This year's German Day explored the many similarities between the “20s” - the 1920s and the 2020s. In both decades, the world was coming out of a pandemic (Spanish flu & COVID), and both were marked by hyperinflation and political turmoil. There was, however, a vibrant artistic scene in the 1920s. Cinema was just “coming into its own '' with films like Das Kabinett des Doktor Caligari (1920), Nosferatu (1922), and Metropolis (1927). Cabaret in Berlin was enormously popular - as well as controversial - as previously “hidden” members of the LGBTQ+ often populated the stages. The comparison to recent discussions of inclusivity and equality regarding the LGBTQ+ community is obvious, although arguing that the 2020s have been a “golden age” of film is a more difficult task. Bauhaus - a radically new art/architectural approach that emphasized minimalism and functionality - could (possibly) be compared to our current efforts to remodel and reimage construction that serves an ecological purpose.
Students were given the opportunity to compete in various ways, including music, cooking shows, art, poetry, podcasts, skits, and short stories - to name just a few. Their submissions were fun and creative, cleverly weaving this year's theme into each submission. Take a look for yourself!
