German Ways of War: The Affective Geographies and Generic Transformations of German War Films

German Ways of War analyzes how war films negotiate spaces to frame their violence in ways more revealing than their battle scenes, exploring how the genre frames violence within spatio-affective operations. It produces novel spaces and evokes new affects, amounting to "affective geographies" that interweave narrative-generated affects, spatial depictions, and political processes.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 12 August 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

German Ways of War delves into the intricate realm of war films, employing a range of theoretical frameworks to explore their political objectives. By examining a diverse selection of films spanning several decades, from the 1910s to the 2000s, this book fills a significant gap in media studies. While scholars have often focused on the similarities between cinematic gazing and weaponized targeting, German Ways of War argues that war films go beyond mere battle scenes to negotiate spaces that shape their violence in more profound ways.

Beyond this well-established intersection of visuality and violence, the book delves into how war films frame violence within the context of spatio-affective operations. The creation of novel spaces and the evocation of new affects transform war films, altering their manipulation of mobility, landscape, territory, scales, and topological networks. These effects result in what author Jaimey Fisher refers to as "affective geographies," a term that encompasses the interweaving of narrative-generated affects, spatial depictions, and political processes.

Through its comprehensive analysis, German Ways of War offers a fresh perspective on war films, shedding light on their complex role in shaping public perceptions and influencing political discourse. By unraveling the spatial and affective dimensions of these films, the book provides valuable insights into the ways in which they contribute to the construction of national identities, the representation of war, and the exploration of power dynamics. This book is a must-read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the intersection of media, politics, and warfare.

Weight: 364g
Dimension: 154 x 234 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978829176