Question #2 - Hijort's "Themes of Nation"
What is meant by "banal nationalism" and how does it compare to "banal aboutness"? Give examples of how both manifest in Danish Cinema and how a filmmaker indicates which of the two approaches he assumes.
posted by Abigail at
6:12 PM
1 Comments:
Even though the Danish film-makers would not want to focus on topical concepts, the desire exists to make the films "about" Denmark in some way. The use of Danish actors, language, locations, and props may not necessarily make a film "about" Denmark. These aspects are known as "banal aboutness." Hjort argues that these elements contribute to national quality but by no means create a national theme. "Banal nationalism" is seen by indirect references to the nation through the news, sports casts, and other things. Soren Kragh-Jacobsen when choosing whether or not to use banal nationalism in his films sometimes finds the necessity to insert a Danish flag in order to give the audience a better sense of the scene.
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