The Arabian Nights and the emergence of early German film

What is it about?

This article examines how print versions of the Arabian Nights contributed to the emergence of visual culture in Germany from 1880 to 1935. The tendency to perceive literary versions of the Arabian Nights in visual terms and as a visual experience helps explain why German filmmakers of the period adapted the content and narrative structure of the Arabian Nights in their cinematic work.

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Why is it important?

The article illuminates the intersection of two cultural developments in Germany between 1880 and 1935: the robust reception of the Arabian Nights in print and the emergence of visual culture in the form of motion pictures. In contributes to the history of the fairy tale and its role in the transition to to new media.