Music & Art
Beethoven
There are many sides to cultural life in Germany. There are
over 300 theaters and 130 orchestras. The museum world is enormous
featuring 630 art museums. Germany is one of the largest book nations, with around 94,000 new books each year. German media is well-known and constantly growing. German films are once again a great success and gaining popularity abroad.
German music stems from its famous roots of Bach and Beethoven. Electronic music has been steadily gaining popularity and influence from North America in recent years. Also, clubs in Germany feature much of the same music we hear in the U.S. Just as many neighboring countries do, Germany goes through different phases of music trends. For example, the 1970s consisted of disco while the 1980s consisted mostly rap/hip-hop. One very popular band in the U.S. that is not so popular in Germany is Rammstein. Although, there music is not widely accepted here, it is very representative of German culture. It brings forth a lot of common German viewpoints towards the U.S. but also addresses many problems and/or incidents that have occured in our world in recent times. One such example is a song called "Rammstein." It discusses the air show disaster that happened only a few years before the band was formed.
The art of Germany is also very respected in other countries. Since the 1990's, Germany photography and painting have had international success. There are many sides to cultural life in Germany. There are
over 300 theaters and 130 orchestras. The museum world is enormous featuring 630 art museums. Germany is one of the largest book nations, with around 94,000 new books each year. German media is also well-known and steadily growing. German films have great success and gaining popularity abroad.
over 300 theaters and 130 orchestras. The museum world is enormous
featuring 630 art museums. Germany is one of the largest book nations, with around 94,000 new books each year. German media is well-known and constantly growing. German films are once again a great success and gaining popularity abroad.
German music stems from its famous roots of Bach and Beethoven. Electronic music has been steadily gaining popularity and influence from North America in recent years. Also, clubs in Germany feature much of the same music we hear in the U.S. Just as many neighboring countries do, Germany goes through different phases of music trends. For example, the 1970s consisted of disco while the 1980s consisted mostly rap/hip-hop. One very popular band in the U.S. that is not so popular in Germany is Rammstein. Although, there music is not widely accepted here, it is very representative of German culture. It brings forth a lot of common German viewpoints towards the U.S. but also addresses many problems and/or incidents that have occured in our world in recent times. One such example is a song called "Rammstein." It discusses the air show disaster that happened only a few years before the band was formed.
The art of Germany is also very respected in other countries. Since the 1990's, Germany photography and painting have had international success. There are many sides to cultural life in Germany. There are
over 300 theaters and 130 orchestras. The museum world is enormous featuring 630 art museums. Germany is one of the largest book nations, with around 94,000 new books each year. German media is also well-known and steadily growing. German films have great success and gaining popularity abroad.
Impact of German Culture on Art
Althought the Nazi rule has been done for a few decades now, it is still seen in German art today and remains a big part of their culture. Many artists still draw paintings that are influenced by the Nazi era and all of the political choas of WWII. During the Nazi regime, much of modern art was banned; believing it was a threat to the German nation. Many German artists were even exiled and seen as enemies of the state. After being supressed for o long, it took Germany a while to get back into the art movements.
Today, German art is centered around neo-expressionism and conceptual art. Paintings typically portray the human body and other easily recognizable objects witg bright, bold colors. Other portraits feature German society as a whole and portray it as a sort of Eutopia, striving for a better society and happiness throughout. Some artists have said that art is not just for artists, but its a way to express yourself; 'everyone is an artist'. The modern art today in Germany is a reflection of the suppression experienced by all during the Nazi regime and the shame that many Germans feel for the Holocaust as well. Even in art, G
Today, German art is centered around neo-expressionism and conceptual art. Paintings typically portray the human body and other easily recognizable objects witg bright, bold colors. Other portraits feature German society as a whole and portray it as a sort of Eutopia, striving for a better society and happiness throughout. Some artists have said that art is not just for artists, but its a way to express yourself; 'everyone is an artist'. The modern art today in Germany is a reflection of the suppression experienced by all during the Nazi regime and the shame that many Germans feel for the Holocaust as well. Even in art, G
German National Anthem
”Deutschlandlied - "Song of Germany"
•Joseph Haydn composed the melody in 1797 hoping to emulate the success of England’s “God Save the King”
•Democratic nationalist poet – Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, wrote the text to the Deutschlandiedwhile in
exile on the island Helgoland in 1841
Before World War II
•By World War I the song was well known which made it a logical choice for military leaders who needed a signal
song in combat.
•This would win a place for Hoffmann’s anthem in German hearts and link the song to the German military.
During Nazi Rule
•Nazi's only sang the 1st stanza of Deutschlandlied followed by Nazi Party song
•During WWII the Deutschlandlied served as a signal song in combat, furthering its association with German military
and territorial goals.
•With Germany’s defeat the ACC came to ban the song along with other Nazi songs.
•Lyrics:
–“Germany, Germany above everything, above everything in the world”
After World War II
•Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1949, the questions of a national anthem and the
future of Deutschlandlied were reopened.
•The media helped efforts to win support for the third verse of the Deutshlandlied as nation anthem by framing
events and public opinion polls in a way the encouraged the public to reach a favorable understanding.
•In 1990 the Federal Constitutional Court decided that the law for the protection of state symbols applied only to
the third verse of the Deutschlandlied.
•For many Germans, in East and West, the Deutschlandlied become once again the song of democratic nationalism.
•Lyrics:
–“Unity and justice and freedom, for the German fatherland, for these let us all strive, brotherly with
heart and hand”
•Joseph Haydn composed the melody in 1797 hoping to emulate the success of England’s “God Save the King”
•Democratic nationalist poet – Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, wrote the text to the Deutschlandiedwhile in
exile on the island Helgoland in 1841
Before World War II
•By World War I the song was well known which made it a logical choice for military leaders who needed a signal
song in combat.
•This would win a place for Hoffmann’s anthem in German hearts and link the song to the German military.
During Nazi Rule
•Nazi's only sang the 1st stanza of Deutschlandlied followed by Nazi Party song
•During WWII the Deutschlandlied served as a signal song in combat, furthering its association with German military
and territorial goals.
•With Germany’s defeat the ACC came to ban the song along with other Nazi songs.
•Lyrics:
–“Germany, Germany above everything, above everything in the world”
After World War II
•Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1949, the questions of a national anthem and the
future of Deutschlandlied were reopened.
•The media helped efforts to win support for the third verse of the Deutshlandlied as nation anthem by framing
events and public opinion polls in a way the encouraged the public to reach a favorable understanding.
•In 1990 the Federal Constitutional Court decided that the law for the protection of state symbols applied only to
the third verse of the Deutschlandlied.
•For many Germans, in East and West, the Deutschlandlied become once again the song of democratic nationalism.
•Lyrics:
–“Unity and justice and freedom, for the German fatherland, for these let us all strive, brotherly with
heart and hand”
Rammstein - Amerika
Lyrics:
-refer to hatred of U.S. by many neighboring countries in Europe for our involvement in world conflicts
-some of Rammstein's music is banned in Germany for being so vulger
-refer to hatred of U.S. by many neighboring countries in Europe for our involvement in world conflicts
-some of Rammstein's music is banned in Germany for being so vulger
German Art
Created by famous German artists.
German Architecture
Germany is well known for its magnificent architectural design. Many of its greatest and most beautiful cities were unfortunately destroyed in WWII bombings. However, there is still much to see in Germany. It has one of the world's largest cathedrals and has the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany is well known and said to be the inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty. They are still creating new and innovative architecture that is ahead of its time. One example is the arriaz arena. Arenas such as this may come to America someday as well. Below is just a few of the various great architecture Germany has to offer.