Cabaret (Film) Themes

Cabaret (Film) Themes

The Power of Figurative Language

The musical numbers inside the Kit Kat Klub are all social commentaries on the narrative events taking place outside the club. They present a symbolic interpretation of the literal actions and concepts; sometimes in an ironic way and sometimes in manner that allows for messages to be communicated that might prove dangerous if communicated literally. The line drawn between what is happening outside and the figurative reinterpretation inside is a very powerful demonstration of how metaphor, symbolism, imagery and allusion can help create a secret language that under the right circumstances can result in a revolution without most people even being aware a revolution happened.

Distraction and Denial

Those circumstances that can help a minority communicating a secret language are ones in which the majority are at first distracted from what is happening around them and then compound that sin with denial of the potential for they let happen while distracted. At first the Nazi in the film are objects of scorn and ridicule. Then, as they begin to proliferate to a more pervasive degree, they are ignored with the assurance, as one character put it, “we’ll be able to control them.” This pattern of distraction represented by the decadent entertainment at the cabaret and denial represented by naïve assumption that such a force of violence can be contained is never given full expression in terms of what it leads to. Because we all know what it leads to. Until it starts happening around us and the pattern simply repeats again.

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