[LEN-E] Learning To Love Leni Riefenstahl

[Thomas Köhler]

Hi Ron,

as always, thanks for your spirited response. I don't think we disagree 
too much about Leni's 'mysticism', because you wrote:

 > Oh, I'm not so sure about that! In fact, I would say that I'm quite 
sure of the opposite, that Leni *was* a mystic -- even if she wouldn't 
have defined herself as such, even if she didn't even percieve that 
aspect (and motivation) within herself.

That's basically what I had in mind when I said that there is a 
difference between the obvious mysticism as expressed in her art and the 
real-life person. Indeed Junta's behaviour and motivations are those of 
a 'mystic' or someone inclined to mysticism, someone at least searching 
for that experience. I also think that the Nazi movement is represented 
in a mystical or 'mythical' light, though one must be aware that for 
instance the torches you mention were part of the whole stageing by 
Speer and others, not something that Leni came up with to underline her 
special interest in mysticism. But of course it was something that was 
very useful to her in representing the rally in the way she obviously 
preferred.



 >  And then there's the connection "beyond time and space" between the 
Germany of today ('36) and classical times.

True, that might be interpreted in the sense of the mythical idea of 
time moving not in a linear, but in a cyclical way. But let's not forget 
that this also has a political stance, the idea that the Germany of 
Hitler was intended to be 'a new start' for culture, a parallel to the 
idea that European culture began with the Greeks.


 > And once again I'll say that I could easily understand that Leni 
might not see this mystical aspect in her films herself -- but that is 
exactly a perfectly normal "symptom", for a mystic (willing or 
otherwise) to feel "compelled" to seek out (and, as an artist, manifest) 
the "mysterious", the "ethereal" and "ineffable". The quest for meaning 
in this life is a driving force within us all (*regardless* of whether 
we do consciously or subconsciously), and thus we are all mystics, in a 
sense -- and I dare say that that is *exactly* what attracts us (or 
repels and frightens us!) with regard to Leni Riefenstahl's films.

I certainly agree with that, if you define the term 'mystic/al' in such 
broad terms. When I said that Leni wasn't a mystic in real life I had in 
mind exactly what you wrote: that she perhaps didn't see this aspect 
completely consciously in her films (although I generally believe that 
an artist actually KNOWS what he or she is doing), and that to my 
knowledge she didn't actually practice any sort of spiritual techniques 
like meditation and so on in her life. Though you could argue that 
dancing and diving can have the same effect.


 >, if -- hypothetically -- we knew that she had been "just an evil 
Nazi", well, how boring that would be for us, without that 
mystery/mysteriousness!

Well, if we knew that she had been a democrat and an entirely  
philanthropic person it would be boring as well without the mysticism 

:-) For me it's the works that fascinate me in an artist. I'm simply not 

very much inclined to ' pop star fandom'. Otherwise I'd be on a Madonna 
forum :-)

Best
Thomas

 


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