Kafka and the cinema: representations of the colonial past

Abstract

Colonialism is a concept that defies a single or rigid definition. Although it is a historical phenomenon, its understanding is fluid, redefining itself over time and influencing our interpretation of the historical period in question. Drawing from the narratives of Kafka's In the Penal Colony and the colonial films German East Africa: A Great Public School in the Province of Usambara and Secretary of State Dr. Solf Visits Togo in October 1913 we will analyze representations of colonialism that complexify and show how events were perceived contemporaneously. This article explores thus the interaction between fiction, reality, and imagination in the context of European colonialism. As these narratives construct representations of reality, they also shape their own perception of reality, transcending the concept of the “real”. Thus, Kafka could only write about colonialism considering the pre-existing imagery present in other media, such as documentary films. This imagery materialized in these three texts, giving us a sense of how colonization was represented at the time of its enactment.