Status Updates From Weimar Germany: Promise and...

Haven't really had the time to read this, but it's very engrossing so far.

Finally writing this damn article jfc

As a conclusion to this book, the author cites the successes of Weimar, which are great, but all of them are outside the political sphere and relate to abstract concepts of freedom and equality that emerged from the revolutionary events of 1918. According to the author, the main culprit for the collapse of the republic is the alliance of the right with the Nazis, who never reconciled with the new state.

Marcuse advocated modernism and a break with the conservative past, but at the same time he was appalled by the commodification and massification of the culture they themselves had, to some extent, fostered, which is an paradox that most of them were not aware of. This could be seen in architecture, theater, and all other spheres where Weimar emigrants spread the word and movement of the interwar German republic.

Two conflicting records that people left when Hitler came to power, one was euphoric, while the other didn't pay much attention to the act. But that event was fateful for the whole world, and this was later studied with particular attention by Hans Morgenthau, who published the book Politics Among Nations in 1948. In it, he problematizes an idealistic view of politics with a pragmatic one, using Weimar as an example.

The coming of the Nazis to power was achieved in a formally democratic way because all the legal possibilities provided by the Constitution were respected, but it is also a fact that they were not supported by the majority of the population. This was seen in numerous elections in '32. However, they just took advantage of what was offered to them by the naïve right and the compromised left.

The way Nazis gradually built their popularity is unique in the Weimar Republic. They sought the support of the entire population, not just certain classes. They were open to all new technologies and were tireless in promoting their policies, which appealed to a growing number of the population, pressed by the economic crisis. Where they were elected, they used their positions exclusively to spread their policies.

All the achievements in politics, society and culture that Weimar created caused horror and disgust among the right. They were deeply afraid of the changes that were taking place in society and tried to change them. Spengler and other philosophers gave these fears a basis on which numerous factions could unite. Thus, concepts such as the Dolchstoßlegende, the Jewish Republic and the like were born.

New woman and the sexual freedom brought about by the Republic are, controversial and divided. Liberals advocated for easier and more frequent sexual relations, which brought unwanted pregnancies and an increase in abortions. The birth rate fell in those years and this ultimately led to a counter reaction. All the great theorists could enjoy the foundations of the past and not think about the future.

Hannah Höch was a unique figure who, by creating collages on the theme of the New Woman, was trying to make her way in a man's world. It is difficult to say how successful she was in this, as the author probably mentions her more because of her personal life than her professional life.