I was eight or nine when my folks took me to see that. Nightmares? I had a few, but then again, too few to mention (to my therapist (not that I had a therapist (not that I'm too well-adjusted for a therapist))).
Well, of course it's nightmare fodder! The horrid, fang'd Veedubs? The demeaning primitiveist imagery of the stereotypical Amerindian? These are simply outward signs of American industrial insecurity in the face of the German industrial and economic resurgence in the post-war era.
Faced with the reality of the Wirtschaftswunder and the subsequent intrusion into domestic markets that had heretofore been considered proof against foreign influence, the humble Volkswagen, with it's ubiquitous, and iconographicly Teutonic presence in the United States, becomes a placeholder for all our worst fears about not only the state of the domestic economy (which seems to be in danger of being swallowed up by the strengthening D-Mark), but also our lingering doubts as to the sincerity of a traditionally war-like Germany's desire for peace, or even, the likelihood of another land-war in Europe as the Soviets move to pluck, not only Berlin, but the entirely industrial base of West Germany. A fruit that was grown and fertilized on Marshall Plan dollars in a garden that NATO was sworn to protect. A doom of our own devising and making.
And so, the depiction of Herbie as a gape-mawed beast, or stereotypical 'savage' is really a nightmare born from the transgressive nature of our relationship vis a vie our former enemies, depicting the inevitable results of said relationship. We extend a hand in fellowship and good will, and have it bitten off at the elbow for our trouble.
Kinda reminds me of this. My sister and I watched this movie with our kids a few years back and were reminded, during this scene, of the era during which the film was made and the drug culture that was prevalent in that era. Maybe said culture influenced the makers of that Herbie scene?
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Date: 2009-07-28 02:54 am (UTC)But I am amused you went and looked it up LOL!
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Date: 2009-07-28 04:26 am (UTC)I was eight or nine when my folks took me to see that. Nightmares? I had a few, but then again, too few to mention (to my therapist (not that I had a therapist (not that I'm too well-adjusted for a therapist))).
Doug.
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Date: 2009-07-28 08:26 am (UTC)Faced with the reality of the Wirtschaftswunder and the subsequent intrusion into domestic markets that had heretofore been considered proof against foreign influence, the humble Volkswagen, with it's ubiquitous, and iconographicly Teutonic presence in the United States, becomes a placeholder for all our worst fears about not only the state of the domestic economy (which seems to be in danger of being swallowed up by the strengthening D-Mark), but also our lingering doubts as to the sincerity of a traditionally war-like Germany's desire for peace, or even, the likelihood of another land-war in Europe as the Soviets move to pluck, not only Berlin, but the entirely industrial base of West Germany. A fruit that was grown and fertilized on Marshall Plan dollars in a garden that NATO was sworn to protect. A doom of our own devising and making.
And so, the depiction of Herbie as a gape-mawed beast, or stereotypical 'savage' is really a nightmare born from the transgressive nature of our relationship vis a vie our former enemies, depicting the inevitable results of said relationship. We extend a hand in fellowship and good will, and have it bitten off at the elbow for our trouble.
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Date: 2009-07-28 01:50 pm (UTC)Enjoy...or not!
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Date: 2009-07-28 03:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-28 04:12 pm (UTC)