Leni Reifenstahl
Some people are swept along by events. Some individuals use events to advantage. How accurate is this statement in relation to the personality you have studied?
“Leni Riefenstahl exploits events and other people to serve her own egotistical, obsessive and selfish ambition.”
Leni Riefenstahl was born on the 22nd of August 1902 in Berlin. Her full name was Helene Amalie Bertha Riefenstahl. She accomplished a lot during her 101 years of living. She had successful careers as a dancer, actress, director, producer, editor, photographer, author, and mountain climber, as well as one of the world 's oldest active scuba divers. Furthermore, she has been induced as one of The 100 Most Influential Women of All Time. However her accomplishments will always be frowned upon given her association with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Riefenstahl had been known to edit scenes from her life, alter details and omit events to suit her purposes. She did this so others would see her as flawless. This has been proven by her quote “reality doesn’t interest me”.
When considering the above thesis statement, 2 differing perspectives arise. The first supports the thesis and is that Riefenstahl was so driven to be worldly famous and recognised that she didn’t care what the cost. The second objects the thesis and is that Riefenstahl could not have possibly predicted the purpose and effects of her films, or Hitler’s intentions for world domination.
An historian who supports the first perspective is Steven Bach. In ‘The life and work of Leni Riefenstahl’ he argues that Riefenstahl was obsessed with her career and moulding her image, and that these things are the keys to understanding her behaviour throughout her life. He believes she knew more about Nazism than she would have liked people to believe.
An historian who supports the second view is Audrey Salkeld. In ‘A portrait of Leni Riefenstahl’ she argues that much of the condemnation of Riefenstahl came from hindsight. According to
“Leni Riefenstahl exploits events and other people to serve her own egotistical, obsessive and selfish ambition.”
Leni Riefenstahl was born on the 22nd of August 1902 in Berlin. Her full name was Helene Amalie Bertha Riefenstahl. She accomplished a lot during her 101 years of living. She had successful careers as a dancer, actress, director, producer, editor, photographer, author, and mountain climber, as well as one of the world 's oldest active scuba divers. Furthermore, she has been induced as one of The 100 Most Influential Women of All Time. However her accomplishments will always be frowned upon given her association with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Riefenstahl had been known to edit scenes from her life, alter details and omit events to suit her purposes. She did this so others would see her as flawless. This has been proven by her quote “reality doesn’t interest me”.
When considering the above thesis statement, 2 differing perspectives arise. The first supports the thesis and is that Riefenstahl was so driven to be worldly famous and recognised that she didn’t care what the cost. The second objects the thesis and is that Riefenstahl could not have possibly predicted the purpose and effects of her films, or Hitler’s intentions for world domination.
An historian who supports the first perspective is Steven Bach. In ‘The life and work of Leni Riefenstahl’ he argues that Riefenstahl was obsessed with her career and moulding her image, and that these things are the keys to understanding her behaviour throughout her life. He believes she knew more about Nazism than she would have liked people to believe.
An historian who supports the second view is Audrey Salkeld. In ‘A portrait of Leni Riefenstahl’ she argues that much of the condemnation of Riefenstahl came from hindsight. According to
Bibliography: http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1259&context=uhp_theses (20/5/12) http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/l/leni_riefenstahl.html (20/5/12) www.leni-riefentahl.de/eng/bio.html (20/5/12) text book http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiefland_%28film%29 (30/5/12) http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/marie-claire/features/life-stories/article/-/5887743/leni-riefenstahl-nazi-or-not/ (29/5/12) http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.une.edu.au/docview/197245891 (8/5/12) http://users.skynet.be/deneulin/tieflanddvd.html (31/5/12) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Sieg_des_Glaubens (31/5/12) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_of_the_Will