Theme Of Cabaret

About a decade after West Side Story, Cabaret hit the screen. Set in 1931 Berlin, Cabaret explores the nightlife of Germany as well as political tensions of the time. Written by Fred Ebb and Joe Master off and composed by John Kander, this musical marks the beginning of the “concept musical” era, with the entire film being one extended metaphor. The songs offer commentary in counterpoint to the action of Cabaret and amplify the impact of show's complicated, controversial themes, such as survival and politics rather than traditional happy themes found in musicals, reshaping the genre. In and out of the film is the unnamed emcee, symbolic of the liberal and carefree lifestyle Sally Bowles is living, as well as the rapid growth of the Nazi party.
“If you could see her through my eyes, she wouldn’t look Jewish at all!” This is extremely graphic and not politically correct in the slightest, a controversial line to speak on screen, however it perfectly represents how Jews were treated in this time, something that must be seen and understood to move past this dark time in history. Cabaret addresses racism and political bigotry, a frightening parallel to the current political climate. Sean Munger writes that the story of the Nazi’s rise to power is “more than just a narrative about authority or authority figures”. He further argues that Cabaret has a vital cultural dimension, too, and why this is relevant to us today. The United States has seen tremendous strides towards progressive ideals and an overall inclusive environment. We have seen the election of a black president, the legalization of same-sex marriage, and much more attention paid to economic and social minorities. However, this progression has been met with extreme backlash, as exemplified through the election of Trump. Sexist, racist, and xenophobic rhetoric has become commonplace, and the alt-right has begun to get a foothold in our