Wim Wenders' "Land of Plenty". A love-hate relationship with the USA

Term Paper , 2008 , 9 Pages , Grade: 2,0

History of Europe - Newer History, European Unification

Wim Wenders'
 ambiguity,
 the
 love‐hate
 relationship
 with
 the
 United
 States
 was
 the
 main
 force
 behind
 the
 production
 of
 “Land
 of 
Plenty”
 (2004). 
It
 was 
shot 
within 
three
 weeks 
with
 a
 small
 digital
 amateur
 camera,
 and
 only
 because
 the
 production
 of
 his
 next
 film
 “Don’t
 come 
knocking”
 (2005) 
got
 delayed.
 The
 entire 
production
 of
 the 
movie 
took
 not more
 than
 six 
weeks.
 Without
 a
 doubt,
 it
 is 
Wenders’
 most 
political
 film
 so 
far.
 As 
a 
Christian,
 one
 (or,
 as
 he
 stated
 once,
 even
 his
 initial)
 idea
 for
 the
 film
 was
 “to
 set
 a
 radically
 contrary 
idea
 of
 being 
Christian
 against
 the
 fundamentalist 
Christendom” 
of
 the 
Bush
 administration.
 His
 ambition
 was
 to
 “fight
 against
 the
 treason
 [on
 democracy
 and
 freedom
 and]
 on 
all
 what 
is
 left 
of
 my
 childhood
 myth.” As
 stated 
in 
the
 press 
release
 for “Land 
of 
Plenty”,
 it 
is
 a
 “film
 about 
the 
country 
he 
has
 been 
concerned
 with
 for
 many
 years
 and
 which
 he
 loves”,
 a
 “very
 personal”
 and
 “sanguine
 film
 about
 those
 who
 still
 stand
 for
 this
 country’s
 possibilities
 […],
 a
 political
 essay.” Typical
 for
 his
 artistic
 approach,
 Wenders
 did
 not
 want 
to
 make
 an 
“angry”
 film, but 
one 
that
 could
 contribute
 to 
“healing”;
 a
 profound
 difference
 to
 films by Michael
 Moore,
 a 
name 
often
 dropped 
in
 Germany
 in
 the
 context
 of
 “Land
 of
 Plenty”.
 Wenders,
 as
 he
 stated
 himself,
 wanted
 to
 explore
 the
 same
 territory
 as
 Moore,
 but,
 of
 course,
 in
 his
 very
 own
 way.
 In
 direct
 comparison
 to
 Moore
, the
 Süddeutsche
 Zeitung,
 for
 example,
 grants
 Wenders
 “more
 complex,
 sadly
 beautiful,
 inconceivable
 images” and
 an
 overall
 more
 convincing
 approach.


Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Wenders' Early Work and "America"
• Wenders' Reception in Germany and the US
• Wenders' Critique of the United States
• Land of Plenty

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text aims to analyze Wim Wenders' complex relationship with the United States, tracing his evolving critique from early fascination to later political engagement, culminating in a discussion of his film "Land of Plenty." The analysis explores Wenders' career, reception, and cinematic representations of America.

• Wenders' evolving perception of America
• The influence of American cinema and culture on Wenders' work
• Wenders' role as an "author-director" and his reception in Germany and the US
• The political dimensions of Wenders' critique of the United States
• The thematic and stylistic elements of "Land of Plenty"

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage by outlining Wim Wenders' early fascination with America, juxtaposing his initial idealized view with his later, more critical perspective. It highlights the contrast between his personal experiences and professional challenges in the U.S., establishing the central tension that drives the subsequent analysis. The section introduces the film "Land of Plenty" as a focal point for understanding Wenders' evolving relationship with America.

Wenders' Early Work and "America": This chapter delves into Wenders' early films, emphasizing their engagement with American culture and its influence on his cinematic style. The discussion centers on the significance of American popular music and road trip narratives in his early work, illustrating the formative impact of American cinema and music on his artistic development. It explores the ambiguous nature of his early fascination with America, hinting at an underlying critique even in the earliest stages of his career. Examples like "Alabama: 2000 Light Years from Home" and "Three American LPs" are used to illustrate the fusion of American themes and European aesthetics.

Wenders' Reception in Germany and the US: This section contrasts Wenders' reception in Germany and the United States, highlighting the different ways his work is perceived and interpreted on both sides of the Atlantic. In Germany, he’s often viewed as an "author-director," a label that sometimes carries negative connotations. Conversely, in the United States, he's recognized as a significant figure in independent cinema. The analysis emphasizes the impact of his work on independent American filmmaking and explores the influence of his "European style" on directors like Jim Jarmusch.

Wenders' Critique of the United States: This chapter examines the evolution of Wenders' critique of the United States, tracing its development from early reservations to a more overt and politically charged stance. The analysis explores how his perspective shifted over time, influenced by his personal experiences and observations of American politics, particularly during the Reagan administration. The section distinguishes between his public statements and the nuanced critiques expressed in his films, acknowledging the persistent undercurrent of affection despite harsh criticisms.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Wim Wenders, American cinema, New German Cinema, independent film, auteur theory, American culture, European identity, political critique, "Land of Plenty," 9/11, cultural imperialism, post-9/11 America.

Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Analysis of Wim Wenders and His Relationship with the United States

What is the main focus of this text?

This text comprehensively analyzes Wim Wenders' multifaceted relationship with the United States, charting his evolving perspective from initial fascination to a more critical, politically engaged stance. It traces this evolution through his career, reception in Germany and the US, and cinematic representations of America, culminating in a detailed discussion of his film "Land of Plenty."

What are the key themes explored in the analysis?

Key themes include Wenders' changing perception of America, the influence of American cinema and culture on his work, his role as an "author-director" and its reception, the political dimensions of his critique, and the thematic and stylistic elements of "Land of Plenty." The analysis also contrasts his reception in Germany and the US, highlighting differing interpretations of his work.

What aspects of Wenders' early work are discussed?

The analysis delves into Wenders' early films, examining their engagement with American culture and its impact on his cinematic style. It focuses on the significance of American popular music and road trip narratives, illustrating how American cinema and music shaped his artistic development. The ambiguous nature of his early fascination with America, even hinting at underlying critique, is explored using examples like "Alabama: 2000 Light Years from Home" and "Three American LPs."

How does the text contrast Wenders' reception in Germany and the US?

The text contrasts Wenders' reception in Germany, where he's often seen as an "author-director" (sometimes with negative connotations), and in the US, where he's recognized as a significant figure in independent cinema. It highlights the impact of his work on American independent filmmaking and the influence of his "European style" on directors such as Jim Jarmusch.

How does the text describe the evolution of Wenders' critique of the United States?

The text traces the evolution of Wenders' critique of the United States, showing how it developed from early reservations to a more overt and politically charged position. It explores how personal experiences and observations of American politics, especially during the Reagan administration, influenced his perspective. The analysis differentiates between his public statements and the nuanced critiques expressed in his films, acknowledging a persistent undercurrent of affection despite harsh criticisms.

What is the significance of "Land of Plenty" in this analysis?

"Land of Plenty" serves as a crucial focal point for understanding Wenders' evolving relationship with the United States. The film's thematic and stylistic elements are analyzed in detail to illustrate the culmination of his evolving perspective and critique.

What keywords are associated with this analysis?

Keywords include: Wim Wenders, American cinema, New German Cinema, independent film, auteur theory, American culture, European identity, political critique, "Land of Plenty," 9/11, cultural imperialism, post-9/11 America.

What is the overall structure of the text?

The text includes an introduction, chapters on Wenders' early work, his reception in Germany and the US, his critique of the United States, and a chapter specifically on "Land of Plenty." It also features a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and a list of keywords. The structure is designed for a clear and structured academic analysis.

• College: University of California, Berkeley (Department of History)
• Course: U.S. Cultural and Intellectual History: Global Contexts
• Grade: 2,0
• Author: Adam Seitz (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 9
• Catalog Number: V130796
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640398249
• ISBN (Book): 9783640398164
• Language: English
• Tags: wenders, land, plenty, hassliebe, beispiel, films, jahr