Saturday, December 13, 2014
Final Part B: Overview of the Class
This class was an interesting class to take. It was taught differently than previous classes I have taken and with that came a different environment within the classroom. I felt like I researched and found a lot of the information that I learned instead of listening to a boring lecture every class which was kind of refreshing. I gained knowledge about basic cornerstones in Germany such as population (about 80 million) and how many states there are in the country (16). Along with those number facts, there was also key information regarding Germany's culture, history, and food. Some of which was depicted in the movies we watched, Baader-Meinhof Complex and Berlin Calling, as well as the book we read as a class, All Quiet on the Western Front. I believe these served as great learning tools in order to get a feel for some of the different aspects of German history, culture, and identity. Aside from German knowledge, this class also helped me improve upon my public speaking skills. It was great practice to make the presentations and present them to the class ourselves. It really made the material more prevalent in our studies and helped to make the class more interesting. The format of the class was good as long as the students did the work that they were responsible for. Sometimes it was hard to focus on someone giving a presentation on something that they had not researched and were supposed to. Other than that the class ran smoothly and was a fun experience!
Photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Germany
Final Part A: 3 Blog reviews
1. Paste the url of the reviewed blog first.
2. Why did the blog draw your interest as you started reviewing it, why not?
3. How much care did the blog author show for her or his blog? How can you tell?
4. How would you rate the overall informative quality on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)
5. How would you rate the readability of the blog on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)
6. Compared to your own blog, is the reviewed blog better, the same, or worse?
Blog #1:
1) http://ge110alexmc.blogspot.com/
2) It seemed like a pretty complete blog with good information. Could have been better with more visual aids.
3) He definitely showed care in his blog since, most importantly, it looked like a complete blog. Also, the posts contained good information and were not just sloppily thrown together in 5 minutes. His blog shows that he put in some time and effort
4) I'd rate this blog as a 5 for informative, lots of quality information.
5) Readability is somewhere between a 3 and 4. A lot of the font and text sizes are different which makes it difficult to read. Also organization could be a little better. The blog is good overall though.
6) I think I have a bit of an edge because I put more pictures on mine and mine is a little more organized but they are pretty close.
Blog #2:
1) http://ge110brittanyba.blogspot.com/
2) The first thing that caught my attention was the background of the blog. It made the overall appeal better. Also organization of the posts was great in my opinion.
3) She showed a lot of care with her blog based on some elements that obviously took some thinking and some time. As mentioned the background was an attention getter and the organization took effort. Also the content is very thought out. Could use more pictures.
4) Informative quality would rank at 5 for me. She seemed to put in all of the work and her posts are something that can be used as a learning tool which is the goal.
5) Readability is a 5. As I've mentioned a few times, the organization is great which helps a ton with readability.
6) I'd say our blogs are very similar in the elements each of them bring to the table.
Blog #3:
1) http://ge110nathanmc.blogspot.com/
2) This blog didn't really draw a whole lot of my interest. It was pretty basic, not many pictures and the posts were shorter than my previous reviewed ones. This blog was pretty bland.
3) The posts were completed with, what seems to me, as minimal care. He obviously put in some time to complete the posts with some information but, for example, the summaries such as the ones from the Baader-Meinhof complex and chapter 9 of AQOTWF sound like a copy and paste job.
4) I'd rate as a 3 or 4 for informative. The posts do contain some good information just not a lot of it.
5) I'd rate the readability as a 4. Nothing jumps out to make it bad but, on the other hand, nothing makes it great either.
6) Personally, I do think my blog ranks above this one for having more information and effort put into each post.
2. Why did the blog draw your interest as you started reviewing it, why not?
3. How much care did the blog author show for her or his blog? How can you tell?
4. How would you rate the overall informative quality on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)
5. How would you rate the readability of the blog on a scale of 1-5 (five is high)
6. Compared to your own blog, is the reviewed blog better, the same, or worse?
Blog #1:
1) http://ge110alexmc.blogspot.com/
2) It seemed like a pretty complete blog with good information. Could have been better with more visual aids.
3) He definitely showed care in his blog since, most importantly, it looked like a complete blog. Also, the posts contained good information and were not just sloppily thrown together in 5 minutes. His blog shows that he put in some time and effort
4) I'd rate this blog as a 5 for informative, lots of quality information.
5) Readability is somewhere between a 3 and 4. A lot of the font and text sizes are different which makes it difficult to read. Also organization could be a little better. The blog is good overall though.
6) I think I have a bit of an edge because I put more pictures on mine and mine is a little more organized but they are pretty close.
Blog #2:
1) http://ge110brittanyba.blogspot.com/
2) The first thing that caught my attention was the background of the blog. It made the overall appeal better. Also organization of the posts was great in my opinion.
3) She showed a lot of care with her blog based on some elements that obviously took some thinking and some time. As mentioned the background was an attention getter and the organization took effort. Also the content is very thought out. Could use more pictures.
4) Informative quality would rank at 5 for me. She seemed to put in all of the work and her posts are something that can be used as a learning tool which is the goal.
5) Readability is a 5. As I've mentioned a few times, the organization is great which helps a ton with readability.
6) I'd say our blogs are very similar in the elements each of them bring to the table.
Blog #3:
1) http://ge110nathanmc.blogspot.com/
2) This blog didn't really draw a whole lot of my interest. It was pretty basic, not many pictures and the posts were shorter than my previous reviewed ones. This blog was pretty bland.
3) The posts were completed with, what seems to me, as minimal care. He obviously put in some time to complete the posts with some information but, for example, the summaries such as the ones from the Baader-Meinhof complex and chapter 9 of AQOTWF sound like a copy and paste job.
4) I'd rate as a 3 or 4 for informative. The posts do contain some good information just not a lot of it.
5) I'd rate the readability as a 4. Nothing jumps out to make it bad but, on the other hand, nothing makes it great either.
6) Personally, I do think my blog ranks above this one for having more information and effort put into each post.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Baader-Meinhof Complex
In 1967 the Shah of Iran visited West Berlin which caused a protest by the Germans. The repressive actions of the Shah used in Iran was the main cause of these protests. During the event, one of the German protesters was killed which caused a huge uproar within Germany. Meinhof, a journalist, had written many critical pieces about the Shah and had very strong beliefs about the situation which caught the attention of many German citizens. These citizens looked at Meinhof as an inspiration for her views and a few decided it was time for a change. This change came first in the form of a bombing inside of a department store by Ensslin and Andreas Baader along with some others. Eventually, the group of Ensslin, Baader, Meinhof and a few other loyal followers begin to strike up support throughout Germany.
Photo Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYyXHHmpJY9lATIeWe9axTFhcNzaptcsqg2G6oJlxi01kW7TCMOh0Ds4tRXqegxN9McXb7oLLIAWhNcnmeWEYEcxlTs_kRaGYjKytci6FfKmXRR048Z-2sEfAvBCmVYomOtt0DnLp8ug/s640/baader_lead.jpg.
After a brief stint out of Germany, the group returns bearing the name of "Red Army Faction".
Photo Source: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/411096.Red_Army_Faction
This organization was responsible for many bombings, shootings, and assassinations. The RAF existed from 1970 to 1998 as a self proclaimed communist group attempting to defeat what the considered to be a "Fascist state".
Web Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Baader_Meinhof_Complex
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction
After a brief stint out of Germany, the group returns bearing the name of "Red Army Faction".
Photo Source: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/411096.Red_Army_Faction
This organization was responsible for many bombings, shootings, and assassinations. The RAF existed from 1970 to 1998 as a self proclaimed communist group attempting to defeat what the considered to be a "Fascist state".
Web Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Baader_Meinhof_Complex
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
German relations with neighboring countries
Germany's relationship with Denmark:
Denmark has an embassy in Berlin, Germany
Germany has an embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark
The current Danish-German border was established in 1920 by a referendum however, the border is considered to be a "soft border" and has been a positive source of cooperation between the two countries.
A large amount of minority populations live on each side of the border often called "fresians".
Many consider the border between these two countries to be a "model" of what border relations should be.
During World War II Germany invaded Denmark in the 1940s to use their land as a staging area for operations taking place in Norway.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark–Germany_relations
Image Source: http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-162031/German-Lander
Image Source: http://www.countryreports.org/country/Germany.htm
Group members: Slade Simpson, Brandi Vistad, David Sufficool, Calvin Smith http://ge110calvinsm.blogspot.com/
http://ge110davids.blogspot.com/
http://ge110brandivi.blogspot.com/
Denmark has an embassy in Berlin, Germany
Germany has an embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark
The current Danish-German border was established in 1920 by a referendum however, the border is considered to be a "soft border" and has been a positive source of cooperation between the two countries.
A large amount of minority populations live on each side of the border often called "fresians".
Many consider the border between these two countries to be a "model" of what border relations should be.
During World War II Germany invaded Denmark in the 1940s to use their land as a staging area for operations taking place in Norway.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark–Germany_relations
Group members: Slade Simpson, Brandi Vistad, David Sufficool, Calvin Smith http://ge110calvinsm.blogspot.com/
http://ge110davids.blogspot.com/
http://ge110brandivi.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
German Inventions from the 18th and 19th centuries
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15k5j28d-Q3xIaj4UA4DxlPoO4jWYY10G6Dz0xvkpIRo/edit?usp=sharing
Above is the link to our presentation about a few German inventions in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Group: Slade Simpson, David Sufficool, Calvin Smith, Brandi Vistad
Above is the link to our presentation about a few German inventions in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Group: Slade Simpson, David Sufficool, Calvin Smith, Brandi Vistad
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Berlin Calling Questions and Reaction
QUESTIONS:
1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?
- Ickarus seems extremely dependent upon drugs, so in other words he is addicted. I believe that he thinks the drugs are a part of what he does for a living, that drugs and dj-ing go hand in hand.
2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?
- His fans take drugs at the rave parties that he DJ's at. They take them to have more fun and a more wild night. They take anything from ecstasy to acid and its usually in pill form.
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?
- I think a lot of the reason this culture thrives on drugs is because of peer pressure. For some reason these people that take these drugs think it makes them more popular and cool in the minds of their peers so in order to fit in they give in to pressure from their friends. It's all about being accepted.
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?
- Obviously you never know what drugs are being taken but here at home I would argue that most people don't do the hard drugs that they are in this movie. Pot and alcohol is more accepted here in the U.S. but it seems as though the drug of choice is much different in the culture of 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?
- It could definitely change. I don't think the sample size of the people in this movie is big enough to represent all of Germany but if the actions in this movie are common throughout the country then absolutely it could affect their status of a strong industrial nation. The youth culture in any country is the future of that country, if that particular youth group is weak then the future will not look very bright.
6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?
- I don't recall seeing any cult movies that are similar to Berlin Calling.
REACTION:
- One cultural difference from the movie compared to the U.S. is that drugs such as ecstasy, acid, and other hard drugs seem to be more acceptable in the eyes of society. In the U.S. these drugs are considered to be absolutely unacceptable to use in the minds of the majority of citizens. Alcohol is the more common "drug" in the U.S. and that doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon. The type of music the Ickarus develops hasn't really caught on here in the U.S. either. Obviously you will have groups of people here that love that type of music but it isn't rock, pop, or country which are the main focus of the American music scene. I have never heard of a rave going on here in the U.S. again, i'm sure they do exist but aren't as common or as easily accessible as they are depicted in the movie. It is very interesting to view a different country and culture in the way the movie, Berlin Calling, has showed to us. I could imagine that not many people here in the United States has ever seen anything like the scenes that are present in this film. It just goes to show how many different subcultures there are within a country and how you can know very little about what goes on within those subcultures. Personally, I don't know what benefits could come of the drug use these people, such as Ickarus, endure or why they continue to do them after incidents like the ones in the movie. I would be scared to death if I woke up in a strange treatment facility knowing nothing about what happened the night before. This movie really makes a person think about how valuable it is to be taking care of yourself, not just your body but also your mind. Ickarus actually gives me an angry feeling because he is talented at what he does and he is just wasting his talents by using these drugs. It annoys me to think about all the people that have these enormous amounts of talent but they give it all up for something that hurts themselves and their loved ones. This theme occurs not only in the movie or in Germany, but throughout the entire world.
1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?
- Ickarus seems extremely dependent upon drugs, so in other words he is addicted. I believe that he thinks the drugs are a part of what he does for a living, that drugs and dj-ing go hand in hand.
2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?
- His fans take drugs at the rave parties that he DJ's at. They take them to have more fun and a more wild night. They take anything from ecstasy to acid and its usually in pill form.
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?
- I think a lot of the reason this culture thrives on drugs is because of peer pressure. For some reason these people that take these drugs think it makes them more popular and cool in the minds of their peers so in order to fit in they give in to pressure from their friends. It's all about being accepted.
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?
- Obviously you never know what drugs are being taken but here at home I would argue that most people don't do the hard drugs that they are in this movie. Pot and alcohol is more accepted here in the U.S. but it seems as though the drug of choice is much different in the culture of 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?
- It could definitely change. I don't think the sample size of the people in this movie is big enough to represent all of Germany but if the actions in this movie are common throughout the country then absolutely it could affect their status of a strong industrial nation. The youth culture in any country is the future of that country, if that particular youth group is weak then the future will not look very bright.
6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?
- I don't recall seeing any cult movies that are similar to Berlin Calling.
REACTION:
- One cultural difference from the movie compared to the U.S. is that drugs such as ecstasy, acid, and other hard drugs seem to be more acceptable in the eyes of society. In the U.S. these drugs are considered to be absolutely unacceptable to use in the minds of the majority of citizens. Alcohol is the more common "drug" in the U.S. and that doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon. The type of music the Ickarus develops hasn't really caught on here in the U.S. either. Obviously you will have groups of people here that love that type of music but it isn't rock, pop, or country which are the main focus of the American music scene. I have never heard of a rave going on here in the U.S. again, i'm sure they do exist but aren't as common or as easily accessible as they are depicted in the movie. It is very interesting to view a different country and culture in the way the movie, Berlin Calling, has showed to us. I could imagine that not many people here in the United States has ever seen anything like the scenes that are present in this film. It just goes to show how many different subcultures there are within a country and how you can know very little about what goes on within those subcultures. Personally, I don't know what benefits could come of the drug use these people, such as Ickarus, endure or why they continue to do them after incidents like the ones in the movie. I would be scared to death if I woke up in a strange treatment facility knowing nothing about what happened the night before. This movie really makes a person think about how valuable it is to be taking care of yourself, not just your body but also your mind. Ickarus actually gives me an angry feeling because he is talented at what he does and he is just wasting his talents by using these drugs. It annoys me to think about all the people that have these enormous amounts of talent but they give it all up for something that hurts themselves and their loved ones. This theme occurs not only in the movie or in Germany, but throughout the entire world.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Topic 4- Foods and German Cuisine
German Desserts:
Probably the most common dessert served in Germany are cakes and tarts. These are mainly made with fresh fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, etc. Cheesecake is also a very sought after dessert with the black forest cake being the most widely known example.
Photo Source: http://mydeutschlandblog.wordpress.com/2014/07/27/little-slices-of-heaven/
Photo Source: http://www.pfannkuchen-rezepte.com/
Lastly we have the Italian influence on Germany's desserts. The first foreigners to really make an impact on German soil in the form of eateries were the Italians who established ice cream parlors. With them they brought various ice creams and sorbets. Namely, Spaghettieis was one of the most notable ice cream desserts because of it's visual similarities to spaghetti, tomato sauce, and cheese.
Photo Source: http://www.travelmeetsfood.com/spaghetti-ice-cream
Web Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cuisine
Probably the most common dessert served in Germany are cakes and tarts. These are mainly made with fresh fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, etc. Cheesecake is also a very sought after dessert with the black forest cake being the most widely known example.
German's also make doughnuts which differ from doughnuts here in the U.S. because German doughnuts don't have holes in the middle and most of the time have a central filling. The Berliner is a popular choice for a German doughnut.
Photo Source: http://mydeutschlandblog.wordpress.com/2014/07/27/little-slices-of-heaven/
Pfannkuchen, is sort of a pancake that closely resembles the crepe made in France. These are usually served with sugar, jam or syrup. The word Pfannkuchen actually means pancake throughout most of Germany.
Photo Source: http://www.pfannkuchen-rezepte.com/
Lastly we have the Italian influence on Germany's desserts. The first foreigners to really make an impact on German soil in the form of eateries were the Italians who established ice cream parlors. With them they brought various ice creams and sorbets. Namely, Spaghettieis was one of the most notable ice cream desserts because of it's visual similarities to spaghetti, tomato sauce, and cheese.
Photo Source: http://www.travelmeetsfood.com/spaghetti-ice-cream
Web Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_cuisine
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