Metropolis (1927)

Fig 1: poster 

Frtiz Fang's Metropolis is a master piece, even with scenes missing. The film uses religious stories to expose problems with capitalist society. The film introduces it's main character Freder(Gustav Fröhlich) in a room dubbed the garden of the rich , it is interesting that every one in the garden is innocent and childlike,  similar the beginning of the Adam and Eve story. Once Freder is exposed to the corruption of the world he must leave the garden similar to Adam in the creation story. Maria (Brigitte Helm) is introduced and because she exposes Freder to the outside world she in-bodies characteristics of Eve who, fed Adam the fruit from tree of knowledge and opened his eyes. For Freder the garden could be compared to purgatory as he was not able to explore the outside world.

The workers at the factory can be compared to slaves and are shown as sacrifices to 'The Machine'. The way they are forced to work is machine like, similar to a machine they are easily replaced and their existence is insignificant, this becomes evident when Joh Fredersen allows the destruction of the machine as-well as the homes and children of the workers. comparing the workers to the machine would not be difficult, they are mindlessly controlled by The Machine Man which in a way is ironic. The workers are also numbered which could connote to their lack of identity. their children could be what make them human and help them show that they are more than just a number, considering they  all have an emotional response when they think the might be dead.

Do not seek here for psychological insights, The storytelling is mostly visual (Robert Ebert, 2010). this statement is only partially true, although the story expresses it's view form a visual stand point this doesn't mean that the subtle psychological elements should be overlooked. An example of a visual element that has subtle psychological suggestions is in the poster above (see Fig 1), the skyscraper is phallic and the fact that it is placed above the effeminate machine man is not a coincidence. Freud described the phallus as a signifier or a symbol of dominance, the poster is foreshadowing the concepts and ideas in the film.

Fig 2: Maria

Maria is the monstrous feminine  but not in the conventional way, she stands as a symbol of change and for a society that has been monopolized by one man change is dangerous. Maria is also seen as monstrous by Joh Fredersen because she can not be control, according to Barbara Creed men fear what they cannot control. Psychologically speaking Joh Fredersen fears Maria because she is metaphorically castrating him, by taking away the empire he has built up or, his phallus. Laura Mulvey's male gaze is used to satisfy Joh Fredersen's ego, he gives Maria's likeness the opportunity to sexualize the idea of Maria and tarnish every thing she stands for, there for destroying all the work Maria has done.

In conclusion  the film has influenced many well known and helped form the genre. Although it has Marxist influences, it does not force the viewer to make a choice, it just  helps them question what is right and wrong.

Illustration list 
Fig 1-http://www.ottens.co.uk/gatehouse/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/Metropolis.jpg

Fig 2-http://cinema1544.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dance.jpg

Bibliography
(Robert Ebert, 2010)-http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-metropolis-2010-restoration-1927(used -2/10/14)
Freud-http://personal.kent.edu/~marmey/perssum03/Chapter2-6.pdf (used -2/10/14)
Barbara Creed -http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=90lCwCcQaTYC&oi=fnd&pg=PR3&dq=Barbara+Creed+&ots=CGT_JQ-sZ2&sig=JTe8enXYqIi8jCAhG7M546ipKfg#v=onepage&q=Barbara%20Creed&f=false(used -2/10/14)