This document discusses representations of Nazis in cinema over time. It focuses on how Steven Spielberg portrayed Nazis in two of his films - Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Schindler's List (1993). In Indiana Jones, Nazis are portrayed in a purely evil and two-dimensional way as the enemy to oppose the American hero Indiana Jones. In contrast, Schindler's List provides a more complex representation of Nazis, showing both their cruelty through the Holocaust as well as German industrialist Oskar Schindler's efforts to save Jews. The presentation will cover Nazi portrayals, music, and cinematography in these two films as well as the film Dead Snow.

1. “The changing representations of Nazi’s in Cinema”
Run Audio:Mozartpiano from Schindler’s List, evacuation of Krakow Ghetto scene.
Projector:BCU image of a Nazi Stormtrooper in Schindler’s List
Presenter:Since the end of WWIIand the subsequent fall frompower of the Nazi Third Reich, there have been
countless documentaries, cartoons and feature films that tell the story of the most infamous evilin western
culture – the Nazi’s. The way that they have been represented varies hugely, but all hold one factin reserve –
the Nazi’s are a definition of evil.
Video Clip: Scene featuring Nazi Zombies attacking the survivors in Dead Snow {0’30”}
Presenter:This research project looks at the development of the historical representation of Nazi’s across a
number of films, focusing on their representation by DirectorSteven Spielberg. Twofilms central to this
examination will be Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Schindler’s List (1993)
Presenter:In this presentation I will cover:
 Nazi Representation in Indiana Jones
Music
Cinematography
Mise-en-scene
 Nazi representation in Schindler’s List
The Nazi’s and Schindler
The real Oskar Schindler
 Nazi Representation in Dead Snow
Nazi’s in society
Presenter:Distributes handouts containing these points
Video Clip:Scenefeaturing interrogation of Marian Ravenwoodby Major Toht from Indiana Jones {1’36”}
Presenter:Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is very twodimensional in it’s representation of
Nazi’s. They exist in the film only as an enemy to DoctorJones, and evil forceto oppose him. Binary opposition
is key to the audience’s understanding of the film, owing largely to its mainstream American target audience. As
such, the Nazi’s are represented as pure evil from an American perspective, whilst Indiana Jones represents
good from an American POV.He is an ex-american war hero whoupholds ideals of justice, freedom and liberty
– US audiences willrecognise this and these qualities add even more to his appeal. For example, the non-
digetic music in the scene you have just watched changes fromfairly light and hopeful, to dark and ominous as
Major Toht bars Marianne’s escape. This music is influenced by Nazi anthems from the Nuremburg trials,
according to Richard Evans;
“the Nazi anthems were key to the great rallies…foreboding tracks that promoted military might”