Berlin Calling

1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?

I see Ickarus using drugs to relieve stress, but also to break up what he sees at monotony. 

2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?

Why they take drugs is a choice.  When they take drugs is to party.  And how they take drugs is a mish mash.  They take whatever drug is available; not specific.  A drug is a drug!

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?

It’s the type of music or beat that coincides with drugs; goes hand in hand.

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?

My home society is small town and I may be blind to what is really going on.  My standards are very opposite to what I witnessed in the movie.  I think the group of individuals you hang out with and the type of work you are involved in is a choice and these choices play a part in the society you live in. There is no comparison of my family life to the life of Ickarus and Malthide in this movie.

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 culture as depicted in the movie will change Germany.  They will no longer be a strong industrial nation because they lack a work ethic; very selfish. The work ethic of Alice plays into the norm of what is witnessed in the movie; it is not industrial, but superficial. 

6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?
I’ve seen drug movies in the past, but I’m not sure if they are “cult movies.”  What I do recall are the movies always involved music, and more specific, music singers and their struggles with drug additions, which more often than not, leads to death.

Film Reaction:

Sex, drugs and rock and roll!  The words of a great party, or the sins of the world?  The words by themselves tell me fun, free of religion, selfish desires, living life.  But together, I can’t imagine living a life by these words.  If my life only involved sex, drugs and music I would feel lost and abandoned.  I would have a life without meaning.  There is so much more to life than these three words procure.  The movie, “Berlin Calling,” takes place in Germany, but it could take place anywhere in the world.  For sex, drugs and music is not specific to a region or country, but is most prevalent among youth.

I don’t seek out this type of movie to watch, mostly because it makes me cringe. I feel sorry for the person, or character, in the movie and want them to find help and a way out, but also feel disgusted that a person would allow themselves to fall into such an addiction.  In the movie, it is discovered that Ickarus lost his mother when he was young, which may or may not explain the path he has fallen into; abandoned by his mother and a father not really being there to fill in the gaps may explain Ickarus’ choices.  It’s sad to see an individual struggle with acceptance and something to believe in.  It tells me he has a hole in his heart and needs something besides sex, drugs and music to fill it.  Love may be an answer.  Acceptance from his father may be an answer.  I am not sure of the answer, but only know I see emptiness.

The end of the movie leaves you without a definite answer; more of a “fill in the blank.” Does Ickarus continue to say ‘no’ to drugs, or does he go back to his old ways?  I’d like to believe Ickarus has changed.  That he is heading down a path without drugs.  But is he really?  Given Ickarus’ profession, is it really possible to stay in his job and not be on drugs?  I tend to think they go hand in hand.  But I could be proven wrong!

Music

 
Music is a universal language.  Notes written on lines and spaces can be read and played by anyone throughout the world.  Classical, folk, and hymns, to name a few, are types of music we are familiar with.  Germany, though, was a leader in classical music. 

Famous composers from Germany include Mozart, Bach, Handel, Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert.  Bach and Handel were part of the Baroque era (1600-1750).  Begin quote, “During the Baroque period, the foundations were laid for the following 300 or so years of musical expression: the idea of the modern orchestra was born, along with opera.”  

The classical era (1750-1830) followed with known composers of Mozart and Haydn.  Begin quote, “it was the Classical period which saw the introduction of a form which has dominated instrumental composition to the present day: sonata form.”  It is also said that the classical era is characterized by its structural clarity.

Beethoven came on the scene at the end of the eighteenth century and made way for the romantic era (1830-1860), which Schubert was also a part of.  Begin quote, “The emotional range of music during this period was considerably widened, as was its harmonic vocabulary and the range and number of instruments which might be called upon to play it.” 

I rarely listen to classical music, but as my children are learning to play piano and are playing music composed from the artists named above, I find myself enjoying the sound and see myself, one day, listening to classical music often.  In fact, I may even find the ambition to play it myself!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Germany

http://www.germany.co.za/german_music.html
http://www.naxos.com/education/brief_history.asp

Role of Women

The topic I chose to expand on is the role of women, and more specifically, the history of a midwife.  In Germany, a midwife is called die weise frau.  When I looked at the translation of weise, I found it means wise – wise women.  But together, the combination of words translates to midwife – plain and simple.  The work of a midwife was technical, and also magical in the eyes of some.  The magical part comes into play because, in earlier times, women were not educated and so it was a mystery as to where these midwives learned their practice.  It was thought they had a power from supernatural sources.  A traditional midwife practiced in small rural towns and villages, without formal training.  Knowledge of a midwife was passed down from Grandmother to Mother to Daughter.  As the male medical profession began to evolve, midwifes were prosecuted.  Many women were tortured and burned, and referred to as witches in order to suppress the competition.

In class we touched on the German nun Hildegard von Bingen, who is known for her medical practices of healing through prayer, song and herbal science.  I also discovered Justine Siegemund was a renowned German midwife who authored the first female medical book - Court Midwife (1690).  Justine never was able to have children, and after incompetent midwives wrongly assumed she was pregnant, Justine educated herself about obstetrics and began practicing as a midwife.  Her services at first were free to peasants and poor women, but eventually her expertise and experience was summoned by nobles.  At Justine’s death, it was noted she had birthed almost six thousand two hundred infants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Justina_Siegmundin1.jpg

http://midwifeinfo.com/articles/a-short-history-of-midwifery

http://www.midwiferyservices.net/historyofmidwifery.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justine_Siegemund