The New Bauhaus

'The New Bauhaus: The Life & Legacy of Moholy-Nagy' does an excellent job of exposing the widespread influence of Moholy's work on the lives of Americans and its lasting impact and influence on modern design today. The documentary places Moholy's influence into a global context, from his work in Germany to his movement to Chicago on American culture. The documentary mixes archival materials such as interviews with primary individuals who directly interacted with Moholy and individuals who were influenced by his work and strategies. A look at recent retrospectives of Moholy's work also emphasizes the outsize impact Moholy had from a technical and personal level, focused on developing the whole person. The documentary provides an interpretation of Moholy's perspective on the arts, using design to convey the importance of the process of creating art whether that pertains to the ergonomics of products and their direct application to life or the transformative process of photography. Moholy's ambition and tenacity can not be overstated. This was emphasized as the documentary describing the development of the School of Design which showed how Moholy's professional ambition was at the service of the individual. The School was playful but successful, experimental and cutting edge. The film shifted my perspective on design as a whole, and encouraged me to think about the process and connection of art and its application. One critique that we had about the documentary was so centered on the positive aspects of Moholy's influence, which might be a little limiting. Nevertheless, the film felt comprehensive and accessible.

Whether you're Pablo Picasso himself or barely passed 5th grade art class, 10/10 would recommend giving this film a watch! The documentary explores the life and legacy of László Moholy-Nagy, a visionary artist and educator whose influence impacted American art and design. The film sheds light on Moholy-Nagy's revolutionary teaching philosophies, highlighting the interconnectedness of art and life. This message is most apparent in the way that Maholy-Nagy emphasizes experiential learning and the process of designing everyday objects with various materials and styles. The film includes expert interviews and original footage of the artwork that came out of the New Bauhaus during the early- and mid-twentieth century. The New Bauhaus offers a different outlook on art in Chicago when compared to other institutions, such as the Chicago Institute of Art. Maholy-Nagy stressed that art was for everyone, and his main focus was on the process of exploration and creation-this approach allowed students to find great joy in art and design process. I think you will find great joy in learning more about Moholy-Nagy's revolutionary impact on the art scene in Chicago.

The film largely relies on drawing connections between Moholy-Nagy's pedagogy and the maintenance and impact of The New Bauhaus over time. Overall, we learn that Moholy cared more about creating products that were people-centric and that could be used for the betterment of society. He believed that anyone had an artistic eye and that this artistry could be developed through foundational courses. His school left a profound impact on Chicago, giving artists a place in the city's already bustling industrial sector, and his school still exists today. Clearly, Moholy was passionate about the city, claiming that it was a canvas he wanted to clean up, or a city that he wanted to change for the better. The film's main argument was to emphasize the undeniable importance of his work and how at times, his work does not receive the global attention it deserves when compared to other abstract artists (such as Picasso). One main strength of the film was that it supplemented its argument by including interviews with past students who gave testaments to the value of Moholy's teaching. We wish that the film drew more connections between the original Bauhaus in Germany and Moholy's new Bauhaus so that we can better understand the ways in which the New Bauhaus built upon the ideals of the original Bauhaus. We also loved the amount of original footage (photograph and news headlines) that were included in the documentary - it helped us to better contextualize the impact of Moholy's work at the time.

It is a documentary style film that uses interviews from former students, family members, and experts to create a really interesting and compelling image of who Moholy-Nagy was. These interviews create a captivating and personal reflection of Maholy-Nagy and how he impacted those around him. The film intertwines vintage footage with modern quality, creating a flowing and intriguing series of events.

Maholy's artistic and teaching philosophy prioritized approach and process much more than the end product of art. This approach is somewhat ironic considering that Maholy also created art and taught art as something that should have a tangible impact on the outside world. These two seemingly contradictory principles of Maholy's artistic and teaching philosophy show the importance that he placed on art as a vehicle to bring people together, both through the creative process of art, as well as the communal nature of art and the unifying role that it plays in society once it's been released out into the world.

Our one potential criticism would be that it perhaps relies sometimes on a previously established connection between the viewer and the subject material. It can be advised that the viewer partakes in some brief knowledge or summarizing of Chicago and the foundation of art in the city before viewing. The impact would definitely be greater with an appreciation of modern design/impact of abstract art.

We watched this film for an Art History of Chicago class and overall we found it really cool to see the impact Moholy-Nagy had not only on the city but also on the individuals he encountered in his life. It definitely depended out appreciation not only of Moholy-Nagy but also of the art movement he was a part of and would definitely recommend to art lovers and non art lovers alike.