Peter Cohen's documentary, The Architecture of Doom, frames the rise of Nazism within the context of an aesthetic movement. Cohen compellingly argues that art was instrumental in defining Hitler's Nazi ideology. However, all of the evidence is circumstantial. His obsessive compulsion with ideal forms may have pre-dated his exposure to the Romantic artistic movement.
An avid follower of art and architecture, Hitler is shown visiting urban landmarks as the Paris Opera house, various museums, and the Greek ruins. The Aryan ideal is embodied through Hitler's affinity towards Romantic portraiture and classical Greek sculptures.
"Degenerate art" is assigned to Cubist distortion of the human form and its subject matter is further connected with physical deformity within mental institutions. The resulting Nazi emphasis on purity and cleanliness culminates through comparisons of Jews to vermin.
Ultimately, Cohen's presents a compelling, yet superficial argument. Clearly, there are parallels between the Nazi ideal and the artistic romanticism of form. It's a bit negligent and simplistic to assume the aesthetic movement as the sole instrument in defining Nazism. The documentary fails to rigorously examine Germany's political and historical context during Hitler's rise.
