Robert Dassanowsky Libros

Austria, the multicultural crossroad of the European continent, has been the genesis of many artistic concepts. Just as late 19th and early 20th century Austria gave influential modernism to the world in the fields of medicine, urban planning, architecture, design, literature, music, and theater, so its film industry created a significant national cinema that seeded talents and concepts internationally. Nevertheless, the value of Austrian cinema to international film has been long obscured. Austria's important bond with American film is also underappreciated because of the lack of accessible English language scholarship on the early careers of Austro-Hollywood artists and on influential developments in Austrian film history. This first comprehensive English survey of Austrian film introduces more than a century of cinema, following the development of the industry chronologically through the nation's various transformations since 1895. Important industry movements, genres and films are highlighted with sociopolitical, cultural and aesthetic details. An analysis of the economic trends that have influenced Austrian film is also provided. The survey considers the directors, actors, producers, writers, cinematographers, editors, composers and other film artists who have been essential to the development and influence of Austrian cinema. The closing chapter anticipates new faces of the Austrian film industry in the 21st century.

In this first major examination, in any language, of Lernet-Holenia's novels and critical essays, Dassanowsky explores and redefines the author's unique understanding of a problematic Austrian national identity within a restless Central Europe, a topic revitalized for the twenty-first century. Because of the readability of Lernet-Holenia's writings, he has unfairly come to be considered a popular author. In this thoughtful examination of the major novels, Dassanowsky demonstrates that Lernet-Holenia was extremely knowledgeable about the Habsburg Empire and that his writings offer important and relevant commentaries on the cultural and political nature of Austria.

Set in the 1930s, the book delves into the dual film industries created by Austrian filmmakers amid the Austrofascist regime. It highlights the production of "Aryanized" films tailored for Nazi Germany alongside "Emigrantenfilm," which featured émigré and Jewish talent aimed at international viewers. Robert Dassanowsky examines the intricate balance these filmmakers maintained to cater to conflicting audience demands, providing insight into the cultural and political challenges of the era.