Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/01/10

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Leni Riefenstahl Site
From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 14:19:46 -0500

Perhaps, Adam. I, for one, hope that her name and art will be stained
through all generations. It's odd, because I am not anti-German, I do not
hold today's Germans in any way responsible for the evils of the previous
generation - and I drive a "New Beatle." But I see forgiving her as pretty
equivalent to forgiving any of the rest of the Nazi inner-circle - which is
to say I can't do it. And I am particularly bothered by people's
willingness - and I don't mean you - to forgive an artist's beliefs and
actions simply because they may have produced good art.

Cheers,

B. D.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Adam Bridge
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2002 2:12 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: RE: [Leica] Leni Riefenstahl Site



On 1/10/02 at 11:14 AM, tim@KairosPhoto.com (Tim Atherton) thoughtfully
wrote:

> It is interesting how many of the big industrialists and business people
who
> were closely identified with the Nazi Party and who kept the Nazi war
> machine and coffers afloat, were allowed to be "rehabilitated" after a
short
> while following and continue doing what they always did. Many a lot older
> and more mature at the time of their "misguided association" with Hitler
et
> al. Whereas Riefenstahl has never been allowed to do this.
>
> Why is this so?

I wonder if it isn't connected with her role in pursuading other to accept
and
the glorification of the Nazi movement. Many would see that as a betrayal at
least of "art" if not the human race.

It's an easy place to afix anger as well, and not without reason.

I keep trying to tell myself that a photo has its own context - that it
stands
by itself - but these works are associated with great evil and it's
virtually
impossible to set aside that context.

Future generations may find it easier to do and so a body of work will be
rediscovered and apppreciated.

Adam
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