AMD 2 - Der Erlkönig - Connor McCausland

For AMD #2, I decided to read, listen to music regarding and learn the culture behind the German idea of "Der Erlkönig". What initially sparked my interest in the general topic was the poem of the same title by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It tells the tale of a father and son traveling the woods on horseback, and the son being spoken to and eventually killed by a supernatural being called Der Erlkönig. It was written in 1782, and is based off of a Dutch legend about an elf king with malevolent wishes to ensnare humans. It has since inspired many pieces of art, including paintings, sculptures, stories and most famously music. The most famous musical composition is of the poem itself put to a score, which was composed by Franz Schubert in 1815. A link to the song is below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuG7Y6wiPL8

What I like most about Schubert's composition is that its minor key and operatic vocal accompaniment not only add to the poem's haunting mood, but also give it character so that even one who cannot understand the words realize that this "Erlkönig" is a pretty "unheimlich" fellow.

My favorite stanza of the poem, as well as how it is represented in the composition is as follows:

"Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt;
Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt." –
"Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an!
Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan!"

Essentially, this is the portion of the story where the boy is captured by Der Erlkönig and freed from his earthly being. It is very scary, and the boys desperation as well as Der Erlkönig's desire for him are articulated craftily. In the Schubert composition, the dynamics and annunciation by the vocalist make it exceedingly harrowing and powerful.

Der Erlkönig is definitely an interesting part of German culture (although originally a Dutch tale), and is something that has captured my fancy. I will certainly be returning to this story and music for years to come. Ich habe keine Zweifel über das.  

Kultur 1

USA Kulinarisch
Interestingly enough, I was not as offended as I expected to be as a patriot when reading the http://www.usa-kulinarisch.de/ website. While almost all dishes were explicitly fattening, over-portioned and saturated with butter, they way it was conveyed (seemingly-I don't know if I can pick up on German irony/sarcasm yet) seemed actually pretty respectful. While I know not all the food on the website or in our country is fattening, I like the idea of Germans being interested by a true cultural aspect of America- a country which many people claim has no original "culture". Since it was early and I was hungry, I went to the "frühstück" section and looked at some of the recipes. I found it funny and charming how they had an entire section called "Was ist ein Bagel?"- a question that would garner stares and cuss words if asked in any major U.S. city.

http://www.usa-kulinarisch.de/1030/info-was-ist-ein-bagel/

365 Dinge

The ones that caught my fancy:

#12. 
Especially on a -kalt- day like today, the idea of going to a nice, warm, humid spa sounds ausgezeichnet. I can imagine it being a surreal and ethereal experience with frozen, icy, snowy weather occurring outside one of those windows. Then a nightcap in the lounge? Sounds like fun. If I go to Berlin...perhaps this will be on the list. If its like it is today I will avoid the "Open-Air-Area", though.

#20 "Mmmmm...Bier" - Deutsch-Homer
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4162i2OUW7L._SS500_.jpg

This too would be an exceedingly interesting experience. To get a diploma in beer. "Bist du stolz auf mich, Mutti???"

and finally...back to food...
#53
If the word "Schnitzelmonster" doesn't catch your attention, I believe you may have had a poorly executed lobotomy recently. Just the image of this breaded cutlet of meat makes my mouth water, and is something I'd definitely want to experience in Germany. Its not too expensive either! As the paragraph says...I'm gonna skip Vienna for schnitzel and go promptly to Berlin. Danke für diese Informationen!!


Brennpunkt Kultur

Studentenermäßigungen:
Ich bin sehr eifersüchtig! (because German-speaking countrys' students who are interested in the arts have the federal government more or less paying for them to cheaply absorb the cultural pleasures which surround them. While I am aware of the fact that students do receive discounts here in the USA, it seems much more regulated and taken advantage of in German speaking countries. Maybe our national lotteries could go to something like this instead of "education". Nur ein Sherz. 

Fußball und Profi-Sport in Mitteleuropa:

Ich mag Fußball nicht. Sue me. I never was able to get into the professionals on the TV, and even when I played as a child I never enjoyed it. I'm sure my vocalization of this opinion would not go over well in a trip to Germany, or any other country outside of the US or Canada. The amount of loyalty europeans have to their teams is something to be admired, and perhaps exceeds even the strongest of loyalties here in America. However, the ideologies are similar, and one could argue that they stem from the same intrinsically human emotional connections - not to get too philosophical. This is just cool anthropologically and culturally, because although the sports themselves differ, the human element does not- even thousands of miles (or km) away. It is also comforting to know that if I did go to Germany, I would not be alone in my interests of Basketball and Tennis- both of which have very large followings in Europe in general as well. 

What Discipline? Of German Lines and Pythons

If there is anything I can count on with German people (I knew a few growing up), punctuality and order have to be in the top 5 expectations. (Next to polka music and steins filled to the brim). Thats why it was almost jarring to read this article describing lines in Germany and their complete lack-there-of. The thought is nauseating, because even in the U.S.'s biggest baddest cities, people play by the rules when it comes to lines. Its just disrespectful not to. However after further thought on the matter, I figure this lack of order in queues may stem from the even more obsessive need to be quick/on time. How can you justify waiting on a line when you could be using all that time to successfully complete today's agenda? Just my humble opinion. Ich möchte nicht in Deutsche-Schlange stehen.  

AMD1 - Mostly Martha - Connor McCausland

Für mein AMD1, ich sehe "Mostly Martha" (der ganz Film). Ich findet der Film interessant bei unser Unterricht, damit ich wollte es über geschrieben.
Der Film war sehr gut, aber ein bisschen "corny". Ich sagte das Ende perfekt -- Martha und Mario romantisch engagieren -- und Martha kann nicht sagen "Auf Wiedersehen", um Lina. Es tut mir leid für diese "spoilers".
Insgesamt, Schauspieler dieses Films waren talentiert. Die Musik war auch sehr schön.
Meine Lieblingsschauspieler was Sergio Castellitto (Mario).
Meine Lieblingsszene war wann Mario kommt zu Martha's wohnung und kocht mit Lina.

Dieser Film ist ein "Romantische Komödie", aber es ist nicht so lustig. Aber es ist niedlich.

Ich gehe es ein 3/4! Ein guter Film mit einer guten story.

(Hier ist ein vorschau...in Englisch?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-jlmaYX2n0