas of architecture.
• Art - Expressionism

  • There was a rise of Expressionism in art.
  • In their artwork, Expressionists painted from the perspective of a subject. They would distort and change things around in their paintings to emulate emotions and feelings.
• Film

  • Film also became far more popular in the Weimar Republic.
  • Expressionism also fed into films and commented on the daily lives of Germans.
  • Metropolis, which was released in 1927 was a popular German film by Fritz Lang.
• Music

  • Music was shaped by the modern influences of America.
  • Music, such as Jazz, became very popular in Weimar Germany.
  • The cabaret emerged (came about) as an unrestricted form of entertainment.
  • Without censorship, performances were provocative (aimed to cause feeling) and could comment on politics and society.
• The role of women

  • According to the constitution, all men and women over 20 were eligible (had the right) to vote in elections.
  • Divorce was made easier for women and divorce became more common.
  • 112 women represented the German people in the Reichstag and there were more opportunities for women in sport and society.
• The Golden Age of German Culture

  In architecture, art, films and music, German culture thrived in the Weimar Republic.
• Women in the Weimar Republic

  Women saw an improvement in their political position, economic status and independence in the Weimar Republic. But they still had limited economic power and not everyone agreed with the 'new woman'.
• Political position in society

  • Women could vote in the Weimar Republic.
  • 90% of women exercised (used) their right to vote in elections.
  • Article 109 of the Weimar Constitution asserted gender equality in the workplace and the home.
• Progress in economic status

  • Women were gaining opportunities in professions.
  • They could become teachers, lawyers or doctors.
  • Women were encouraged to attend university.
  • Women working part-time increased in Weimar Germany.
• Limitations to economic power

  • The number of women employed dropped from 75% in 1918 to 26% in 1925.
  • This was because lots of women worked during the war but stopped afterwards.
  • Many women stopped working once they became married.
• Growing independence

  • Women did gain more independence in Weimar society.
  • Women who earned an income were no longer dependent on men.
  • Some women began to focus on ‘leisure’ and less on traditional values of family and marriage.
• The 'new woman'

  • But not everyone agreed with the ‘new woman’.
  • Some members of society did not like female independence and viewed these women as morally corrupt.
  • Some feared that traditional German values were being forgotten.