Kultur Post Kapital 11

The first article talks about the Berlin Wall and the way it is remembered in Berlin today.  Despite the fact that the wall fell more than 20 years ago, there are still stereotypes that persist in modern culture.  Interestingly, the west refers to the east as “whiners” and the east thinks of the west as “arrogant” or “know it alls”.  It’s not hard to imagine where these stereotypes came from considering the conditions about which to complain in East Germany and similarly the practical democracy of West Germany.  East German’s, unfortunately, actually have taken to their stereotype and as a whole tend to be more pessimistic about things even after unification.  The generation who survived the time of the red curtain has a harder time being productive in society.  Luckily, the youth of East Germany are not slipping into their parents shoes; much has been seen in the areas of politics and culture from the younger generation.  Hopefully one day the distinction between what once was a physical divide between the parts of the city will not be seen.

The second article adds more to the uniqueness of East Germany after unification.  “Ostalgie”, a term created for East Germans, refers to the feelings of remorse of having to give up the benefits of the GDR.  Under the rule of the GDR there was no unemployment.  Everyone had a job, and therefore some sense of freedom.  Under the new democratic rule, despite having freedom, East Germans struggle with employment.  The sense of camaraderie and fellowship that was also present under the GDR is gone and replaced with the feelings of insignificance that come with freedom.  All in all the term describes a very interesting dynamic

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The third article contrasts the ideas described in the previous two and explains what seems to be the real divide in German culture: North Germany vs. South Germany.  The North, the bustling cities and supposedly more modern German populace, tends to look on the south as being nothing but beer drinkers and regular mountain goats.  The Alps are just too small and apparently a cause for claustrophobia.  The dumbest from the north goes to the south to raise the collective IQ.  Or so the Northern Germans think.  Some of the arguments relate back to religion: the North is predominantly protestant while the south is mostly catholic.  To end the article the author uses an interesting line: “Indeed, had the Allies split up Germany between north and south after World War II, the Wall might very well still be standing.”