Berlin Calling

Berlin Calling:

            Berlin Calling is a movie that depicts the life events of a famous DJ. Here are the answers to some of the questions that have been asked:

Question 1: What do drugs mean to Ickarus?

            Drugs mean everything to Ickarus. All day long he is on them, because they allow him to stay awake and perform well in the daily tasks of his busy life. Being on these drugs for so long just make it something that he was to do, he thinks he needs them.

Question 2: When, why, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?

            Many of the fans at the night clubs are doing drugs in the bathrooms during and after his performance. So far, I have seen people shooting up heroin and snorting cocaine in the stalls. Some are smoking weed and some are just straight up popping pills.

Question 3: While we can see that his drug habits get him ill and into psychosis, and while we witness his relapse and inability to work successfully, why does the subculture Ickarus belongs to focus on drugs?

            Drugs make you sort of leave this world and feel as if you are on “Cloud 9.” The fact that he is in the art of making music makes it feel that much more needed. The mind will hallucinate and wander in these types of situations.

Question 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?

            It seems sort of acceptable to being doing these types of drugs there. In the U.S., or at least around here, doing these drugs in public would never fly.  The places that they do these drugs are dirty, run down places and they look super sketchy. Not a place that I would ever want to go.

Question 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 resigns him?

            The society that is depicted in this movie just looks like an economy run by drug money and based on a society of users. The work ethic of Ickarus is sometimes really good, and sometimes very poor. Sometimes when he is on drugs, they help him to go for hours on end working on things, and sometimes they make him groggy and not productive. You can tell that Alice is worried about him, and she wants him to stop using.

Question 6: Which similar “cult movies” of US origin have you seen, if any?

            To the best of my recollection, I don’t recall seeing any cult movies, ever.

So far the movie has been culturally interesting, there are some many differences here than there are there. I think the difference that shocked me the most, was how many people did such serious drugs and how they acted as if they were nothing. They do these drugs in public places, not really worrying if they get caught or not.

Top 10 German Foods (Pictures)

                                                                     1. Apfelstrudel

                                                                          2. Eintopf
                                                 
                                       
                                                                  3. Kasespatzle

                                                                          4. Wurst

5. Brezel

6. Katoffelpuffer

                                                                        7. Sauerbraten

8. Schnitzel

9. Rote Grutze

10. Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte

 

Foods and German Cuisine

All is Quiet on the Western Front.. Chapter 5

Denise Bechtold

Jeff Foster

Maria Mueller

Chapter 5

Talk about the War End

The men talked out what they would each do after or if the war ended. They called it, “Peace – Time.” The first comment made to this was, “There won’t be any peace-time.” You have got to remember the mindset they must be in, they are enduring some much during the war.  Some of the other ideas they mention include; getting drunk, take a train elsewhere, go home and visit family, basically going to see prostitutes, wearing real clothes, and sleeping in a nice bed. This moment of thought lasted a short time before one said, “What silly questions you do ask.” They all thought it was ridiculous and won’t happen.        

The rumors that the men have been hearing are true; Himmelstoss has been brought to the front lines.  As he approaches the men ignore him and disobey rank.   They do not rise and click they’re heels together to him.  Himmelstoss is infuriated by this and demands that Tjaden address his higher rank.  Tjaden does, but in an insubordinate way by mooning him.  Himmelstoss returns to the barracks for the MP’s, as he does Tjaden escapes and hides as he knows this means lock up.  This stand by Tjaden is in response to the degradation that the men endured under Himmelstoss’ reign during training.

                Muller continues with his questioning about what will happen during “peace time”.  They calculate that only 12 men remain from their class of 20 men, 4 are dead, 1 insane, and 7 wounded.  They mock Kantorek and ask questions from school.  This is showing that all that they had “learned” in school means nothing here, and that it is forgotten during these difficult times.  The learning that they had been taught in school as normal “kids” will not be used in their lifetime.  Kropp closes this in stating how the war has destroyed everything for them and that there is no going back to normal, they can believe in nothing but war now.  

                Himmelstoss returns with the sergeant major and demands to know the whereabouts of Tjaden, but the troop refuses to disclose this information.  The sergeant major declares that Tjaden must report within 10 minutes.  With every sentence that Himmelstoss delivers the men torment him.  Himmelstoss returns once more and demands Tjaden, Kropp insults him yet again with harsh words and Himmelstoss storms away.  That evening Kropp and Tjaden are brought to trial for insubordination, Tjaden receives 3 days open arrest and Kropp one after the men from the troop tell the court about the torment and abuse that Himmelstoss put them under during training.  The sergeant major scolds Himmelstoss for his actions in training as well.  Later Paul and the others visit Kropp and Tjaden in lockup and play cards and speak again.

Towards the end of the chapter Kat says to Paul, “What do you say to some roast goose?” after Paul agrees they catch a ride on a munition-wagon which cost them two cigarettes to the spot that Kat has marked. During their little adventure Paul agrees to get the goose and climbs over the wall and goes to the shed to open the door. After Paul sees the geese the attempt to stun them doesn’t go as fast as he had hoped it would. He fights desperately claiming, “What a kick a goose has!” This illustrates the struggle he has with stunning the geese. His situation becomes more stressful when he spots a bulldog from outside that growls at every move he makes. After what seems like forever Paul is able to jerk his revolver up and escapes the dog with one goose. Kat quickly kills the goose and he and Paul make their way to the lean-to to cook it. While the two take turns sleeping and cooking Paul hears the sound of gun-fire from the front and thoughts begin to consume his mind. Paul describes his feelings as, “We are two men, two minute sparks of life; outside is the night and the circle of death.” At this point in the chapter Paul realizes he is now in unison with someone whom he should never have had anything in common with. As he continues to think he sees two soldiers with big boots, and a shut heart who have forgotten all else but marching. After they feast on the goose they take the rest back to Tjaden and Kropp. The chapter ends with Paul describing himself as, “A soldier with big boots and a full belly, a little soldier in the morning—but by my side, stooping and angular, goes Kat, my comrade.” This chapter shows how Paul and his friends continue to form close knit unit and how the bond between soldiers is one like no other.

Character Blog

I chose the character Tjaden.
            I am a 19 year old soldier. Lately, I have been getting a lot of extra food rations from dead soldiers. People have been asking me, how can you eat so much? I think I eat because I am scared and nervous, and I eat to try and fill that empty hole of nerves. Especially when I was called to be in the front line, I seemed happy to go, but deep down, I was scared.  Food will always be a staple in my life. After all, it came in very handy when dealing with the French women.

The Hanseatic League

The Hanseatic League

            “The Hanseatic League was a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and their market towns that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe. It stretched from the Baltic to the North Sea and inland during the Late Middle Ages and early modern period (c. 13^th to 17^th Centuries).”

I chose to focus on the expansion of the Hanseatic League. The Hanseatic League was located on the Baltic Sea which meant they had great access to the trade routes. The Scandinavians had been in charge of those trade routes for many years, therefore they were now in competition with each other. A treaty was formed and an end was put to the competition. Through this treaty, the merchants gained access to the inland Russian port of Novgorod.

Alliances formed through the Holy Roman Empire, and over time the alliances grew from 70 cities to 170. The League also established many trading posts that grew to become significant enclaves. These trading posts were in busy areas with a lot of trading and they prospered quickly. The Hanseatic League started out by trading course woolen fabrics, but as trade increased, they started to trade newer and finer woolen and linen fabrics, even silk. These products were being manufactured in Northern Germany. “The century – long monopolization of sea navigation and trade by the Hanseatic League ensured that the Renaissance would arrive in Northern Germany long before the rest of Europe.”

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_League

 

North-Rhine Westphalia Presentation

 

 

 

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North-Rhine Westphalia:

(United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1)  Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust:

 

 

The castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust were designated as a World Heritage Site in 1984.  In 1725 Clemens Augustus (Archbishop – Elector of Cologne) began working on what is now Augustusburg Castle.  The Augustusburg Castle and The Falkenlust Castle are connected by a road running through the park. Both of these sights are open for public viewing.

 

Source: http://www.nrw-tourism.com/1/culture/world-heritage/artikel/castles-of-augustusburg-and-falkenlust/,

September 7, 2014

 

 

 

 

2)  Corvey Castle:

 

              Corvey Castle was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2014. It is said to be: “A One of a Kind Structure.” Corvey is one of only almost completely intact structures remaining from the Carolingian Period. Traveling Kings and Emperors stayed here on their way through. Corvey was extremely important is terms of church history. Also, August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, the writer of the German National Anthem worked in the library here.

 

 

Source: http://www.nrw-tourism.com/1/culture/world-heritage/artikel/corvey-a-one-of-a-kind-structure/ , September 7, 2014

 

 

 

3)  Aachen Cathedral:

 

Aachen Cathedral was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1978. This was the first German monument to be named a UNSECO World Heritage Site. Aachen Cathedral is one of the best preserved monuments from the Carolingian Period. Emperor Charlemagne built it in the 8^th century and it was the center point of the European Empire. Charlemagne died in 814, and he was buried in the Cathedral, his shrine can still be viewed today.

 

Source: http://www.nrw-tourism.com/1/culture/world-heritage/artikel/aachen-cathedral-in-the-footsteps-of-charlemagne/ , September 7, 2014

 

 

 

4)  Cologne Cathedral:

 

              Cologne Cathedral was designated a World Heritage Site in 1996. It is said to be: “An Emblem to the Region.” The foundation for this Cathedral were first laid in 1248, this is the Middle Ages. The Cathedral did suffer some damage in the world wars. However, several important pieces were saved.  Almost 6 million people visit each year, it is the most popular tourist destination in all of Germany.

 

 

Source: http://www.nrw-tourism.com/1/culture/world-heritage/artikel/cologne-cathedral-the-emblem-of-a-region/ ,

September 7, 2014

 

 

 

 

5)  Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex:

                        Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2001. Between 1947 and 1986 Zollverein was the largest and most modern coal mine in the world. The plant was laid out according to the principle of symmetry and geometry. Zollverein has become a prime site for the art, culture and creative sectors, attracting more than two million visitors a year.

 

Source: http://www.nrw-tourism.com/1/culture/world-heritage/artikel/zollverein-coal-mine-industrial-complex-world-heritage-in-the-ruhr-region/ , September 7, 2014

 

 

Important Industries in North-Rhine Westphalia:

 

·        Automotive: Every year about 800,000 passenger cars and commercial vehicles are produced here.

·        Biotechnology: First place in Europe in terms of biotech patent applications.

·        Chemicals: NRW is Germany’s most important location for chemicals. Distinguished by its first class research.

·        Energy: The state between Rhine and Ruhr supplies 30% of Germany’s electricity.

·        Environmental Technology: Sales are about 60 billion euros, the most successful federal sector in the state.

·         Food:  More than 850,000 people in over 113,000 businesses work in NRW along the food value chain.

·         Health Care: The healthcare industry has the largest sector in all of NRW.

·         Informational and Communication Technologies: (ICT) is unfolding its innovative strength in major areas of application.

·         New Materials: NRW is a region with wide-ranging materials expertise.

·         Logistics: One of the central transportation hubs in Europe.

·         Mechanical Engineering: The core area of economy is NRW and the biggest industrial employer.

·         Media: The state has developed into a leading media and creative location.

·         Microsystems Technology: 28% of all German actors are found in NRW.

·        Nanotechnology: NRW also occupies a top position in nanotechnology throughout Germany and Europe.

·        Plastics: The plastics industry is the carrier and driver of innovations in the fields of materials, production processes and products for practically all areas of life in NRW.

 

Famous Germans from North-Rhine Westphalia:

·        Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

 

·        Poet: Heinrich Heine

 

·        Industrialist: Alfred Krupp

 

·        Social Scientist & Political Theorist: Friedrich Engels

 

·        Physicist: Wilhelm Röntgen

 

·        Chancellor: Konrad Adenauer

 

·        Chancellor: Gerhard Schröeder

 

·        F1 Driver: Michael Schumacher

 

·        Model: Claudia Schiffer

 

·        Model & Actress: Heidi Klum