FILM AND ARCHITECTURE return to 443/646 'How Uncanny'

THE HAUNTED AND THE UNHOMELY

 


The workers quarters in Metropolis (1927) relate to our own society, displaying in a drastic way a capitalist driven society where the proletariat are being exploited. The inventor’s home in particular feels unhomely. It is an older, small house that is surrounded by skyscrapers; this juxtaposition feels out of place and makes us think that there is something mysterious and wrong with this place. There are a multitude of closed doors located in this home that only seem to open when they choose. It feels like there is some sort of unseen force at work here which gives us a feeling of unease. The inventor in metropolis and Rabbi Loew are both creating life in their haunted homes. This factor as well as the mysterious architecture of their homes lead to the unhomely-ness and the uncanny.

 

Helen Tout previous next