The Lambeth Walk Sometimes a work of artistic merit can serve evil purposes. This raises problems regarding the relationship between ethics and aesthetics; how much should ethics restrain art? What is the best response to unethical art? Ban it, demonstrate against it? In 1935 Leni Riefenstahl made a propaganda film, Triumph of the Will, which glorified Hitler, the Nazis, and the evils they represented. But the film is technically brilliant in so many respects, the photography, sound, and direction. It served the Nazis well. But in 1941 Charles A. Ridley re-edited existing footage of Hitler and Nazi soldiers,(taken from the propaganda film Triumph of the Will) to make it appear they were marching and dancing to The Lambeth Walk. This was before You Tube and digital photography, using scissors and paste. He used the Lambeth Walk because members of the Nazi party had called the tune Jewish mischief and animalistic hopping. But that cockney song and dance saw off Hitlers pride, revealing the stupidity of National Socialism. During the war the UK government printed copies of the required dance steps, which must have infuriated the enemy. Bad art can be met with criticism and lampoonery. Enjoy the mickey take, and if time see my dogs performing the dance as - I hope - it should be done. https://youtube/watch?v=gYdmk3GP3iM
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 10:05:03 +0000
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