18th and 19th Century Music, Dance, and Theatre

18th and 19th Century Music, Dance, and Theatre

                                                           

Hayden

Joseph Hayden is the first great composer or the classical repertoire.  Most of his compositions are for musicals, operas, and orchestras.  He not only plays, but sings as well.  During his first employment at age 25, it’s up to him, the court orchestra, and singers to perform every night for the prince.  In the 1780’s he and Mozart become good friends; play in a string quartet together and dedicating works to each other. Hayden lives another 18 years after Mozart’s death.

Mozart

Born in 1756, Mozart starts touring at the age of six in courts and cities of Europe starting in Munich.  Mozart plays the harpsichord and violin. At 8, he publishes violin sonatas and his first two symphonies. Mozart composes a piece directly influenced by Hayden, before he even meets him. In 1780 he begins writing operas. What people are most familiar with is the requiem he is requested to write at the end of his life.  Contrary to popular belief the requiem is not asked to be written by Salieri, who is said to have killed Mozart.  In fact it was an anonymous request by a man who pays for written work and then sells them as his own.  Mozart’s requiem goes on hold as he finishes his last opera. Mozart dies in 1791 and the requiem isn’t actually finished by Mozart but by his pupil. Mozart’s fame came in the 19th century as his insurmountable works are discovered and published.  His reputation at it’s high in the 19th century, doesn’t diminish in time.

Bach

Born in 1685, Johann Sebastian Bach spends his life working in the provincial courts for German princes.  In 1723 he moves to Leipzig for the rest of his life and completes some of his greatest works.  In 1721 he writes the six Brandenburg Concertos. The Brandenburg Gate is well known to Germans. In fact this year was very special as it marked the 25th anniversary of the wall falling. They held a ceremony there with lighted balloons.  They were released to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, also known as Ode to Joy.

Beethoven

Ludwig Van Beethoven performed his Ninth Symphony at his last public concert in 1824, at which he had to be turned around to see the standing ovation of the audience, since he couldn’t hear it. Beethoven has been a large part of Germany’s music since 1783.  Born in 1770, his first performance was in 1778.  Beethoven composed his first piece in 1783. He continued to compose and play music along with teaching piano.  He composed many pieces even after he started to lose his hearing at 26 years of age.  By 1814, he was almost totally deaf. His music didn’t died with him on March 26, 1827. It lives on.


DANCE

The Viennese Waltz is an older and more traditional dance of Germanys. Below is a link where you can go to if you wish to watch this dance. This waltz, like others, is a ballroom style dance. Unlike other waltz's though, the Viennese is danced at 180 beats per minute, where as other ones are taken at about 90 beats per minute. It is a much faster paced waltz and is made up of mostly turns and "change steps" while traveling counter clockwise on the dancefloor. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_IAOkXSNsc&spfreload=10







Sources

Gascoigne, B. (2001). History of Music. Retrieved from History World: http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=khw

Ludwig van Beethoven. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven

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

20th and 21st Century Writers and Poets

20th and 21st Century Writers and Poets

Kafka

Franz Kafka 

Franz Kafka was born July 3, 1883 in Prague, Bohemia. He died June 3 1924. He was fluent in both German and Czech. He is referred to as one of the most influential authors of the 20^thcentury. Famous works are “Die Verwandlung”, “Der Prozess” as well as “Das Schloss”.  Franz Kafka was a lawyer before he became an author. Although he is now recognized as one of the most important writers of his time, most of his works were not published until after his death.

Musil

Robert Musil

Robert Musicl was born November 6, 1880 and died April 15^thof 1942. His novel “The Man Without Qualities” is thought of to be an important modernist novel; however, it is not a book that has been widely ready for several reasons. When he was a teenager his parents sent him away to a military boarding school and this is exhibited through his writing. He graduated as a Cadet, and then went to mechanical engineering. He also fought in World War I.

Wolfgang Herrndorf

Herrndorf

Wolfgang went to the Academy of Fine Arts in Nuremberg, where he attained a degree in illustrations. His first novel was published in 2002, however he didn’t become really famous until 2010 with his book “Tschick”. Later in 2011 he would accept the “Prize of the Leipzig Book Fair”, as well as the “German Book Prize” in 2012. Wolfgang killed himself August 26^th in 2013, after living with depression from the discovery of a malignant tumor in his brain back in 2010.

Schatzing

Frank Schatzing was born May 28^th, 1957. His best selling novel was released in 2004, “The Swarm”. He started writing in 1990, and his first book was published only shortly after in 1995. His novel “The Swarm” has received many awards such as: the Goldene Feder in 2005, Deutscher Science Fiction Preis in 2005, and the Corine in 2004.

Sources

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sch%C3%A4tzing

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Herrndorf

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

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/durs-grunbein

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/jan-wagner

Berlin Calling

1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?
I think at first he uses them to relax and have a little more fun.  But once he becomes addicted and things start to go down hill, he uses them to escape life.

2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?
His fan take them because it appears to be the social norm in that setting.  The drugs are taken by themselves or with him; in the bathrooms or apartments.  The drugs mentioned are Ketamine, MDMA, MDA, Crystal, THC, Cocaine, amphetamine, and PMA.

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 belongs to focus on drugs?
From what we notice in the movie and even in our own culture, is that people tend to associate drugs, drinking, night clubs to a party life. And the setting is all about the night life and parties.

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?
We don't have openly explicit nude scenes in our society.  We also don't promote or accept drugs the way they are shown here. Legally we are not allowed to.

5. Germany is considered a strong industrial nation over the world.  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?
I think if this movie portrays the youth accurately (that of being in clubs and enjoying the party life), then yes the youth could change it.  It would no longer be a strong industrial nation.  Ickarus tries hard but just doesn't go about it the right way. Alice is right to let Ickarus go until he becomes clean.  She can't take that risk as a businesswoman.  If there are more people like Alice I think you'll be fine.

6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?
None that I can think of.


Personal Opinion
I think this movie is interesting in the sense of seeing the point of view of a struggling, drug addict, musician.  We have many of those here in the states too.  In fact some of them aren't struggling.  Some develop the habit while they are famous because that is where the association is.  There are many genres known for the high drug consumption.

Anthroposophy

Dr. Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) thought we needed to locate and use our spiritual being to better live in this world.  He called this Anthroposophy and as he stated, it is ‘a path of knowledge to guide the spiritual in the human being to the spiritual in the universe’.  This idea was meant to help bring a more humane world by understanding how the spiritual existence of each worked and how they could work together.  Not only is it used in art, as most probably expect, but it’s also used for medicine, economics, sciences, education, and others.

Headquartered at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland, the Society tries to make a spiritually based contribution to the life of humanity.  They provide lectures, conferences, and courses for anyone who wants to learn.

There is also a facility in Great Britain and the only thing you need to do to be a member, is to recognize the existence of the institution, such as the School of Spiritual Science, is justified.  This doesn’t mean what one person thinks is the same as the next person, but that both have the underlying agreement that existence is necessary.

Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy. (2014, October 22). Retrieved from Rudolf Steiner House: http://www.rsh.anth.org.uk/pages/whowas.html

Stanislaus 'Kat' Katczinsky

My name is Stanislaus Katczinsky.  Everyone calls me Kat. I am 40 years old and by far the oldest in our little group.  Why they've brought a bunch kids here, only 19 years of age, I don't know.  I take them under my wing since they haven't a clue what they are getting into.  Many times I must go and gather things for us to live off of.  They all find it quite amazing how I can get just about anything we need, even from a place that looks like there's nothing. It's hard seeing the affects this war has caused on these boys. They are changing. The war would change anyone. It's getting very tiring. We have good days and bad, but each time we go out we come back with less and less. Paul has been the closest to me. It's not as lonely when you have someone to talk to. And while he gives me company, I teach him survival techniques.  He'll need this to continue through war and at home, if he makes it out.  I'll do what I can to help him through. We are under attack again, bullets and shrapnel flying.  I feel pieces hit my legs and something to the back of my head.  I fall in pain, realizing my shins are tore up. Paul the brave man that he is now. picks me up. I'm in so much pain. He wants to bring me to the triage area. I know I won't make it though.  The pain in my head is getting worse and I feel something dripping down my neck. It hurts so bad. Every step he takes it gets worse and worse. It's not much longer that I start to fade and I can't help but think how these men, who were just kids in the beginning, are no longer kids. My last thought is that they are now my brothers.

AQWF Chapter 1 Review - Tabitha, Zach, Fayez

Chapter 1 Summary and Character Review

Top Layer Summary:

- Introduction to the main characters

-Circumstances of being in the war:

           ·         Modesty is lost

           ·         Bargaining is a big tool (Cigarettes, Rum, Bread, Clothes, etc.)

           ·         Loyalty and Brotherhood

           ·         Becoming hardened

-Disappointment in the older generation:

           ·         For not teaching them what would come of them for joining the war

           ·         For allowing the military to mature them the hard way

           ·         For falsely glorifying the war

Specifics:

The first chapter is used as an introduction to the different characters: the way they act and they way they are treated during the war. 

We see the waste of the resources they have and the inadequate form of communication they had during the war. 


The first thing that we notice is the terrible amount of communication that goes on between the different areas in the war.

• The cook has no idea of the amount of men that are coming back from the front. He believes he is preparing rations for 150 men but only 80 have survived. The 80 left are then issued all the rations that were prepared for those men. 

An example of misusing what little resources they did have, was the environment at the hospital that Kemmerich is kept in. 

• There are wounded left everywhere and when Kemmerich eventually dies they waste no time moving him and replacing someone else in his bed. 

The war was tough on everyone and they had to deal with the inadequate amount of supplies, but because of no communication they are wasting a whole lot of rations (that they don't necessarily have) on a smaller group of soldiers.

Kantorek, the schoolmaster, encouraged them all to join and if you didn't you'd be ostracized.

Franz Kemmerich is the first to get wounded in battle.  Him and Behm both pass away.

Paul and his friends are forced to disconnect from emotions, like grief, sympathy, and fear. They now have to be in survival mode.

Characters:

Paul Bäumer

• Narrator
• Sensitive, but the brutal experiences of warfare teaches him to detach himself from his feelings.

Leer

• Paul's classmate
• Close friend during the war
• Thinks of women a lot

Müller

• Paul's classmate
• Hardheaded
• Dynamic
• A bit of a dreamer but looks out for No. 1

Kropp

      ·    Paul's classmate

      ·   A close friend of Paul's 

      ·   His interest in analyzing the causes of the war lead to many of the most critical anti war

      ·   He notices the ranking differences and the treatments that come with it. (Hospital with Kemmerich)

Tjaden

      ·   Locksmith

      ·  Skinny, young man with a voracious appetite

Katczinsky

      ·   Kat is the unofficial leader

      ·   40 years old

      ·   Resourceful, inventive, and always finds food, clothing, and blankets

Haie

            ·   Peat-digger was a body as large and powerful

            ·  Wants to remain in the war

Detering

      ·  Homesick

      ·  Kind hearted

      ·  Nature lover

Group 3 Bergen Presentation

Group 3 Bergen, Presentation on Hanse cities(Thomas, Tabitha, Ryan, Nate, Jaffar)

Founding

Founded in 12th Century AD
Trade was the backbone of Hanseatic League
most common item of trade was Salt, crucial for many cities who had huge fish industries


Trust and Truth

Contracts were done by handshake and word of mouth.
Written contracts were not as necessary because there was general trust shared by league members
If problems arose the league would meet with city representatives to resolve the issues at hand.

Historical Markers

The start of the Hansa was traced back to the rebuilding of northern German town, Lubeck in 1159 by Henry Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria.
1265- All German towns, with the Law of Lubeck, had agreed on common legislation for the defense of merchants and their goods.
1270- Lubeck-Hamburg association aquired trading privileges in Flanders and England United.
1280- The confederation of German Merchants trading in the west, was closely closely joined to the association trading in the Baltic. 
By the early 13th century Germans had a strong build on long distant trade in the Baltic.

Cities


Each city governed itself like a independent city, each had its own legal system, standing army, treasury, court and seal
However it was not a city-state nor a group of city-states. Only very few cities in the Hanseatic League enjoyed independence that could compare to an imperial city
Socially every city has many similarities; what they traded, who they traded with, their cities, and their social standings. The few differences are mainly to do with cultural influences. Mainly language. 
The main language spoken throughout the Hanseatic cities was German, however languages such as estonian and Latvian were popular as well.    
Trade Routes

Bergen was not only the capital of Norway, but also the center of trade for Western Norway.
Bryggens was the harbor in Bergen used for trade.  
The ships they used for transport, carried cod from Norway to the European countries.
Catholics used the fish for when they fasted.

Describe the ships, cities and social make up of Hanse Cities.

Ships

Usually 20-30m long by 5-8 m wide with a crew of only 5-10 men
built similar to Viking ships, however were only merchant ships
Flat bottoms which were fitted for sailing in the shallow seas, mainly sailed along the coast and unable to sail against the wind
Ships shipped every sort of good, but main exports and imports were salt, herring, grains, timber, and amber