Reichskulturkammer

Definition

The Reichskulturkammer, or the Reich Chamber of Culture, was an organization established in Nazi Germany in 1933 to control and regulate the cultural life of the nation. It served as a tool for the Nazi regime to enforce its ideology through the arts by overseeing various cultural sectors, including literature, visual arts, music, and theater. By promoting 'Aryan' culture while suppressing what they deemed 'degenerate art,' it played a critical role in shaping the aesthetic landscape in accordance with Nazi principles.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Reichskulturkammer was established under Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda, who aimed to align all cultural expressions with Nazi ideology.
2. Membership in the Reichskulturkammer was mandatory for artists and cultural workers, effectively silencing dissent and promoting uniformity in cultural production.
3. The organization categorized art into acceptable and unacceptable forms, leading to widespread censorship and persecution of artists whose work did not align with Nazi values.
4. Exhibitions like the notorious 'Degenerate Art' exhibition in 1937 were organized to publicly denounce modernist artworks and reinforce Nazi cultural ideals.
5. The Reichskulturkammer's influence extended to all areas of culture, ensuring that music, literature, and visual arts propagated themes of nationalism, anti-Semitism, and Aryan superiority.

Review Questions

• How did the Reichskulturkammer influence the production of art and culture in Nazi Germany?
  • The Reichskulturkammer significantly influenced art and culture by enforcing strict guidelines that artists had to follow. It required all cultural workers to align their output with Nazi ideology, leading to a homogenized artistic environment. Artists were pressured to produce works that celebrated Aryan values while condemning any form of expression that deviated from this standard as degenerate.
• Discuss the relationship between the Reichskulturkammer and the concept of Degenerate Art during the Nazi regime.
  • The Reichskulturkammer played a central role in defining and promoting the concept of Degenerate Art. This term was used by the Nazis to discredit modern art movements that they considered a threat to their ideology. Through exhibitions and propaganda campaigns, the Reichskulturkammer sought to undermine these artistic forms by labeling them as morally corrupt and un-German, thus facilitating their removal from public spaces.
• Evaluate the broader implications of the Reichskulturkammer's control over culture in Nazi Germany on contemporary understandings of artistic freedom.
  • The control exerted by the Reichskulturkammer over cultural production raises important questions about artistic freedom and state influence on creativity. By systematically repressing diverse expressions and enforcing conformity, it demonstrated how authoritarian regimes can manipulate culture for ideological ends. This historical example serves as a cautionary tale regarding the fragility of artistic freedom and the potential consequences when art is subordinated to political agendas.

Related terms

Degenerate Art: A term used by the Nazi regime to describe modern art that they deemed unworthy or corrupt, often targeting works by Jewish artists or those reflecting avant-garde styles.

Propaganda: Information, especially biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or point of view, heavily utilized by the Nazis to influence public perception and culture.

Aestheticism: An artistic philosophy that emphasizes beauty and sensory experience over moral or political themes, which the Nazis rejected in favor of art serving ideological purposes.