1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?
In some way drugs mean nothing to Ickarus, but in another he relies on them so much. They make up who he is. Without them he feels as if he is not as good of an artist. After being sober and on medication for a little while Ickarus ends up making the best music he has ever made.
2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?
His fans are taking drugs at all times of the day. They will wake up in the morning and go party. They are not only at the club doing drugs while Ickarus is performing, they are doing it everywhere they are and at any time of day. Although, it did seem that his fans were using more drugs at his performances that during the day.
3. While we can see that his drug habits get him ill and into a psychosis, and while we witness his relapse and inability to work successfully, why does the subculture Ickarus is in focus on drugs?
This is a difficult question overall. The subculture is what it is. The techno-music brings out the inner person people want to be and want to feel like. To enhance this the people in this subculture take drugs. Drugs to this subculture seem like a way to escape from reality more or less.
4. Compare the standards you know from your home society with the people you see depicted in this movie. Which are the stark differences and contrasts?
Some things that really stuck out to me was that this movie shows a lot of sexual scenes, but does not keep the viewer involved in the scene for very long because the purpose is not to be romantic, it is simply to show reality. American movies and shows today would never show two men having intercourse even if it were a rated "R" movie. In America it is not as accepted as it seems in Germany. I also cannot imagine there being that crazy of a club in America where people are easily able to do drugs and have sex out in the open in the club bathroom. That, however, is me being naive. I know there are these things out there but there is so much shown in Berlin Calling that I hardly ever see in the movies and shows made in America.
5. Germany is considered a strong industrial nation the world over. Do you think that the youth culture as depicted here could change that? How about work ethics of Ickarus and of Alice, the label director who fires and then re-signs him?
The youth shown here like they are going in the wrong direction for holding onto their strong industrial nation. But with selling drugs, there has to be something good in the economics department for all of the underground/illegal selling of drugs. The work ethic of Ickarus shows that he believes in what he does and has a passion for his music. Ickarus shows what you could have if you followed your dreams. He also shows how things can go downhill fast. Alice shows a lot of responsibility while still doing things that aren't very good for her, but in moderation. The label-director is definitely a person who believes in second chances. The problem with her is that she gave a very unreliable person a second chance. Also, you can tell that they only reason why she hired him back on is because she knew she would make a lot of money off of his brand new album.
6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?
I don't believe I have ever seen one, but after hearing some of you talk about Cult movies in class, I remembered "Rocky Horror." I have not seen the original, but I did watch some kind of reenactment on the TV series Glee.
(661 WORDS)
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Poets & Writers 19th Century
German Romanticism had a great movement in the 19th Century in Germany, but didn't come around until after the English went in a more romantic direction.
German writing in the 19th Century was known for its valuing humor, wit, and beauty.
German writing in the 19th Century was known for its valuing humor, wit, and beauty.
The German romantics tried to create a new synthesis of art, philosophy, and science, looking to the middle ages as a more integrated period.
Three Types of 19th Century German Literature
- Gothic Fiction
- Elements
- Virginal Maiden: young, beautiful, pure, innocent, kind, virtuous. Older, Foolish Woman: portrays the woman as weak and completely submissive. Hero: he is witty, and successfully challenges the tyrant, saves the virginal maid without expectations. Tyrant: Tries to put his blame onto others. Stupid Servant: acts as comic relief by asking seemingly stupid questions, transitions between scenes, brings news, messenger, moves plot forward. Clowns: break the tension and act as comic relief. Rebels: Most likely a thief or kidnapper. Clergy: always weak, usually evil. Setting: A character in itself. The plot is usually set in a castle, an abbey, a monastery, or some other, usually religious edifice, and it is acknowledged that this building has secrets of its own. It is this gloomy and frightening scenery, which sets the scene for what the audience should expect.
- Writers and their work
- Horace Walpole- Castle of Otranto- Known as the possible first Gothic Romance with many unbelievable supernatural elements.
- Clara Reeve-best known for The Old English Baron (1778). Clara was set to take Warpole's plot and adapt it to the elements of the 18th century realism. She also tried to make the supernatural event more believable than Walpole's.
- Romanticism (Romantic Period)-Focused on traveling, nature, and ancient myths.
- Writers and their work
- E.T.A. Hoffmann's Der Sandmann (The Sandman)-1817
- Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff's Das Marmorbild (The Marble Statue)-1819
- Both The Sandman and The Marble Statue were darker than previous romantic ones and also involved some Gothic elements.
- Grimm's Fairy Tales
- collection of German origin fairy tales first published in 1812 by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.
- The first volumes were much criticized because, although they were called "Children's Tales", they were not regarded as suitable for children, both for the scholarly information included and the subject matter. Many changes through the editions – such as turning the wicked mother of the first edition in Snow White and Hansel and Gretel to a stepmother. They removed sexual references, such as Rapunzel's innocently asking why her dress was getting tight around her belly, and thus naïvely revealing her pregnancy and the prince's visits to her stepmother—but, in many respects, violence, particularly when punishing villains, was increased.
- In 1825 the Brothers published their "small edition," (a selection of 50 tales) designed for child readers. This children's version went through ten editions between 1825 and 1858.
- Naturalism: Was a literary movement taking place from the 1880s to 1940s that used detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character. It was depicted as a literary movement that seeks to replicate a believable everyday reality.
- Characteristics
- Pessimism- Very often, one or more characters will continue to repeat one line or phrase that tends to have a pessimistic connotation, sometimes emphasizing the inevitability of death.
- Detachment- By creating nameless characters. This puts the focus on the plot and what happens to the character, rather than the characters themselves.
- Determinism, the idea that individual characters have a direct influence on the course of their lives is supplanted by a focus on nature or fate.
- Another common characteristic is a surprising twist at the end of the story.
- Writers and their work
- Ernest Hemingway-was a very known author for Naturalism but was only born in the 19th century. There was no work of his that was actually done in the 19th century.
Link to Monica's Blog here
Link to Kristin's Blog here
Link to Jekab's Blog here
Link to Doug's Blog here
Link to Tom's Blog here
Link to Brett's Blog here
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Gender Roles in Society (18th Century)
Gender roles during the 18th century generally were brought up from Christian ideology and contemporary science. This left the people to think that these gender roles were meant to be this way because that is how we were created or evolved to be from the very beginning of time.
The Men In Germany of the 18th Century were the main source of income and they made all final decisions. They were allowed to vote, buy land/properties, they could run for elections, and they could get a better education than women.
Some jobs men would do would be carpenters, millers, blacksmiths, gunsmiths, locksmiths, clock makers, cabinet makers, etc. They were unique talents rather than what the women were able to be apart of.
Women of the 18th Century in Germany were of a lower class than the men. Primarily their job was to take care of the household and the children while the man would go and earn the income. Jobs that they could get involved in were being a nurse in the military, prostitution, and some were able to manage farms and shops if they were lucky.
Women in the United States were about 15% of the work force and they made up one-third of the factory operators. Although, there were women in the factories in the U.S, there were more women having a more gentle occupation, such as teaching, dressmaking and tailoring. Most teachers in the 18th century were female. Even though these are the most common places you could find women working in the 18th century, there was always a slight chance you could find them where men did because when their husbands are gone for war, they would sometimes take over the business their husband normally would have been managing.
Besides Germany and the United States, there were differences in gender roles in other countries such as France and England.
In France, women had no property rights. Men had the task of completing activities, outside of the household, in order to earn extra income. Women were seen as fragile, and remained at the home to care for the children and tend to the upkeep of the home. Lower class women stayed in the home and often worked around the farm milking cows. Even women stayed in privileged positions were often held back from independent action by traditional cultural and social norms of behavior.
In England, under the common law of England, an unmarried woman could own property, make a contract, sue and be sued, but once she is married the woman is defined as being one with her husband. The woman would give up her name and virtually all of her property would go under his control.
Link to Kristin's Blog here
Link to Hui's Blog here
Link to Danika's Blog here
Link to Jennifer's Blog here
Link to Amber's Blog here
Link to Jekab's Blog here
Link to Randall's Blog here
Sources:
Source One (October 17, 2011)
Source Two (October 17, 2011)
Source Three (October 17, 2011)
The Men In Germany of the 18th Century were the main source of income and they made all final decisions. They were allowed to vote, buy land/properties, they could run for elections, and they could get a better education than women.
Some jobs men would do would be carpenters, millers, blacksmiths, gunsmiths, locksmiths, clock makers, cabinet makers, etc. They were unique talents rather than what the women were able to be apart of.
Women of the 18th Century in Germany were of a lower class than the men. Primarily their job was to take care of the household and the children while the man would go and earn the income. Jobs that they could get involved in were being a nurse in the military, prostitution, and some were able to manage farms and shops if they were lucky.
Women in the United States were about 15% of the work force and they made up one-third of the factory operators. Although, there were women in the factories in the U.S, there were more women having a more gentle occupation, such as teaching, dressmaking and tailoring. Most teachers in the 18th century were female. Even though these are the most common places you could find women working in the 18th century, there was always a slight chance you could find them where men did because when their husbands are gone for war, they would sometimes take over the business their husband normally would have been managing.
Besides Germany and the United States, there were differences in gender roles in other countries such as France and England.
In France, women had no property rights. Men had the task of completing activities, outside of the household, in order to earn extra income. Women were seen as fragile, and remained at the home to care for the children and tend to the upkeep of the home. Lower class women stayed in the home and often worked around the farm milking cows. Even women stayed in privileged positions were often held back from independent action by traditional cultural and social norms of behavior.
In England, under the common law of England, an unmarried woman could own property, make a contract, sue and be sued, but once she is married the woman is defined as being one with her husband. The woman would give up her name and virtually all of her property would go under his control.
The Enlightenment was a sprawling intellectual, philosophical, cultural, and social movement that spread through England, France, Germany, and other parts of Europe during the 1700s.” At that time, the opportunity for education expanded but decreased in quality. During the enlightenment, education was shown to be very important. Women in the high and middle class were offered an education, but it definitely was not as high of an education as a man. Enlightenment thinkers believed that Science and Philosophy were for men. So women were given training in areas that were going to help their husbands and families. Things like music, drawing, singing and painting were taught to the women. Women began working as productive laborers with the family around the age of six or seven. Most of the time, that meant working light farm labor, in agricultural areas. If the family lived in an urban setting, women could find low-level, low-wage jobs in many industries. This kind of work, for both men and women, was harsh, cruel and paid less than most jobs. In general, women's lives were oriented around the running of the household rather than the entire family. The women's marriage and children were put behind the household.
Link to Hui's Blog here
Link to Danika's Blog here
Link to Jennifer's Blog here
Link to Amber's Blog here
Link to Jekab's Blog here
Link to Randall's Blog here
Sources:
Source One (October 17, 2011)
Source Two (October 17, 2011)
Source Three (October 17, 2011)
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
All Quiet on the Western Front Reviews
“All Quiet on the Western Front is about the violence of war, comradeship, disappointment and the casualty that confronts even those who return from the war. The graphic and nightmare-like scenes in the trenches are horrific. So too is the intense sense of loneliness for the protagonist on leave only to return to the front. The hospital scenes will cause most readers to gasp and become uneasy. In its quiet, short and to the point, yet perfect style, this is a book that creates a long-lasting impression on the person reading it.”
“All Quiet on the Western Front is the story of one man caught up in a war that he doesn’t even seem to fully comprehend. The story is that of Paul Baumer, a young German soldier serving in the trenches in France. Baumer volunteered for the war when his instructor in school, Kantorek, urged the class to join up for the glory of Germany. After training, Baumer and his friends go to the front as infantrymen. Filled with glorious ideas about war by authority figures back home, Baumer quickly discovers that the blood-drenched trenches of the Western Front are full of misery and violent death. As Paul’s friends slip away one by one through death, desertion, and injury, Paul begins to wonder about his own life and whether he will survive not only the war but also a world without war.” (leserglede.com, Peter)
"Through the book, All Quiet on the Western Front, we, as human beings, should find attempt to find solutions through discussion and compromise instead of warfare. Countries in war may feel that they are gaining a lot through wars but what they fail to see is the losses they have suffered. In many cases, the gain is negligible when it is compared to the losses." (esinearticles.com, Cooper, Michael)
The way I interpreted All Quiet on the Western Front was that is was written to show the hard parts of war. Of course war is not going to be something happy and good feeling, but someone needs to point out the obvious. This is an anti-war novel none the less. The author wants you to understand that the people are not just a general title such as "soldier," they are a person and their lives mean more than what they are honored for. The fact is people know these things when they start a war, they know there will be people dieing, and young people and their families suffering, but still there is war being declared. This book did a very good job at pointing out what happens to soldiers especially during the lost generation period of the war. I can understand why this book was such a big deal when it was written because back then there wasn't much anti-war anything. Today we can watch multiple movies and documentaries about the truths of war, while back then All Quiet on the Western Front was the closest thing to a movie they could get.
The way I interpreted All Quiet on the Western Front was that is was written to show the hard parts of war. Of course war is not going to be something happy and good feeling, but someone needs to point out the obvious. This is an anti-war novel none the less. The author wants you to understand that the people are not just a general title such as "soldier," they are a person and their lives mean more than what they are honored for. The fact is people know these things when they start a war, they know there will be people dieing, and young people and their families suffering, but still there is war being declared. This book did a very good job at pointing out what happens to soldiers especially during the lost generation period of the war. I can understand why this book was such a big deal when it was written because back then there wasn't much anti-war anything. Today we can watch multiple movies and documentaries about the truths of war, while back then All Quiet on the Western Front was the closest thing to a movie they could get.
Works Cited
Cooper, Michael. "All Quiet on Teh Western Front-A Book Review." Ezinearticles. Web. 5 Oct. 2011. <http://ezinearticles.com/?All-Quiet-on-the-Western-Front---A-Book-Review&id=84991>.
Peter. "All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque | Book Review, Remarque All Quiet on the Western Front | The World of Books." Nettsted for Bokelskere: Bøker Og Bokanmeldelser, Anmeldelse Bok, Anmeldelse Bøker, Leserglede, Leseglede, Krim, Skjønnlitteratur, Litteraturnyheter. 29 Dec. 2007. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. <http://www.leserglede.com/engblogg/all-quiet-on-the-western-front-by-erich-maria-remarque/>.
Chapter 9
Characters in chapter 9: Paul, Baunmer, Sergeant-Major, Tjaden, Muller, Kat, Kropp, and Albert
Paul just got back from leave and goes to find his comrades. When he finds where they should be staying, he notices that he does not see anyone and that there are only young men there now. He goes out to find Kat and does, but then he dies on the way back to the trenches.
The men start discuss what the reasons are for starting war and whether there would have been a war if Kaiser would have said no. Paul answered with "yes" because Kaiser was against war all along and there is still a war going on. They think about it more of why they are at war and they come to the conclusion that we are just fighting for their "fatherland," while truthfully so it their enemy. So who is the right person?
Soon the men are transferred to Russia to fight and they see dead men hanging in trees with limbs missing or scattered everywhere. Paul volunteers to go to check and see how strong the enemy position is manned, Paul gets ahead of the group and gets caught in the line of fire. He falls into a shell-hole and it is full of water. He has to stay as low as he can and has to pretend to be dead so the enemy wont kill him for real. Rockets can light up the sky for up to an hour so he has to stay still that long just so he is not noticed by the enemy. Paul then had to think of what he would do if an enemy happened to jump into the same shell-hole he was in for protection. He knew he would have to be ready because if he wasn't ready, then he would surely be dead.
As Paul suspected an enemy did jump into the same shell-hole he was in and immediately Paul struck at the man's throat with his hand knife. The man was not dead, but he will be. After attacking the man, Paul started to feel remorse for the man and decided to try to help him by bandaging his wounds and giving him water to drink. He began to realize that they two of them aren't so different after all. They were both fighting for a common reason and he felt guilt. He needed to find the mans name, but Paul was scared that if he knew his name that it would never be erased from his memory, and he never wanted to remember this time in his life. Until right then Paul had never killed a man with his bare hands. The man's name is Gerard Duval and he has a wife and daughter. Soon the man is dead.
Paul then decides he needs to get out of the shell hole. After crawling for some time, he hears his comrades calling his name. It is Kat and Albert. After talking to his comrades some more about his traumatic experience, they all come to the conclusion that "this is what they are there for, war is war."
Paul just got back from leave and goes to find his comrades. When he finds where they should be staying, he notices that he does not see anyone and that there are only young men there now. He goes out to find Kat and does, but then he dies on the way back to the trenches.
The men start discuss what the reasons are for starting war and whether there would have been a war if Kaiser would have said no. Paul answered with "yes" because Kaiser was against war all along and there is still a war going on. They think about it more of why they are at war and they come to the conclusion that we are just fighting for their "fatherland," while truthfully so it their enemy. So who is the right person?
Soon the men are transferred to Russia to fight and they see dead men hanging in trees with limbs missing or scattered everywhere. Paul volunteers to go to check and see how strong the enemy position is manned, Paul gets ahead of the group and gets caught in the line of fire. He falls into a shell-hole and it is full of water. He has to stay as low as he can and has to pretend to be dead so the enemy wont kill him for real. Rockets can light up the sky for up to an hour so he has to stay still that long just so he is not noticed by the enemy. Paul then had to think of what he would do if an enemy happened to jump into the same shell-hole he was in for protection. He knew he would have to be ready because if he wasn't ready, then he would surely be dead.
As Paul suspected an enemy did jump into the same shell-hole he was in and immediately Paul struck at the man's throat with his hand knife. The man was not dead, but he will be. After attacking the man, Paul started to feel remorse for the man and decided to try to help him by bandaging his wounds and giving him water to drink. He began to realize that they two of them aren't so different after all. They were both fighting for a common reason and he felt guilt. He needed to find the mans name, but Paul was scared that if he knew his name that it would never be erased from his memory, and he never wanted to remember this time in his life. Until right then Paul had never killed a man with his bare hands. The man's name is Gerard Duval and he has a wife and daughter. Soon the man is dead.
Paul then decides he needs to get out of the shell hole. After crawling for some time, he hears his comrades calling his name. It is Kat and Albert. After talking to his comrades some more about his traumatic experience, they all come to the conclusion that "this is what they are there for, war is war."
Tjaden
When we first meet Tjaden, he is in ecstasy over the excess food rations made available by the death of so many soldiers. The guy eats like a horse. Tjaden is a peer of main character Paul and is known for drinking away all of his life's problems. For all that he eats, he's very skinny. Back home he is a locksmith. Tjaden is not a deep thinker. Tjaden has a uniquely strong defiant streak against authority and he clashes regularly with commandant Himmelstoss. Tjaden is a bed-wetter and Himmelstoss blames this on "laziness," but most likely, Tjaden can't help it. Tjaden is humiliated by being placed in the top bunk in basic training by Himmelstoss to drip on the poor guy below him (who's another bed-wetter). And then they reverse. Having received such treatment, it's no wonder that Tjaden is stoked when Himmelstoss is sent to the Front with them. The rules at the Front are different there is really no saluting a higher rank than yourself because there is much more to worry about in trench-warfare. Paul's friend ambush Himmelstoss on his way home from a pubLater, and Tjaden is very happy about this. In Chapter Five, when Himmelstoss accosts the group sitting in a field, Tjaden doesn't stand or salute. Tjaden tells Himmelstoss he's a "dirty hound" and, when Himmelstoss asks for a sign of respect, Tjaden, sitting, tilts left and farts. Threatened with a court-martial, Tjaden doesn't care. But he does hide. The other guys feign ignorance of his whereabouts and Himmelstoss is frustrated. But he is eventually caught and court-martialed. At the field tribunal, Tjaden tells of the bed-wetting and Himmelstoss's abuses. The judge, one of the few rational authority figures in the book, gives a much-reduced sentence and a wrist-slap to Himmelstoss: "He understands it all right though, and lectures, Himmelstoss, making it plain to him that the front isn't a parade-ground."
Comfort food continually drives Tjaden's mood throughout. In fact, it is his offering of army bread across the river to the French women that allows them to cross the river and get a bit of lovin'. Tjaden's death comes after long battle marches, when he and his comrades are emaciated, gray, listless, and lifeless. Food is life for Tjaden. When it is scarce, he loses his strength and power.
Comfort food continually drives Tjaden's mood throughout. In fact, it is his offering of army bread across the river to the French women that allows them to cross the river and get a bit of lovin'. Tjaden's death comes after long battle marches, when he and his comrades are emaciated, gray, listless, and lifeless. Food is life for Tjaden. When it is scarce, he loses his strength and power.
Characters of All Quiet on the Western Front
Paul Baumer- (Narrator). Goes from being a kind compassionate young man, to being almost careless due to the horror of war.
Katczinsky- (Kat) Pauls Best Friend and is also in his company. Kat is 40 in the beginning of the book and has a family at home. He is also very resourceful for finding food, etc.
Himmelstoss- Known as one of the strictest disciplinarian, from the No. 9 Platoon but doesn't seem too scary when he is on the front line
Kropp- One of Pauls classmates and serves with Paul in the second company. Other than Kat, Kropp is also one of Pauls close friends.
Muller- One of Pau'ls Classmates who joins with him
Tjaden- Pauls friend in the second company, and is not a fan of Himmelstoss because of how mean he was to Tjaden in basic training
Kantorek- pressures Paul and classmates to enlist in the army, strict schoolmaster in high school who knows actually nothing about war
Kemmerich- Pauls friend who dies from gangrene after his leg is amputated, and it shows the meaninglessness of death in war.
Behm- First of Pauls Classmates to die
Detering- One of Paul's close friends who is constantly homesick for his wife and farm. one of the only elder soldiers who even has something to call theirs back home
Duval- The French Soldier Paul killed with his bare hands in "No Man’s Land." Causing Paul's most traumatic experience in the war
Leer- One of Pauls close friends in the second company. And the first in Paul's class to lose his virginity
Mittelstaedt- One of Pauls Classmates who become a training officer and loves tormenting Kantorek
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