Hi,
I lived in France for more than 10 years and as German I always was estonished that the young French didn't know anything about Germany, well apart the wars of course. No literature, no music, no philosophy, no economical, geographical facts and no current issues of German society.
It's even more surprising when you realize that France and Germany are very close nowadays.
Since the World Cup in Germany started I noticed that the newspapers (Le Monde, Le Figaro, Libération...) started to give an account of modern Germany. At the moment it's big partytime here and people from all nations celebrate together. Now I have become curious how British, Danish or Portuguese people comment on this, has Germany's lacklustre image abroad changed a bit?
The World Cup and Germany's image abroad
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Usul
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The World Cup and Germany's image abroad
Last edited by Usul on Tue Jun 20, 2006 13:36, edited 1 time in total.
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Chroelle
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I think that Germany's reputation will always suffer because of the two wars.
There haven't been much on Germany as such, more on international hooligans getting arrested and the games themselves. I think this might be a good place to start though as it does not harm your reputation either.
I think that you could hold a world cup wherever, and 99% of the football fans wouldn't care where it was. some of them because they watch it on the telly, and then it is just a stadium somewhere in the world - Others because they would follow their team to the end of the world, so this is just a shorter travel.
But I look forward to hearing other members oppinion, since this is just mine from a Danish point of view...
There haven't been much on Germany as such, more on international hooligans getting arrested and the games themselves. I think this might be a good place to start though as it does not harm your reputation either.
I think that you could hold a world cup wherever, and 99% of the football fans wouldn't care where it was. some of them because they watch it on the telly, and then it is just a stadium somewhere in the world - Others because they would follow their team to the end of the world, so this is just a shorter travel.
But I look forward to hearing other members oppinion, since this is just mine from a Danish point of view...
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Parvini
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Usul - coming from UK there is an inherent mistrust/ traditional dislike of Germans - not only from the 2 world wars but also from the numerous times they've knocked England out of the World Cup.
Aside from the sterotype that Germans have no sense of humour, like terrible music with the line that "David Hasselhoff is the number 1 selling artist of all time in Germany", eat a lot of sausages, drink alot of beer, are "very efficient" and most all-pervasively of all - their tendency to keep places on the beach/ sun beds with perfectly ironed towels(!!) I seriously don't believe the average Brit knows much about Germany or German culture.
Beign a man of education and class, I have heard of and read (in translation) Geothe, Schlegel, Kant, Hegel, Nietzche, Marx, Heidegger, Popper and Adorno. But I don't think the average man on the street would have heard of anyof these names save Marx and maybe Nietzche- and even then they may not know that Marx was German.
In fairness, I think BBC1 has done a tremendous job of putting across what a good job Germany have done hosting the World Cup so far and have not ignored the history of individual cities where the stadiums are. As ever, ITV's coverage is awful in almost every way - so no surprises there. But to stay on topic - I think the World Cup has done a bit to increase public awareness of modern-day Germany here... but as ever, if we meet them in one of the knock-out matches the tabloid press will bring up the war, beating them in 1966 and the "40 years of hurt" since and reinforce all the stereotypes I listed above. But I think that Anti-German sentiment is now just treated as a bit of fun rather than any deeply held prejudice.
Perhaps one of the other British posters (Dizi?) might want to add something to what I've said here, as looking back on it, this post might appear a bit negative - but it's just what I've seen.
Aside from the sterotype that Germans have no sense of humour, like terrible music with the line that "David Hasselhoff is the number 1 selling artist of all time in Germany", eat a lot of sausages, drink alot of beer, are "very efficient" and most all-pervasively of all - their tendency to keep places on the beach/ sun beds with perfectly ironed towels(!!) I seriously don't believe the average Brit knows much about Germany or German culture.
Beign a man of education and class, I have heard of and read (in translation) Geothe, Schlegel, Kant, Hegel, Nietzche, Marx, Heidegger, Popper and Adorno. But I don't think the average man on the street would have heard of anyof these names save Marx and maybe Nietzche- and even then they may not know that Marx was German.
In fairness, I think BBC1 has done a tremendous job of putting across what a good job Germany have done hosting the World Cup so far and have not ignored the history of individual cities where the stadiums are. As ever, ITV's coverage is awful in almost every way - so no surprises there. But to stay on topic - I think the World Cup has done a bit to increase public awareness of modern-day Germany here... but as ever, if we meet them in one of the knock-out matches the tabloid press will bring up the war, beating them in 1966 and the "40 years of hurt" since and reinforce all the stereotypes I listed above. But I think that Anti-German sentiment is now just treated as a bit of fun rather than any deeply held prejudice.
Perhaps one of the other British posters (Dizi?) might want to add something to what I've said here, as looking back on it, this post might appear a bit negative - but it's just what I've seen.
"The mind is its own place, and in itself/ Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n" - John Milton (Paradise Lost, Book I, lines 254-55)
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Usul
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Parvini, I think Portugal is slowly taking place of enemy #1 in England. It's strange how much impact a football tournament can have on the people.
Great to hear that you have read some of the most important philosophers. I must admit that I haven't yet read Popper but passed 2 days ago a big exam at university about Adorno.
Resuming, the WC has been a big event here. It has been as it should have been. No violence, no hooligans, partytime in front of the huge screens in almost every bigger German city. It's a pity that it's already history.
Great to hear that you have read some of the most important philosophers. I must admit that I haven't yet read Popper but passed 2 days ago a big exam at university about Adorno.
Resuming, the WC has been a big event here. It has been as it should have been. No violence, no hooligans, partytime in front of the huge screens in almost every bigger German city. It's a pity that it's already history.