Exberliner Issue 171 May 2018

WHAT’S ON — Exhibitions
were conceived to help the needy help themselves. And the “virtuous”
history continues in many sobering ways – like the Nazis’ cynical
push to “save” for cars and vacations – branded as Kraft durch Freude
(“Strength through Joy”) – money that would eventually be funnelled
into war-machinery instead. Don’t get fooled by the jokey name –
this is serious stuff, and if you learn anything from what you’ve seen,
you’ll make sure to avoid the gift shop. Who would smash open one’s
Sparschwein for a €25-book on sparen? – Walter Crasshole
Through Sep 16
Oh Yeah! Popmusik in Deutschland
Museum for Communication, Mitte
Through Aug 26
Saving – History of a German virtue
DHM, Mitte
A whole exhibition on that most German of pastimes – saving –
sounds about as thrilling as a trip to the Bürgeramt. But with its selfironic
title, perfect packaging and fussy curatorial concept (fittingly
sponsored by Sparkasse!) this exhibition at the DHM should help any
foreign Berliner get a little closer to understanding Germany’s love
for thrift and its nagging efforts at imposing it upon others (e.g. the
financial austerity it demands of the Eurozone). A copy of B.Z. tabloid
emblazoned with a superhero eagle celebrating both Germany’s balanced
budget and international economic dominance (the former
being a condition for the latter) sets the tone. What follows is a
critical history of the roots of Germany scrimping, from the late 18th
century to today, through objects, texts and advertising (or propaganda).
We’re reminded how savings institutions like the Sparkassen
If you think German pop music is relegated to the sugary Ohrwürmer
of Helene Fischer or the insipid nursery school English of
Scooter: you're half right. Schlager is an undeniable part of German
pop, but not all of it. Exhibition Oh Yeah! Pop Music in Germany at
the Museum for Communication attempts to fill in the gap by presenting
a 90-year overview of Deutschpop, -punk, -rap, and more,
from 1925 through today. Visitors are even given a pair of sanitised
headphones to plug in at various stations. The real tour begins
after a barrage of music videos (Deichkind included), starting with
the mention of the invention of the gramophone here in Germany.
From there we get a taste of wild youth 'cliques' listening to “un-
German” jazz and swing in the times of Hitler, the influence of
American radio and Elvis on German youth, and the the suffocatingly
soporific Heimat music of the 1950s, designed to calm the spirits
of defeated and dispirited Germany after the war. Post-Beatles invasion,
the exhibition becomes a little too brisk. Ton Steine Scherben,
Einstürzende Neubauten and Rammstein are confined to one wall
on “radical music”. East and West German punk are presented
on the same footing, revolving around “fun punk” like Die Toten
Hosen (sorry, Berlin trailblazers Malaria! and Die Tödliche Doris).
Nena is squeezed in with Neue Deutsche Welle as if she was no
more than a radio curiosity. German hip hop, too, gets less attention
than it deserves. This show is perfect for out-of-town friends with
little-to-no knowledge of German Music. For something meatier,
head to the adjunct “Berlin.Pop.Women” series of concerts and
talks, making up for a noticeable lack of females in the exhibition.
Catch Gudrun Gut and Barbara Morgenstern on May 8. – WC
FESTIVAL
OF
NEW
DRAMA
2018
INTERNATIONAL KICK OFF
WITH GUEST PERFORMANCES FROM:
Royal District Theatre, Tiblisi, Georgia
OKT/Vilnius City Theatre, Lithuania
Nowy Teatr Warsaw, Poland
Radar Ost is part of the Autorentheatertage (1 – 23 June, 2018)
MAY 2018
25
All performances with English surtitles
For tickets and more information visit deutschestheater.de/en