Comments on: The horrifying Nosferatu, personified plague and death (Satan 9) http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/02/16/the-horrifying-nosferatu-personified-plague-and-death-satan-9/ Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean houses my podcast, websites, blog, and publications, providing an entryway into social and religious life among Greeks, Romans, Jews, Christians, and others in the Roman empire. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:14:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Justin http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/02/16/the-horrifying-nosferatu-personified-plague-and-death-satan-9/comment-page-1/#comment-23498 Justin Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:23:34 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/?p=146#comment-23498 There is also anti-semitism in what Count Orlock does. He, as a vampire, is a blood sucking creature who needs to suck other people's blood in order to survive. This is used as a metaphor for how the Germans saw the Jewish people at the time, and eventually what was used by Hitler to gain the heavy anti-semitic sentiment needed to carry out the Holocaust. There is also anti-semitism in what Count Orlock does. He, as a vampire, is a blood sucking creature who needs to suck other people’s blood in order to survive. This is used as a metaphor for how the Germans saw the Jewish people at the time, and eventually what was used by Hitler to gain the heavy anti-semitic sentiment needed to carry out the Holocaust.

]]> By: Phil Harland http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/02/16/the-horrifying-nosferatu-personified-plague-and-death-satan-9/comment-page-1/#comment-408 Phil Harland Wed, 22 Mar 2006 20:50:48 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/?p=146#comment-408 Hello Nathanael. THanks for that update regarding the antisemitic imagery. Phil Hello Nathanael. THanks for that update regarding the antisemitic imagery. Phil

]]> By: NDR http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/02/16/the-horrifying-nosferatu-personified-plague-and-death-satan-9/comment-page-1/#comment-401 NDR Tue, 21 Mar 2006 15:56:26 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/?p=146#comment-401 Murnau was conscious of the antisemitic imagery of the film--indeed, he used it as a vehicle to explore perception of deviancy. Maria Tatar has suggested that the image of the Jew was his means of exploring his homosexuality and its reception. Murnau was conscious of the antisemitic imagery of the film–indeed, he used it as a vehicle to explore perception of deviancy. Maria Tatar has suggested that the image of the Jew was his means of exploring his homosexuality and its reception.

]]> By: Phil Harland http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/02/16/the-horrifying-nosferatu-personified-plague-and-death-satan-9/comment-page-1/#comment-347 Phil Harland Thu, 23 Feb 2006 01:04:17 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/?p=146#comment-347 Thanks, Cathy. That is certainly another way of interpreting those aspects of the film. Spooky indeed. Phil Thanks, Cathy. That is certainly another way of interpreting those aspects of the film. Spooky indeed. Phil

]]> By: Cathy http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/02/16/the-horrifying-nosferatu-personified-plague-and-death-satan-9/comment-page-1/#comment-340 Cathy Mon, 20 Feb 2006 06:43:49 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/?p=146#comment-340 as I was watching the movie, I didnt feel like when Nina was gazing through the window she was longing for her "other lover", namely Nosferatu, I felt like she was worried for her husband [insert name here, i forgot it] cuz she felt the coming of Nosferatu. But I guess there can be many interpretations. Also, I agree with the shadow effect. quite spooky. if I were to see that on my wall, i'd probably die of a heart attack. as I was watching the movie, I didnt feel like when Nina was gazing through the window she was longing for her “other lover”, namely Nosferatu, I felt like she was worried for her husband [insert name here, i forgot it] cuz she felt the coming of Nosferatu. But I guess there can be many interpretations. Also, I agree with the shadow effect. quite spooky. if I were to see that on my wall, i’d probably die of a heart attack.

]]> By: Phil Harland http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/02/16/the-horrifying-nosferatu-personified-plague-and-death-satan-9/comment-page-1/#comment-335 Phil Harland Fri, 17 Feb 2006 15:11:12 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/?p=146#comment-335 Thanks, Jeffery. In Beal's book, <i>Religion and its Monsters</i>, he does address this issue of how anti-semitic and other ethnic stereotypes (in terms of bodily features) play an important role in the depiction of the other or the monstrous in film (and I think he suggested Nosferatu as an example--don't have it in front of me here). He also draws attention to the depiction of the monkeys from <i>Wizard of Oz</i> and European perceptions and distortions of Hanuman, the Hindu god with both human and monkey features. The potential anti-semitic stereotyping may certainly be the case for Nosferatu, but I would hesitate from suggesting certainty regarding Murnau's intentions or subconscious imaginations in this regard. To what degree are these features Max Shrek's features (e.g. the seemingly stereotyped nose), and to what degree make-up? There may well also be a connection with the notion of blood libel, as you note, especially if the anti-semitic stereotypes are indeed (consciously) put there. Phil Thanks, Jeffery.

In Beal’s book, Religion and its Monsters, he does address this issue of how anti-semitic and other ethnic stereotypes (in terms of bodily features) play an important role in the depiction of the other or the monstrous in film (and I think he suggested Nosferatu as an example–don’t have it in front of me here). He also draws attention to the depiction of the monkeys from Wizard of Oz and European perceptions and distortions of Hanuman, the Hindu god with both human and monkey features.

The potential anti-semitic stereotyping may certainly be the case for Nosferatu, but I would hesitate from suggesting certainty regarding Murnau’s intentions or subconscious imaginations in this regard. To what degree are these features Max Shrek’s features (e.g. the seemingly stereotyped nose), and to what degree make-up? There may well also be a connection with the notion of blood libel, as you note, especially if the anti-semitic stereotypes are indeed (consciously) put there. Phil

]]> By: Horace Jeffery Hodges http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/02/16/the-horrifying-nosferatu-personified-plague-and-death-satan-9/comment-page-1/#comment-333 Horace Jeffery Hodges Fri, 17 Feb 2006 02:45:57 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/?p=146#comment-333 The original Dracula by Stoker has some implicit anti-Islamic subtext (if I recall). From looking at these two images, I'm wondering if Murnau drew upon antisemitic imagery. And I'd never previously thought of the vampiric thirst for blood in terms of the blood libel, but I'm wondering now. Are these speculations completely off? Jeffery Hodges * * * The original Dracula by Stoker has some implicit anti-Islamic subtext (if I recall). From looking at these two images, I’m wondering if Murnau drew upon antisemitic imagery. And I’d never previously thought of the vampiric thirst for blood in terms of the blood libel, but I’m wondering now.

Are these speculations completely off?

Jeffery Hodges

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