cooperation with\u00a0Inge Mahn & Katharina Karrenberg
\nplastic tarp, speakers, performance\u00a0with choir singers
\nphotos: Kati Gausmann<\/p>\n
<\/b>at the exhibition project\u00a0mitBestimmung,<\/i>\u00a0by\u00a0Hans-B\u00f6ckler-Foundation
\nGerman Trade Unions House\u00a0Berlin, D, 2004<\/p>\n
Socialist workers’ songs sound through speakers in the hallway of the trade unions\u00b4house in Berlin, that is wrapped in construction plastic tarp. For the opening, a choir performs the songs. Interviews with the choir singers\u00a0about their contexts and thoughts on singing the songs get\u00a0displayed in the hallway.<\/p>\n
Questions to the choir:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. What do you think of when singing socialists worker\u2019s songs?<\/p>\n 2. Have you been seized by fighting spirit while singing?<\/p>\n 3. Have you been singing socialist worker\u2019s songs since?<\/p>\n Answers:<\/p>\n Name: Ruth 1.It seems that at the time these songs (especially the older ones and the more interesting and convincing ones to me) were written things were more clear-cut. There\u2019s a line like: \u201cConsidering you\u2019ll listen to guns, we\u2019ll turn the guns towards to\u201d. Towards whom would I turn the guns today? The difficulty to resist for me lies often already in the fact that I can\u2019t really get a grip on my \u201copponent\u201d. To be absolutely honest, I have to admit that regarding most wrongs in the world, I belong to the responsible party, so the guns would have to be turned in my face. And then I also notice that I don\u2019t even want to fight by force of arms.<\/p>\n 2. Am I gripped by fighting spirit? The songs remind me once again of the many things that should be fought. But the fighting spirit emanating from these songs feels historic to my. It hasn\u2019t much to do with myself.<\/p>\n 3. I thought about the songs many days after, and not only because I couldn\u2019t get them out of my ear.<\/p>\n Name: Rita 2. Yes, certainly,but that probably is\u00a0in the nature of marsh melodies.<\/p>\n 3. In weak moments very loud.<\/p>\n Name: Bettina 1. I\u2019m thinking of historical changes \u2013 what certain people took a stance on, how the times change \u2026 how old demands for redistribution of wealth have changed, and how social antagonisms were discussed an fought about much more out in the open only eighty years ago \u2026 Of what was an everyday-type political position back then, of what was being discussed \u2026 And how much more powerful the social state of affairs were challenged on a fundamental level \u2026 the anger towards the conformist unions \u2026 how these songs helped the authoritarian state of East Germany to secure their identity and power \u2013 a context in which some of the people singing along came to know these songs \u2026<\/p>\n 2. It was fun \u2013 that\u2019s probably a kind of fighting spirit. These melodies have a powerful and rousing quality \u2026 but some of the mire unpleasant chains of associations triggered by them and the militaristic sound to it keep to annoy \u2026 but because of the positive chains of associations, and because singing is a great way to spend your time, I went home in a good mood.<\/p>\n 3. Nope \u2026 except for the \u201cResolution\u201d occasionally, but that\u2019s almost punk rock anyway…<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" cooperation with\u00a0Inge Mahn & Katharina Karrenberg plastic tarp, speakers, performance\u00a0with choir singers photos: Kati Gausmann at the exhibition project\u00a0mitBestimmung,\u00a0by\u00a0Hans-B\u00f6ckler-Foundation German Trade Unions House\u00a0Berlin, D, 2004 Socialist workers’ songs sound through speakers in the hallway of the trade unions\u00b4house in Berlin, … Continue reading
\nAge: 30
\nJob: Baker, mother
\nPlace of residence: grown up in West Germany, made a home in Potsdam from 1994 to 2000, journeyed around as manual worker afterwards and currently getting settled in W\u00fcrzburg<\/p>\n
\nAge: 30
\nJob: Set designer assistant
\nPlace of residence: Berlin
\n1. I think of my years at school in the east, of my music teacher and my classmates. Together with the latter, I sometimes rephrased the texts or reinterpreted them in favour of \u201cpoor, oppressed\u201d pupils like us. When singing the \u201cInternational\u201d, I\u2019m always thinking of my fight with the teachers: for me as a daughter of Catholic parents it was a matter of honour to refuse singing the second verse: \u201cNo higher being is going to save us, nor god \u2026\u201d That needed a little courage, but it was also something like a game of sports among us non-pioneers. We all obediently sang the first and the third verse, since even Jesus was against oppression \u2026<\/p>\n
\nAge: 28
\nJob: Student
\nPlace of Residence: Berlin<\/p>\n