These films’ preoccupation with objectivity over subjectivity and society over individuality are indicative of their era. However, such philosophies presuppose that differentiation is motivated by elitism. Modernists like Adolf Loos denounced decoration and differentiation for their ever-changing fashions; sarcastically, he wrote, “I know a good remedy! Set a whole city on fire, set the entire Empire alight and everyone will wallow in money and wealth” (Loos). The expression of individuality, reasoned Loos, was not only immoral, but primitive. In a less abrasive manner, both Thorstein Veblen and his contemporary, Georg Simmel, agreed, believing that fashion was propelled by the contrast of the desire of the lower classes (to imitate the upper classes) and the upper classes (to distinguish themselves from the lower classes). However, this “trickle-down theory” is unable to account for the eventuality that was the increasing pluralism of style (Davis 111-2). Standardization, by satisfying physiological necessities and basic security, had created desire for intimacy and esteem. Aspiring to be different, it would seem, did not necessarily mean aspiring to be better—merely unique.
Suppressing differentiation proved to have frightening consequences, demonstrated by the extreme nationalist policies of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. his extremism is echoed by the totalitarian city-state of Libria in Kurt Wimmer's Equilibrium (2006). In order to eradicate violence and war, Librians live without emotion, effectively limiting humans to physiological needs and security. However, the movie is ultimately unsuccessful at convincing its viewers that the fear of another apocalyptic world war would necessitate such drastic measures. Nothing is to be gained by the Librian sacrifice of emotion in Equilibrium; this is made even more implausible by the fact that we take those higher needs (intimacy, esteem, self-actualization—utimately, uniqueness) for granted in contemporary society. Furthermore, the architecture of Libria is lifted directly from the Neoclassicism of Mussolini's EUR (image credit) district in Rome, inevitably drawing comparisons between Libria and the Axis powers. Equilibrium’s Libria had no external political ambitions, no cause to unify its citizenry. Conversely, Germany and Italy in the 1930s were attempting to re-establish themselves as European powers. Italy, whose once-influential city-states had only recently become a unified nation, annexed Libya, Eritrea, and Somaliland—though not without significant struggle—in the Scramble for Africa of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Germany, also a recently united entity, the rise of Nazism and its consequences could be attributed to the humiliation, discontent, and disillusionment caused by the First World War. It becomes clear that Italian and German nationalism was rooted in a desire for brotherhood, pride, and esteem; Hitler and Mussolini recognized that their countrymen were willing to sacrifice their individuality for such noble causes, illustrating the importance of these higher needs. →
