This semester I had a great time in this class. Literally speaking, we covered more than I expected. We not only talked about the positive side of Germany but also the negative side. I like the movies recommended. Through those media, we could learn about what happened in the 70s and 80s without losing interest. The RAF was the part that impressed me most. Also through some research, I learned what happened during that time. Maybe this is a personal reflection, but I am just not a big fan of geography and politics. The war and history part is what I like most. And through watching movies, I think we could learn that most effectively. In this class we got touched on the WWII and terrorism in Germany. The terrorism in Germany was totally new for me. I did not know that much about the RAF in Germany before, only heard little about them. So, with the digging after class, I learned much about RAF. The RAF was formed under a police society circumstance. Those generation lived with knowing Nazi so that they knew what would happen if nobody standing out and speaking out. We once had a debate about the violent resistance or not. I chose the violent side, that was partially affected by the movie. The terrorism was absolutely wrong but their will to build a better world through their fight was right. What they did at first was good, just burning a department store without killing anyone. That kind of action could remind others but relatively safe. I never think putting problem above a table and negotiate would work for a national or social conflict. If speech would work, then why do they bother using violence?
The stuff about Germany happened in 19th century and 18th century was attractive but the materials seemed to be insufficient. I like the famous people part, this looks like a biography, and that worked out very well. The stories are always more appeal to me than just reading materials.
The discussion about Berlin Wall was very fun. I did not know the west and east people treat it so differently, like two extremes. Before the wall was pushed down, people there lived in two ways. The west lived in capitalism while the east lived in communist. Once they united together, the capitalism swept the east. Millions of people lost their jobs, and that was shown in the movie Goodbye Lenin
The last part about food was not that attractive, I think if we could make the food for extra credits and share in class maybe people would not lose interest and patience for the last meeting. For me, I like delicious food very much, but just doing research without tasting them, it seems like lack persuasion.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Goodbye Lenin
This movie is about a single mother raising a boy in East Germany. The mom was a big fan of the socialist East Germany.Her husband ran away from her and got into the West Germany so she had to raise Alex herself. In 1989, Alex was caught for a parade. His mom witnessed that and passed out by heart-attack. She kept unconscious for a long time, long enough for everything she knew to change. When she woke up, the society became totally different, for example, the Berlin wall had been torn down, the democracy of Germany was gone. The doctor told Alex that his mom could not take any more stimulation otherwise it may kill her. So her boy tried everything to make a world his mom familiar with. In the end, Alex put his mother's ashes in a rocket made by himself and fired it. Because in that time, their idol was the astronaut of East Germany.
This movie was not only about the blood relation between mom and son but also a movie about belief. We have no rights to criticize her mother's belief in communist, because we can hardly imagine the spirit inside his mother. Alex tried all he could to protect mom's passed out belief. That was the love from Alex to support the lies, those white lies.
This movie was not only about the blood relation between mom and son but also a movie about belief. We have no rights to criticize her mother's belief in communist, because we can hardly imagine the spirit inside his mother. Alex tried all he could to protect mom's passed out belief. That was the love from Alex to support the lies, those white lies.
Research about RAF
July 2nd,1968, a protest against the Vietnam War was held by students. And there was two department stores in Frankfurt got fired up. The arsonists were caught and kept in prison for three years. Some people think that the cause of RAF was a leftover problem from Nazi. They did not reflected upon their mistakes, thus the teenagers were against capitalism. The society judged these people as extremely left wing.
There were three generations of RAF. Andreas Baader was an extreme person among those students in protest. He was rescued by journalist Ultrike Meinhof on May 14th,1970. This action was the formation of the RAF. The first generation were urban guerrilla, they were a group of people against imperialism. That was a small group about 10 people. And after they got caught, the 2nd generation took place. The 2nd generation was formed to rescue the 1st generation. The 2nd did a lot of terrorism and tried to force the government set them free. In the autumn, 1977, all the 1st generation leaders committed suicides in the prison. After that, in 1980s, the 3rd generation of RAF formed. There were about 20 people. Those people continued on terrorism.
July 20, 1998, there was an 8 page statement from media which declared the ending of RAF.
The terrorism made by RAF was little bit different from those terrorism today. RAF was a kind of revolution, they tried to fight against the imperialism and capitalism, tried to fight for a better world.
There were three generations of RAF. Andreas Baader was an extreme person among those students in protest. He was rescued by journalist Ultrike Meinhof on May 14th,1970. This action was the formation of the RAF. The first generation were urban guerrilla, they were a group of people against imperialism. That was a small group about 10 people. And after they got caught, the 2nd generation took place. The 2nd generation was formed to rescue the 1st generation. The 2nd did a lot of terrorism and tried to force the government set them free. In the autumn, 1977, all the 1st generation leaders committed suicides in the prison. After that, in 1980s, the 3rd generation of RAF formed. There were about 20 people. Those people continued on terrorism.
July 20, 1998, there was an 8 page statement from media which declared the ending of RAF.
The terrorism made by RAF was little bit different from those terrorism today. RAF was a kind of revolution, they tried to fight against the imperialism and capitalism, tried to fight for a better world.
personal response to Baader-Meinhof Complex
This movie described the history of RAF(Rote Armee Fraktion). This is a very long and violent movie, these factors are necessary in a terrorism movie. The main characters of this movie they formed the group and tried to change how people thought during that time. Many people didn't understand the meaning of the wars happened in Vietnam. This movie is lively. Most of the statements were about the actions RAF took and their ideal political philosophy. The group had its own conflicts. Their actions did not turn to what they expected. And after their caught, the 2nd and 3rd generation of leaders took their place. The RAF was all about terrorism then. It had been far away from the 1st generation expected. And the judgement to them seemed to be endless. They knew they could not escape from that so the whole group committed a suicide. At the beginning, speeches were a lot, but as the movie went on, we could hardly see the speeches, even in the court. It seemed that all the stuff turned to the opposite side as the first generation expected. After watching the whole movie, I was very touched. I knew those terrorism was wrong, but I supported the RAF somewhere in my mind. The first generation was full of courage in a police country like that. They were patriotic and tried to do things to make it right. They knew what they could do was little, but they insisted and never gave up. At least,they tried their own for a better society instead of watching and doing nothing.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Answers to the blue sheet
1. The first generation of RAF was founded by several people,with Baader and Meinhof as leaders. Their first protest was implemented by placing a bomb in the department store. They picked a time when there were no people in the store, they just tried to notice the authorities and tried not to kill people. They did so to protest against the indifference of people who sit and watch the genocide in Vietnam. Speech was not strong enough so they took actions instead. As Meinhof said, throwing a single stone is a crime but throwing a thousand stones is a political action. They knew this kind of protest was an act of rebellion, but they just tried to warn people not just resign him/herself to doing nothing.
2. As the developing of RAF, the group changed. The first generation was not officially formed until Baader was caught and finally rescued. Before Meinhof joined them, they were just stealing things and acting as revolutionary. After RAF was founded, they turned into terrorists. They became more and more violent. They got amours and robbed banks. Making bombs and killing people was a piece of cake for them then. The 2nd and 3rd generation of RAF even kidnapped governmental officers and executed them.
3. Yes. At the beginning of the movie, I thought Baader was just a bludger. But as they formed the group I found out his behavior was meaningful to others. For example, he encouraged Peter, a young man escaped from Lucky City. They hanged out together, Baader taught him what was freedom. Even in the training camp, they took sunbathe naked.
4. I was in the violence group. The reason I chose that was because I believe action is stronger than speech. But the violence side did not mean that I am a violent person but for some cases like the revolution, I believe that a certain level of violence would be necessary. When the government failed its people, what would they do to make a difference? The violent way could make a attention immediately. The reason why speech was weak because in some countries the medium is under government control, they only report what the government allows.
2. As the developing of RAF, the group changed. The first generation was not officially formed until Baader was caught and finally rescued. Before Meinhof joined them, they were just stealing things and acting as revolutionary. After RAF was founded, they turned into terrorists. They became more and more violent. They got amours and robbed banks. Making bombs and killing people was a piece of cake for them then. The 2nd and 3rd generation of RAF even kidnapped governmental officers and executed them.
3. Yes. At the beginning of the movie, I thought Baader was just a bludger. But as they formed the group I found out his behavior was meaningful to others. For example, he encouraged Peter, a young man escaped from Lucky City. They hanged out together, Baader taught him what was freedom. Even in the training camp, they took sunbathe naked.
4. I was in the violence group. The reason I chose that was because I believe action is stronger than speech. But the violence side did not mean that I am a violent person but for some cases like the revolution, I believe that a certain level of violence would be necessary. When the government failed its people, what would they do to make a difference? The violent way could make a attention immediately. The reason why speech was weak because in some countries the medium is under government control, they only report what the government allows.
German Food
German Food--Roast Pork
Pork, beef, and poultry are the main varieties of meat consumed in Germany, with pork being the most popular. There are several ways to cook pork or even a whole pig.Spanferkel is a famous dish throughout Germany. A pig roast or hog roast is an event or gathering which involves the barbecuing of a whole hog (the castrated male pig or boar, bred for consumption at about 12 months old). A suckling pig (or sucking pig) is a piglet fed on its mother's milk (i.e., a piglet which is still a "suckling"). In culinary, a suckling pig is slaughtered between the ages of two and six weeks. It is traditionally cooked whole, often roasted, in various cuisines. It is usually prepared for special occasions and gatherings.
Pork, beef, and poultry are the main varieties of meat consumed in Germany, with pork being the most popular. There are several ways to cook pork or even a whole pig.Spanferkel is a famous dish throughout Germany. A pig roast or hog roast is an event or gathering which involves the barbecuing of a whole hog (the castrated male pig or boar, bred for consumption at about 12 months old). A suckling pig (or sucking pig) is a piglet fed on its mother's milk (i.e., a piglet which is still a "suckling"). In culinary, a suckling pig is slaughtered between the ages of two and six weeks. It is traditionally cooked whole, often roasted, in various cuisines. It is usually prepared for special occasions and gatherings.
The meat from suckling pig is pale and tender and the cooked skin is crisp and can be used for pork rinds. The texture of the meat can be somewhat gelatinous due to the amount of collagen in a young pig.
Roast pork is a popular Sunday meal in Central Europe. In Germany, Schweinbraten is most often served with braised cabbage or sauekraut, dumplings and a fine pilsener. Schweinshaxe is also a famous way of cooking pork knuckle.
Resources:
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Berlin calling
The drugs are all through the movie, and these mean a lot to the main character Ickarus. Ickarus had changed his attitude on drugs. Initially, he would looking for fun and thrill from the drugs as well as his inspiration for music so that he could avoid those uncomfortable things happened in real life. But things had changed since he took a hallucinogenic drug. Then he stated to get treated in a psychosis department. Finally, when he was cured, he found out the drugs were nothing but poison to him. He took some light drugs as dancing outreach and so on since Icklus' mother passed away. And at that time, he stated his life in those clubs. Once, the drug dealer sold him something like ice drug that caused him sick. That was a bad timing when his new work was almost done. His own album was about to publish but this case delayed it. He even got fired and made a scene in his boss' office.
When comparing this movie's character with real people from my hometown, it was pathetic. Because DJ is not an official job admitted by the government. Those people were not musicians in China. Those people do not have their own albums to sell and only work in pubs. By the way, there were not that many drugs in China, since all crimes related to drugs are very serious, some might lead to a death penalty.
In my eyes, the young generation of Germany are not like the old days. Those diversity of jobs made it possible to develop a new kind of economy. This movie showed us about the musicians and a wise boss who buried the past.At least, I do not think a boss could bare someone the humiliated him or her before.
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