Sat, 21 November 2009
| Index | Last | Var.(%) |
|---|---|---|
| BEL 20 | 2119.3 | 0.50 |
| DAX | 5252.45 | 1.50 |
| IBEX 30 | 10726.8 | 0.59 |
| CAC 40 | 3377.59 | 1.40 |
| FTSE 100 | 4564.5 | 0.79 |
| AEX | 276.85 | 0.95 |
| DJIA | 9096.72 | -0.13 |
| Nasdaq | 1975.51 | 0.39 |
| FTSE MIB | 20341.67 | 1.65 |
| TSX Composite | 10570.54 | -1.74 |
| ASX | 4148.9 | -0.60 |
| Hang seng | 20135.5 | -2.37 |
| Straits Times | 0.00 | |
| ISEQ 20 | 442.48 | 0.27 |
A new wave of German rappers is worrying German liberals with nationalistic language. We report on the paradoxes of Germanic rap. |
German rapper Fler has attracted controversy with nationalistic lyrics |
But coming from a musician in Berlin, that bastion of left-wing tolerance, and a rapper at that? As the art form of the African- American underclass, hip hop seems an unlikely vehicle for German nationalism.
No wonder that Fler, the Berlin rapper in question, has elicited so much hand-wringing from German newspapers, who have agonised over German hip hop's alleged swing to the right.
"German hip hop has become dirty - evil, grimy, mean, angry," lamented the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The Sueddeutsche Zeitung was similarly shocked: "In German hip hop of the new century, violence is a trump card and being homosexual is a death sentence - it's all about bragging, destruction and fucking."
Fler's imagery is an unmistakable red flag to the bull of Germany's chattering classes.
Self-styled as "Der Deutsche" (The German), the shaven-headed rapper has a logo consisting of a Nazi-style eagle next to his name in politically-incorrect Gothic script. The video for his song 'Neue deutsche Welle' (New German wave) features German flags and images of Fler with an eagle perched on his arm (a pose curiously echoed by ex-chancellor Helmut Kohl at an award ceremony in June of this year).
Perhaps not entirely coincidentally, Fler's flaunting of edgy patriotism comes at a time when several German rock bands are also flirting with nationalism. Berlin band MIA and Brandenburg rockers Virgina Jetzt! have drawn flak for unapologetically-nationalistic lyrics such as "If someone asks me now where I'm from, I don't feel sorry for myself any more" and "This is my country, my people."
Trying to size up the education system is one of the hardest things facing those embarking on a foreign posting. We set out what you should know about German schools and daycare.
Want to move to Germany but haven’t figured out the details? Check out Expatica’s overview of the German visa and citizenship system.
When moving abroad, the owner must make an informed decision as to whether their pet is up to the trip. Here’s an overview of the factors involved.
Moving to Germany but still searching for a job? Check out Expatica’s comprehensive overview of the ins and outs of employment in Germany, including information on how to find work, recruitment agencies, employment contracts and labour law.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Flickr
General rating:
Rate article:
Add my rating