The articles for this chapter's Kultur readings were very interesting to read, and I learned a lot that I didn't previously know about German culture. I also especially enjoyed this week that (some) of the articles had a unified theme of the differences between different regions of Germany.
For the first article "Breaking Down the Wall in the Head," I was very surprised to learn that there is still apparently a lot of tension between the regions that were formerly East and West Germany. I can kind of see where some of the stereotypes or mindsets might come from, going off of the information provided in the article, though. It was also interesting to learn that some older Germans who lived in the DDR during the time when the Berlin Wall was still up feel that they had more freedom under the socialist government than under the new united German government. They made good points, though, since I can see how some elements of the older government would be appealing (ex. full employment, free education, nationalized health care, etc.).
For the second article, the Wikipedia article on "Ostalgie," I thought it was interesting to read as well. I can see how there would be nostalgia for certain products from another time in your life. I'm also curious if there's a huge difference between the DDR products and the Western products that took their place in the market post-unification.
I also read the article "Backwards Southerners, Frigid Northerners." Relations between different parts of Germany seem so complicated: the East and the West dislike each other, and the north and south apparently dislike each other as well. It's also interesting that despite their reputation for being conservative and kind of ignorant, the southern part of Germany has better schools than the northern part. The stereotypes of north vs. south Germany also seems (to me) to kind of parallel the stereotypes of the northern and southern parts of the United States, although they don't seem to be as widespread in my experience. I lived in the south for my whole life until I came up to Michigan for college, and there was never really an overt sentiment of negativity towards the north, just certain stereotypes about cultural differences (being less friendly, kind of snobby, more liberal, etc.).
Samstag, 19. April 2014
Donnerstag, 17. April 2014
Kultur 11 - Jenna Malzahn
For Kultur 11, I proceeded by reading "Breaking Down the Wall in the Head" which depicts the existence of of stereotypes between Eastern and Western Germans and that there persistence in society displays the continued impact that the Berlin Wall still has even after reunification. I was extremely surprised to learn that based on recent poll conducted by the Forsa research institute that a quarter of West Germans wished that the Berlin Wall would be rebuilt. I believe that this is a really drastic approach because even if the reunification was deemed a failure and the two halves were to split, a wall, essentially creating a barrier between the two, is not necessary. It would be like France and Spain constructing a wall along their border over a small disagreement in order to verify and emphasis the fact that they were two different countries. All of this tension stems from the miscommunication that followed the falling of the Wall as Easterners were disillusioned to the extent of wealth in the West and as the Westerners believed that the East was receiving an excessive amount of money. The demeaning stereotypes soon followed in order to categorize and emphasize any differences that existed and the continuation of them throughout the years just illustrates how a solution of reconstructed of the Berlin Wall could be reached because members of the population is being swayed by these persisting preconceived notions. As the article described the extent of differences it also shares a solution other than merely calling it quits. It calls on the youth of the nation to overcome these stereotypes and to knock down the Wall that exists in the head because they are the future and are not as influenced by these notions as older generations who lived through the falling of the Berlin Wall. I think that overall this displays how the youth are necessary in all countries in order to fix and learn from past mistakes since the problem that persists in Germany isn't an exclusive event and occurs in cultures all over the world and throughout history.
I also read the article "Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners: Germany's Real Divide" which displayed the opposite feelings that were presented in the first article. Instead it seemed that a Wall should have been constructed between the North and South regions of Germany rather than the East and West because the differences and prejudice that exists is even more drastic. The interesting thing that I discovered though was that the differences between the two seemed to parallel those that occur in American society. In both cases the North is considered more industrial while the South is overwhelmingly deemed to be more conservative by comparison. However considering how America is able to function properly I think that the differences in Germany may have been over exaggerated in this article. All countries are composed of a numerous amount of differences so these merely assist in defining the country as it's own.
I also read the article "Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners: Germany's Real Divide" which displayed the opposite feelings that were presented in the first article. Instead it seemed that a Wall should have been constructed between the North and South regions of Germany rather than the East and West because the differences and prejudice that exists is even more drastic. The interesting thing that I discovered though was that the differences between the two seemed to parallel those that occur in American society. In both cases the North is considered more industrial while the South is overwhelmingly deemed to be more conservative by comparison. However considering how America is able to function properly I think that the differences in Germany may have been over exaggerated in this article. All countries are composed of a numerous amount of differences so these merely assist in defining the country as it's own.
Kultur 11 - Tim
"Mauer im Kopf" is a very interesting article, and something I had never really heard much about. The idea that it takes a long time for different regions to reconcile and find common values after strife, division or conflict is not surprising, and had many examples in history. There are still large cultural divisions in the US between North and South, after a civil war that happened 150 years ago. Despite the longevity of resentment, differing values and expectations, this article is 10 years old, and I wonder what opinions my own peers would have. Everyone through their 20's now in Deutschland would have little or no memory of the fall.
The "Ostalgie" is definitely something I saw in Berlin this Sommer. Evident is the Ampelmann mouse pad sitting right next to me here at my desk. Other evidence I saw were things like the Trabi Tours and numerous little shops selling cold-war memorabilia.
I think that the North/South divide and its parallels in the US are very interesting. This Spiegel article focuses on Bayern as the example for the south, and indeed that is where the classic German Stereotype in America comes from. Though Baden-Württemburg may be different, it is also in the south. My father would mention the concern his mother had for him when he had his first internship in Deutschland. She was worried his Schwäbusche accent would discredit him in the eyes of company professionals.
The "Ostalgie" is definitely something I saw in Berlin this Sommer. Evident is the Ampelmann mouse pad sitting right next to me here at my desk. Other evidence I saw were things like the Trabi Tours and numerous little shops selling cold-war memorabilia.
I think that the North/South divide and its parallels in the US are very interesting. This Spiegel article focuses on Bayern as the example for the south, and indeed that is where the classic German Stereotype in America comes from. Though Baden-Württemburg may be different, it is also in the south. My father would mention the concern his mother had for him when he had his first internship in Deutschland. She was worried his Schwäbusche accent would discredit him in the eyes of company professionals.
Kultur 11 Amanda Victory
Before reading "Breaking Down the Wall" I would have thought that all Germans supported the wall coming down and would have been happy about the reunification, but for some that is not the case. From what the article said some westerners felt that the wall being down forced them to be less outspoken when it came to issues other than the government. One example was the man who said he used to be able to tell his boss when he didn't like something, now if he did that he would fear losing his job. Unless Germans from the east came in and became his new boss I'm not sure I understand this, if he had the same boss and his boss felt the same way I'm not sure why that would change. What I didn't find surprising was the stereotypes each side placed on one another, the east assuming the west was rich and snobby and the west assuming the east was lazy and unmotivated. I think anytime a country bounces back from large issues like this, like America with the revolutionary war, you are going to get continued arguments. Just like how here some northerners call the south dumb and some southerners think the north is nothing but corrupt rich people.
On that note, almost that exact assumption is stated in "Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners," in that the German south is perceived as dumb, and I guess they don't speak high German. The north is stereotyped as boring snobs. This is no shock because it happens everywhere, but I did think it was funny that they don't trust each others food or dialect.
On that note, almost that exact assumption is stated in "Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners," in that the German south is perceived as dumb, and I guess they don't speak high German. The north is stereotyped as boring snobs. This is no shock because it happens everywhere, but I did think it was funny that they don't trust each others food or dialect.
Kultur Kap. 11
The articles that we were to read this week rose many questions about how close the new, modern Berlin is to that of years past. The first article, about how divided Berlin remains, even 14 years after the reunification of Germany, shows that even after years of living together, stereotypes about Westerners and Easterners are commonly accepted, at least in the older generation. It proves that even though progress can be made on a national level, on a personal side, people can still not be comfortable with the new reality. However, it is worth noting that experts on the subject suggest that the key to true unification is coming., but needs common values, not just economic and cultural equality.
The second article talks about how Berlin is a artistic Mecca in Europe, because the Bohemian lifestyle is still viable there. The musician who writes the piece talks about how it is possible to remain poor and still be comfortable and productive in Berlin, where you could not in a city like London or Paris. It is a "sexy" city, which possesses artistic neighborhoods, scenes and people. It remains in many ways the same as it was in the 1920s, when the Weimar republic allowed lots of freedom of self-expression.
Finally, there is an article about the divide between North and South, and the differences between the culture that lead to an inherent distrust and dislike. As the article says, the real divide is not East ans West, but North and South.
The second article talks about how Berlin is a artistic Mecca in Europe, because the Bohemian lifestyle is still viable there. The musician who writes the piece talks about how it is possible to remain poor and still be comfortable and productive in Berlin, where you could not in a city like London or Paris. It is a "sexy" city, which possesses artistic neighborhoods, scenes and people. It remains in many ways the same as it was in the 1920s, when the Weimar republic allowed lots of freedom of self-expression.
Finally, there is an article about the divide between North and South, and the differences between the culture that lead to an inherent distrust and dislike. As the article says, the real divide is not East ans West, but North and South.
Kultur 11 - Kailey Schwartz
Breaking Down the Wall in the Head
Reading about the different viewpoints in relation to the fall of the Berlin Wall wasn't very surprising after learning about Germans' distaste for patriotism. You would think after years of tragedy and destruction that reunification wouldn't be such a bad idea, but I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinion. I do understand the problem of unifying two 'nations' and finding a path for common values. I can see why that would be frustrating for those who got so used to living a certain way. It is a little sad that some people still think that way, though.
Ostalgie
While reading this article, I couldn't help but compare it to the United States i.e. the Union and the Confederacy. I'm not too brushed up on my history, but sometime after the Civil War, the Confederacy was wiped away. Yet, I'm sure there are STILL some individuals who would prefer it to go back to the old way, which is quite ignorant, in my opinion. With the reunification of East and West Germany, East Germany was kind of forced to get rid of all GDR representations, similar to the Confederacy. Just to clarify, I highly doubt East Germany represented anything close to the awful things the Confederacy did. At least they got to keep the Ampelmännchen, though.
Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners
The true issue lies between north and south Germany. North being Catholic and south being Protestant, mainly, should say everything about where problems stem from. Also, the fact that both sides are highly prejudice doesn't help the situation. Everything is different between the two regions from politics to religions to dialects. Because of these major differences, the people of the north and of the south really do not see eye-to-eye. This, again, reminds me of the US way back when. I'd really hate to be caught up in all of that. Why can't people just get along?
Reading about the different viewpoints in relation to the fall of the Berlin Wall wasn't very surprising after learning about Germans' distaste for patriotism. You would think after years of tragedy and destruction that reunification wouldn't be such a bad idea, but I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinion. I do understand the problem of unifying two 'nations' and finding a path for common values. I can see why that would be frustrating for those who got so used to living a certain way. It is a little sad that some people still think that way, though.
Ostalgie
While reading this article, I couldn't help but compare it to the United States i.e. the Union and the Confederacy. I'm not too brushed up on my history, but sometime after the Civil War, the Confederacy was wiped away. Yet, I'm sure there are STILL some individuals who would prefer it to go back to the old way, which is quite ignorant, in my opinion. With the reunification of East and West Germany, East Germany was kind of forced to get rid of all GDR representations, similar to the Confederacy. Just to clarify, I highly doubt East Germany represented anything close to the awful things the Confederacy did. At least they got to keep the Ampelmännchen, though.
Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners
The true issue lies between north and south Germany. North being Catholic and south being Protestant, mainly, should say everything about where problems stem from. Also, the fact that both sides are highly prejudice doesn't help the situation. Everything is different between the two regions from politics to religions to dialects. Because of these major differences, the people of the north and of the south really do not see eye-to-eye. This, again, reminds me of the US way back when. I'd really hate to be caught up in all of that. Why can't people just get along?
Kapitel 11 Jason Bui
Who would have guessed that even though the Berlin Wall was knocked down in 1989, that German is still "divided" to this day? The reading from kapitel 11 explained how there are still tensions between those in East and West Germany and North and South Germany. Although the country has been united for about 14 years, Germany is still separated in many other aspects.
The first article that I read was "Breaking Down the Wall in the Head." This article explains that to this day, differences between East Germany and West Germany still stand. In fact, a recent poll showed that "a quarter of West Germans wished the Berlin Wall could be rebuilt, while 12 percent of East Germans said they didn't want to live in a united Germany." This is attributed to the fact that many previous East Germans do not believe that they are truly free in this united Germany, but on the other hand, many West Germans feel like they are even more free without being confined by the wall. Personally, I do not really understand why East Germans would feel any less free in a united Germany. One previous East German's argument was that he lived with the fear of getting fired, rather than living without that fear in East Germany, where he was prohibited to speak badly about the government. This logic is not sound at all. His freedom of speech is taken away in East Germany and the fact that he could not be fired most likely interfered with the freedoms of some one else.
The next article I read was "Ostalgie." This article explained how most of Germany adopted things from West Germany, rather than East Germany. The only notable thing that remains from East Germany is the "Eastern Crosswalk Man." I do not really think that this is a big deal, seeing that most of East Germany was under communist rule and united Germany followed a more East Germany republic government.
The last article that I read was "Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners: Germany's Real Divide." This article explains how the real divide in Germany was in between the North and the South. Apparently North Germany and South Germany are very different from each other. They both have different cultures and even different accents. Many North Germans tend to think that South Germans are stupid, dumb and lazy, whereas many South Germans think that North Germans are just boring. This is kind of like how in the United States, North and South are seen as being quite different from each other. Many people in the South have southern accents, as those in South Germany have an accent. Also, many people in the northern part of the United States tend to think that there are a lot of hicks in the South, like it is in Germany and the south tends to think of the northern states as boring and stuck up. I think that in every country, different regions of the countries tend to have their differences, but it should not stop them from sharing the same patriotism. Germans should be proud of united Germany.
The first article that I read was "Breaking Down the Wall in the Head." This article explains that to this day, differences between East Germany and West Germany still stand. In fact, a recent poll showed that "a quarter of West Germans wished the Berlin Wall could be rebuilt, while 12 percent of East Germans said they didn't want to live in a united Germany." This is attributed to the fact that many previous East Germans do not believe that they are truly free in this united Germany, but on the other hand, many West Germans feel like they are even more free without being confined by the wall. Personally, I do not really understand why East Germans would feel any less free in a united Germany. One previous East German's argument was that he lived with the fear of getting fired, rather than living without that fear in East Germany, where he was prohibited to speak badly about the government. This logic is not sound at all. His freedom of speech is taken away in East Germany and the fact that he could not be fired most likely interfered with the freedoms of some one else.
The next article I read was "Ostalgie." This article explained how most of Germany adopted things from West Germany, rather than East Germany. The only notable thing that remains from East Germany is the "Eastern Crosswalk Man." I do not really think that this is a big deal, seeing that most of East Germany was under communist rule and united Germany followed a more East Germany republic government.
The last article that I read was "Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners: Germany's Real Divide." This article explains how the real divide in Germany was in between the North and the South. Apparently North Germany and South Germany are very different from each other. They both have different cultures and even different accents. Many North Germans tend to think that South Germans are stupid, dumb and lazy, whereas many South Germans think that North Germans are just boring. This is kind of like how in the United States, North and South are seen as being quite different from each other. Many people in the South have southern accents, as those in South Germany have an accent. Also, many people in the northern part of the United States tend to think that there are a lot of hicks in the South, like it is in Germany and the south tends to think of the northern states as boring and stuck up. I think that in every country, different regions of the countries tend to have their differences, but it should not stop them from sharing the same patriotism. Germans should be proud of united Germany.
Michael Weathers Kultur 11
Ich fand diese Kultur sehr interessant. I admire the fact that Germans look back on the history of their country and see how things happened. Es ist sehr lustig that east and west Germans have funny opinions on each other. It is great that the younger Germans have the ability to turn things around by taking the initiative. Ostalgie ist auch sehr interessant. The word nostalgia has a positive meaning so it is great that Germans have derived a word with a positive meaning. Ich hasse that the northerners and southerners quarrel. But in order for things to get better, arguements, and disputes must happen first.
Mittwoch, 16. April 2014
Kapital 10 Kultur, Yuntao Chen
I enjoyed the German Christmas classic "Dinner for one", a short black and white film performed by two British comedians.
Like any non-German people, it was pretty odd first when I watched the movie. It was an interesting story, and the two performers did very well. However it was difficult to understand the fever that Germans have over this film, to a point it is said to be broadcasted during every Christmas.
But just as the Spiegel article said, the show gets better and better as you keep watching it over and over again. When I watched it for the third time, I also unconsciously started to repeat the punchline "the same procedure as every year, James".
This show is definitely an acquired taste for anyone who did not grow up in Germany, but after watching it several times, especially with some German beer, you may start to grasp its secret charm.
Like any non-German people, it was pretty odd first when I watched the movie. It was an interesting story, and the two performers did very well. However it was difficult to understand the fever that Germans have over this film, to a point it is said to be broadcasted during every Christmas.
But just as the Spiegel article said, the show gets better and better as you keep watching it over and over again. When I watched it for the third time, I also unconsciously started to repeat the punchline "the same procedure as every year, James".
This show is definitely an acquired taste for anyone who did not grow up in Germany, but after watching it several times, especially with some German beer, you may start to grasp its secret charm.
Kapital 11 Kultur, Yuntao Chen
For this week's Kultur, I read through several interesting articles. The first one was the Wikipedia page of "Ostalgie", which refers to nostalgia for East Germany. I found this very interesting, because this also happens in my country, China. Nowadays the old communism era is fading away from people's lives, but certain parts of it is gradually finding its way back to the pop culture. You can easily get souvenirs, T-shirts, and mugs that commemorate the old time. I think this has more to do with the mysterious nature of fashion than with people actually longing for the past.
I then read an article about the differences between Southern and Northern Germany. Since Germany does not cover a very large land mass, I was not expecting such a huge difference in terms of customs and languages between to two parts of Germany. I heard from my German friends before about the south-north division in Germany. This article just confirmed these "rumors". It was funny that some people would joke about these differences -- "had the allied power decided to divide Germany North-South, the Berlin wall would probably still stand today."
The last article I read was about the influences of the reunification on today's German society. The article talked about the differences in mentality of people from the east and west. I was very surprised to know that even today such differences are till present, and today the states in west Germany are still paying a large sum to the states in the east. However, I think the benefits of a unified Germany probably still largely outweigh these drawbacks. After all, the German National football team now has one less opponent in the FIFA world cup!
I then read an article about the differences between Southern and Northern Germany. Since Germany does not cover a very large land mass, I was not expecting such a huge difference in terms of customs and languages between to two parts of Germany. I heard from my German friends before about the south-north division in Germany. This article just confirmed these "rumors". It was funny that some people would joke about these differences -- "had the allied power decided to divide Germany North-South, the Berlin wall would probably still stand today."
The last article I read was about the influences of the reunification on today's German society. The article talked about the differences in mentality of people from the east and west. I was very surprised to know that even today such differences are till present, and today the states in west Germany are still paying a large sum to the states in the east. However, I think the benefits of a unified Germany probably still largely outweigh these drawbacks. After all, the German National football team now has one less opponent in the FIFA world cup!
Kultur Kapitel 11 - Alex Gamso
While I learned of the previous rarity of having national pride in German, it came to no surprise that a separation exists between Germans. I mean America even has clear divisions between northerners and southerners (excluding Florida of course). While it seems odd that such Ostalgie fads exist as people usually try to forget dark times in history, it does also make sense. For example, the confederate flag, once a symbol of the Confederate States in the Civil War now represents the south and those that call themselves "country." Similarly symbols from the DDR have lost their meaning and have vintage feel. These artifacts are comparable to anything that has "Keep calm and carry on" as this was a phrase used in World War II as encouragement of possible air attacks. While the DDR symbols have lost their meaning, they represent a different state of mind with people creating division of where they are from rather than their beliefs.
Kultur 11-- Callie Chappell
Breaking Down the Wall in the Head: Mauer im Kopf klingt mir richtig.Wann ich wär in Ost-Deutschland, viele Leute wären nicht glücklich über Ost v. West Deutschland. In Ost-Deutschland, Leute wären eifersüchtig über West-Deutschland. In West-Detschland, Leute wären sich über Ost-Deutschland geärgen.
Ostalgie: Diese Arikel (reminded) mich of zwei Dinge. 1. Musik von Regina Spektor (Russin und Amerikanish). Ihren Album "soviet kitsch" ist über Ostalogie. Du könnst ihren Album hier hören: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Kitsch
2. Ostolalgie ist in die USA. Jay Carney (US Press Secretary) und seine Frau Clare Shipman haben viele Kommunist (propoganda) in die Küche. Sie haben Ostalgie?
Du könnst diese Artikel hier lesen: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/04/11/what-do-white-house-press-secretary-jay-carney-and-soviet-era-propaganda-have-in-common-they-both-live-in-the-same-house/
Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners: Germany's Real Divide: Diese Nord/Sud divide erinnent mich of the Nord/Sud divide in die USA. Wir haben similar Ideen über the "Deep South" and the North. Additionally, we have ideas about racism, which I am not sure is present in Germany.
Ostalgie: Diese Arikel (reminded) mich of zwei Dinge. 1. Musik von Regina Spektor (Russin und Amerikanish). Ihren Album "soviet kitsch" ist über Ostalogie. Du könnst ihren Album hier hören: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Kitsch
2. Ostolalgie ist in die USA. Jay Carney (US Press Secretary) und seine Frau Clare Shipman haben viele Kommunist (propoganda) in die Küche. Sie haben Ostalgie?
Du könnst diese Artikel hier lesen: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/04/11/what-do-white-house-press-secretary-jay-carney-and-soviet-era-propaganda-have-in-common-they-both-live-in-the-same-house/
Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners: Germany's Real Divide: Diese Nord/Sud divide erinnent mich of the Nord/Sud divide in die USA. Wir haben similar Ideen über the "Deep South" and the North. Additionally, we have ideas about racism, which I am not sure is present in Germany.
Kultur 11, Michael Nizinski
The Breaking Down the Wall article was very interesting because one would never assume that some of the German populi wouldn't want the wall to be taken down. They do have good reasons but as a nation it would create separation and frustration between the two sides which I believe might turn into a civil war between them.
Germans Real Divide article seemed very petty to me. The fact they are fighting for no reason seems like they don't have enough to do with their time.
Brennpunkt Kultur was also an interesting read. Saxony has a lot of history with WW2, companies based there and some important invention that came from there for example the washing machine and toothpaste. If I ever have the chance I would like to visit in see the church that was rebuilt after the war and Der Zwinger in Dresden.
Germans Real Divide article seemed very petty to me. The fact they are fighting for no reason seems like they don't have enough to do with their time.
Brennpunkt Kultur was also an interesting read. Saxony has a lot of history with WW2, companies based there and some important invention that came from there for example the washing machine and toothpaste. If I ever have the chance I would like to visit in see the church that was rebuilt after the war and Der Zwinger in Dresden.
Kapitel 11 Kulture Blog
Der Gegenstand "Breaking Down the Wall in Head" war sehr interessant. Ich will wie gleich das Mauer in Kopf ist noch wissen. "Nostalgie" war auch interessant. Es müsste schwer zu Übergang von Ost zu West Alltagspraktiken. Nummer 293 "Ausflug nach Rheinsberg" ist eine schöne Idee. Zyankali Bar würde sehr spaß zu besucht. Museum der Dinge mit DDR und Nazi-Deutshland Dinge werden toll sehen. Ich liebe Sonnenblumen! Der Sonnenblumen-Labyrinth würdet sehr spaß! 300 Jahre Medizin ist seltsam aber ich will gehen. Durch die Berlins Unterwelten wandert, würde sehr toll zu explorieren. Der Berliner Dom sieht sehr schön! Stars For Free klingt gleich ein gut Zeit!
Kultur 11, Carolyn Kodis
When I went to Germany, I definitely noticed a difference between North and South, just like the author of "Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners: Germany's Real Divide." On my tour, we went straight from Berlin to Munich. While Berlin was very similar to an American city--very modern, very artsy, very cool--Munich was more like what I pictured Germany to be: lederhosens, heavy beer drinking, and polka music. And although both were so different, I loved them both in their own ways. Berlin reminded me of home and was absolutely beautiful. While in Munich, I was able to dive into the culture of my ancestors by trying on dirndls and dining in beer gardens. I see a similarity here in the states. While I prefer living my northern lifestyle, when I do go to the south I try to dive into the culture down there (grits, anyone?). I know I would probably do the same if I were to live in Germany: I'd live in Berlin but vacation down in Munich and become one with the people. Maybe the Germans should do that too.
Montag, 14. April 2014
Kultur 11
I thought the article Backward Southerners, Frigid Northerners: Germany’s Real Divide was very interesting because it definitely made me think of America. I knew Germany had slight differences in dialect and even culture, but I never thought it was that different. I think American southerners have that stereotype as well...
I also thought it was interesting that "East Germans" have nostalgia for life in the DDR. Both Breaking Down the Wall in the Head and Ostalgie talked about this East/West division. In the Ostalgie article I thought it was funny that you can buy souvenirs from the former DDR. I can buy souvenirs from the American good old days at a shop at most malls. Those stores are for people with nostalgia or interest in the 1940s-70s and even later. And about the fact that 57% of "Easterners" felt more free in the DDR was pretty startling because I definitely never thought of it like that, I just think "communist". But what an interviewer said made sense. There is more poverty in "East" Germany now and many people do not have as good jobs or even opportunities than before. Like he said, people are unable to travel (due to money) like in the past.
I also thought it was interesting that "East Germans" have nostalgia for life in the DDR. Both Breaking Down the Wall in the Head and Ostalgie talked about this East/West division. In the Ostalgie article I thought it was funny that you can buy souvenirs from the former DDR. I can buy souvenirs from the American good old days at a shop at most malls. Those stores are for people with nostalgia or interest in the 1940s-70s and even later. And about the fact that 57% of "Easterners" felt more free in the DDR was pretty startling because I definitely never thought of it like that, I just think "communist". But what an interviewer said made sense. There is more poverty in "East" Germany now and many people do not have as good jobs or even opportunities than before. Like he said, people are unable to travel (due to money) like in the past.
Freitag, 11. April 2014
Kultur 11 by Josh Crane
Kultur 11
The first article for Kultur 11 was about the psychological
wall that lingers today. There is a significant amount of hate between East and
West Berlin residents. In fact, a survey showed that many West and East Germans
dislike the united country. Germans play the part of the stuck up, while
Easterners are the whiners and hecklers of the bunch. Westerners feel like they
lose too much money to the East, while the East feels it is entitled to more.
These attitudes will fade as the open minded youth grow up to make up a higher
percentage of the population.
Then I learned about the North and South. They do not share
much. The North is largely Protestant, while the North is greatly Catholic. The
North is always busy, and never resting, industrial and fast. The South is
quite the opposite.
Lastly, I found out about Berlin and the Arts. The authoring
band moved to Berlin for a short stint because they could meet other bands and musicians,
hangout with artists, and live comfortably for quite some time. It was also a great
place to live. But nothing gets done, and the band did not make much music, because
too many distractions abounded. In fact, some creative folks are being pushed
out. So the author returned home and got back to work on his music. The author
learned creativity is not found in a place.
Donnerstag, 10. April 2014
Kultur 6, Kapitel 11, Emily Maggioncalda
Ich bin erstaunt, dass Ost und West Deutschland immer noch uneinig sind, aber die USA hat immer noch Nord und Süd Konflikt, und der Zivilkrieg war vor langer Zeit. Leute in Nord denken, dass Leute in Süd dumm und "Rednecks" sind, und Leute in Süd denken, dass Leute in Nord "wusses" und "Yankees" sind. Die Ost/West Konflikt ist ähnlich. Deutschland hat auch Nord/Süd Konflikt. Es hört die Gleiche von die USA Nord/Süd Klagen. Ich verstehe Ostalgie, aber ich denke, dass Demokratie besser ist. Die Ost-Ampelmännchen ist schlau.
Leipzig und Dresden hört sehr schön. Ich möchte beide besuchen. Ich denke, dass ich die Architektur sehen möchte. Der Zwinger in Dresend ist sehr schön in das Bild in der Buch.
Ich will zu Flohmarkt am Mauerpark gehen. Auch will ich zum Naturkundemuseum. Ich liebe Naturgesichte.
Leipzig und Dresden hört sehr schön. Ich möchte beide besuchen. Ich denke, dass ich die Architektur sehen möchte. Der Zwinger in Dresend ist sehr schön in das Bild in der Buch.
Ich will zu Flohmarkt am Mauerpark gehen. Auch will ich zum Naturkundemuseum. Ich liebe Naturgesichte.
Dienstag, 8. April 2014
AMD 6 - Gabrielle Spickard
Für mein Abenteuer mit Deutsch 6, habe ich Artikel über gut Touristenattraktion in Berlin gelesen. Auch, habe ich diese Artikel an Deutsch Wikipedia gefunden. Ich verstehe am meisten von die Artikel. Es war sehr behilflich mir. Ich lese über den Berliner Mauer von dem Kalter Krieg. Die Geschichte war sehr interessant. Dann, lese ich über dem Museumsinsel. Es hat sehr viel Museen! Ich möchte gern die fünf Museen in es besuchen. Ich lese auch über der Brandenburger Tor. Es ist ein groß Deutsch Monument, und es ist sehr historisch und wichtig. Ich finde diese Artikel sehr interessant, und jetzt habe ich viele Ideen für ein Reise nach Berlin.
Montag, 7. April 2014
AMD 6
Fur diese Woche AMD, ich spreche mit meinen Freund Alex auf Deutsch.
Es war interessant zu sprechen auf Deutsch mit ein andere. Ich verstehe mehr Deutsch dann lezten Jahre, so dass ist gut. Wir sprechen uber die Michigan Basketball mannschaft, es war traurig weil Sie verlieren. Wir sprechen uber unsere lieblingsplayeren. Meinen lieblingsplayer ist Mitch McGary, und ihn war Nik Stauskas. Ich hilfe nachste Jahre dass wir win die National Championship.
Nachste, sprechen wir uber unsere Sommer. Diese Sommer, arbeite ich viele, fur viele Geld nicht, aber dass ist life. Im Juni, reise ich nach Bahamas am Atlantis mit meine freunden. Ich hilfe auch viele Golf spielen und schwimmen.
Er sprecht uber ihn Sommer. Alex reist nach Florida im Sommer, und arbeit viel.
Das ist meine Blog fur diese Woche!
Tschuss!
Tucker
Es war interessant zu sprechen auf Deutsch mit ein andere. Ich verstehe mehr Deutsch dann lezten Jahre, so dass ist gut. Wir sprechen uber die Michigan Basketball mannschaft, es war traurig weil Sie verlieren. Wir sprechen uber unsere lieblingsplayeren. Meinen lieblingsplayer ist Mitch McGary, und ihn war Nik Stauskas. Ich hilfe nachste Jahre dass wir win die National Championship.
Nachste, sprechen wir uber unsere Sommer. Diese Sommer, arbeite ich viele, fur viele Geld nicht, aber dass ist life. Im Juni, reise ich nach Bahamas am Atlantis mit meine freunden. Ich hilfe auch viele Golf spielen und schwimmen.
Er sprecht uber ihn Sommer. Alex reist nach Florida im Sommer, und arbeit viel.
Das ist meine Blog fur diese Woche!
Tschuss!
Tucker
AMD 6
Fur mein AMD, ich habe ein Asterix und Obelix Folge gesehen. Wenn ich war ein kind, ich habe Asterix und Obelix buchen auf Englisch gelesen. Sie waren mein leiblingsbuchen, so ich war sehr familiär mit es. Diese Folge war uber Asterix und Obelix in Amerika. Der romanisch Armee, hat ein konstant kriege mit die Gallisch Stadt, wo Asterix und Obelix gelebt. Der Gallen hat ein Magie trank, dass wenn sie trinken, machen sie sehr stark. sie sind sehr gut kriegeren, und schlagen die Romanen jeden Tag.
I really enjoyed reading Asterix and Obelix as a kid, so it was fun for me to watch a movie of them in German. I even remembered most of the story from the comic book of the same name that I read when i was little! The German was easy to understand, and the characters were very entertaining. This was a great way to get my AMD done and also enjoy some good German TV.
I really enjoyed reading Asterix and Obelix as a kid, so it was fun for me to watch a movie of them in German. I even remembered most of the story from the comic book of the same name that I read when i was little! The German was easy to understand, and the characters were very entertaining. This was a great way to get my AMD done and also enjoy some good German TV.
AMD 6 Jason Bui
Für mein AMD 6, ich sah South Park
auf Deutsch. Die Folge, die ich sah, war "Insheeption." In die Folge
hatte Stan ein 'hoarding disorder.' Er hielt viele Dinge in seinem Spind und er
verweigerte die Dinge wegzuwerfen. Stan ging zu einem Berater, der Mr. Mackey
heißen, aber Mr. Mackey war auch ein Hamsterer. Stan und Mr. Mackey suchte Hilfe
von 'hoarding' Fachleute. Die Fachleute nahm Stan und Mr. Mackey in Mr. Mackeys
Traum. In der Traum fand sie die Antwort auf das Problem.
Diese Folge von South Park war sehr
lustig. Sie sprach sehr schnell, aber es war leicht zu verstehen. Ich genoss diese
Folge.
Ich
liebe South Park. South Park is a very entertaining show and watching it in
German makes it both enjoyable and educational. Watching the show is a great
way to hone your skill of listening in German and even if you do not know all
of the vocab, there are subtitles to help you through the episodes. It is an overall
great learning tool.
AMD 6 - Jenna Malzahn
Für AMD 6, suchte ich Dinge aus "365 Dinge" Buch. The item I looked up was number 51 and 305, which both involving the "Gruselkabinett", because anything related to horror I find interesting. I've always loved scary movies and haunted houses or corn mazes so, even though the picture that accompanied the brief description in the book created a sense of cheesiness about this place, I was immediately drawn to the "horror cabinet". While the picture made the "Gruselkabinett" appear hastily put together, like most Halloween decorations that cover the majority of the public's lawns, the place itself is actually quite authentic. Interestingly enough it's housed in a WWII air-raid bunker that was once apart of a complete complex network that extended for miles beneath the city. Hitler's air-raid shelter was actually connected to this one at a point in history so he could have very well walked through it. The best part of the "Gruselkabinett" I think is that while the ground floor is composed of groaning dummies and creepy characters that randomly appear in the dark and dank maze, the place also serves to preserve the historical aspect of the place, time, and the individuals who were once exposed to it. Actual belongings that were left behind are actually put on display and I think that overall this shows how each culture attempts to keep the occurrences of the past from being lost in the continually changing current of society. Germany isn't the only nation that creates museums to share historical facts but the fact that the "Gruselkabinett" promotes this in such an interesting and effective way is something that everyone nation can learn from.
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