I Can't Relax in Germany

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I Can't Relax In Germany (ICRID for short) was an initiative of various artists in the mid-2000s, mostly from the music sector, who took up the topic of “ pop culture and nationalism ” and made critical comments on it. The central content was the criticism of the increasing “ nationalization of pop culture” observed by the initiative .

A book CD published on August 29, 2005, consisting of a 55-page booklet and a CD with pieces of music by the initiators, made the work of the initiative accessible to the general public for the first time.

Central positions

The initiative announced that there was no specific event that induced them to start work. Rather, it was a “generally perceptible mood” that was described in the book CD I Can't Relax In Germany as “new national self-discovery” or “new nationalism”. In an essay by the social scientist Roger Behrens contained on the book CD, it is said that this new nationalism was shaped by the paradigm shift in the German population, initiated during the course of the red-green government. Its essential features are the debate about the line under the German past on the one hand, the efforts to relativize the German past and the glorification of German soldiers as victims on the other.

With its explanatory approach, the initiative provides a theoretical structure that exists independently of the individual topical phenomena. ICRID expressly refers to pop-cultural phenomena only by way of example because of the own cultural background of those involved in the initiative. For example, reference is made to the radio quota demand , the Flick exhibition or the musicians criticized as nationalists (from MIA. , Joachim Witt and Peter Heppner to Fler and many more). These would not have questioned the general longing for national identities or reduced them to absurdity. ICRID also wanted to oppose a debate against the federal government's 1. FC Deutschland campaign for the 2006 World Cup and the Du bist Deutschland media campaign by Axel Springer AG , Bertelsmann and RTL , supported by Günther Jauch and Xavier Naidoo . The question of identity on a tour through major German cities should be discussed and discussed with the audience themselves.

In the pop culture sector, ICRID argued that no cultural branch ( pop music , punk , hip hop, etc.) is protected from resentment . The politically left attitude (argument of the pop group MIA. 2004) is no protection against it. In addition, pop culture is not an area that has been detached from social conditions, which is why the criticism should also be understood as a criticism of German society.

The initiative's contributions attempted to provide an analysis of the background with concrete approaches and questions beyond the phenomenon level. These read among others:

  • why in times of apparent economic crisis the nation project always appears particularly attractive as an alternative
  • whether there is a German specificity and continuity in questions of a national collective in the general criticism of nation and statehood
  • what the cultural history of Germany is / what characterizes it etc.

The questions going beyond this also discuss whether pop music, as a subversive element, could still aim at the goal of rebellion and upheaval.

“The reach the left hoped for from pop culture was too limited to really move political realities. In my opinion, the possibility of a change of consciousness, a critical understanding of society, the realization that Germany is not something that one should positively refer to has been seriously underestimated. In this respect, there is an exaggerated image of the 'powers of influence' of pop culture. As far as its illusion is concerned, the 'farewell' to pop has in fact already happened "

- Marvin Alster (Press Spokesman I Can't Relax In Germany )

Members

The initiative was an amalgamation of below average (music label), Conne Island (a center by and for leftists, youth, pop and subcultures), Beatpunk Webzine (webzine on critical pop culture theory), Propellas (feminist open network, which women in the Music supports), Guess I Was Punk (Minimal Art Accessories) and Blackstar Conspiracy (Indy Booking Agency).

The authors of the initiative were Martin Büsser , Roger Behrens and the group sinistra !. Bands and musicians were Monochrome , Kettcar , Tocotronic , Räuberhöhle, Saalschutz , Die Goldenen Zitronen , Rhythm King And Her Friends , Mouse On Mars , Lali Puna , Muff Potter , Peters. , Egotronic , The Robocop Kraus , Kante , Bernadette La Hengst , Die Sterne , Von Spar , Stella , Knarf Rellöm , T.Raumschmiere , Superpunk and Lawrence .

literature

  • Andreas Waltner (Ed.): I Can't Relax In Germany . 1st edition. unterm average, Cologne 2005, ISBN 3-00-015776-X

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