Comments on: Fear of a Vanilla City http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:52:16 +0000 hourly 1 By: arnaud http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/comment-page-1/#comment-11263 arnaud Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:56:20 +0000 http://www.mahala.co.za/?p=4967#comment-11263 ich kenn da keine kak strasse. wenn schon ni chen hau und diogo, geht doch mal in Peking auf den platz des himmlischen friedens kakken. das waere wirklich cool. Uebrings nervt die hundekacke ueberall in Berlin ich kenn da keine kak strasse.
wenn schon ni chen hau und diogo, geht doch mal in Peking auf den platz des himmlischen friedens kakken. das waere wirklich cool. Uebrings nervt die hundekacke ueberall in Berlin

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]]> By: diogo http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/comment-page-1/#comment-10984 diogo Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:15:47 +0000 http://www.mahala.co.za/?p=4967#comment-10984 mein colege tiago leuft nakt über die strase und das ist cool ihn zu gugen und tiago lart immer mein colege tiago leuft nakt über die strase und das ist cool ihn zu gugen und tiago lart immer

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]]> By: diogo http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/comment-page-1/#comment-10924 diogo Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:16:15 +0000 http://www.mahala.co.za/?p=4967#comment-10924 die kak strase ist cool weil der ni chen hao da kakt und das wid ich cool weil da sind nur nakteleute da sind das wind ich cool die kak strase ist cool weil der ni chen hao da kakt und das wid ich cool weil da sind nur nakteleute da sind das wind ich cool

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]]> By: diogo http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/comment-page-1/#comment-10857 diogo Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:06:56 +0000 http://www.mahala.co.za/?p=4967#comment-10857 die kak strase ist cool weil da seh ich den ni chen hao um kaken das ist schön und mein colege tiago wint das auch cool den ni chen hao nach zu gugen und ni chen hao ist nakt auf der strase. die kak strase ist cool weil da seh ich den ni chen hao um kaken das ist schön und mein colege tiago wint das auch cool den ni chen hao nach zu gugen und ni chen hao ist nakt auf der strase.

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]]> By: ni chen hao http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/comment-page-1/#comment-10856 ni chen hao Sun, 21 Feb 2010 12:59:51 +0000 http://www.mahala.co.za/?p=4967#comment-10856 die kak strase ist cuul weisdu warum weil da kan man kaken und das find ich cool weil dan muss man nicht auf klo gehen. die kak strase ist cuul weisdu warum weil da kan man kaken und das find ich cool weil dan muss man nicht auf klo gehen.

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]]> By: ni chen hau http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/comment-page-1/#comment-10855 ni chen hau Sun, 21 Feb 2010 12:57:19 +0000 http://www.mahala.co.za/?p=4967#comment-10855 die kak strase ist cuul weisdu warum weil da kan man kaken und das find ich cool weil dan muss man nicht auf klo gehen. die kak strase ist cuul weisdu warum weil da kan man kaken und das find ich cool weil dan muss man nicht auf klo gehen.

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]]> By: arnaud http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/comment-page-1/#comment-10852 arnaud Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:45:02 +0000 http://www.mahala.co.za/?p=4967#comment-10852 very to the point article. I found Berlin fascinating as mirror of modern history: abdication of the Kaiser 1918, Weimarer Republik, rise of nationalist Fascism and Communism, Depression and Expressionism in the arts, rise of Hitler, war, total destruction (the highest mountain is in the Grunewald and consists of the rubble of a bombed city), capitulation and division between the Allies, the Cold War, eastgerms and westgerms, the anti capitalist barrier (Wall) to guard holy Socialism ,Perestroika and the implosion of the Eastern Block, Unification of Germany , United Europe..... One thing in Berlin I will never forget : the veiling of the Bundestag by Christo and Jeanne Claude. Apart from the vision and tenacity over decades to realize the art project, it was just pure magic, a cleansing ritual that had to be. That only Art could succeed in doing. Dave D, I don't think its arrogant to complain when suddenly you can't afford to live in your own Kiez anymore, and get punished out of the city centre by yuppies who happen to have rich parents and who smother creativity and spirit by measuring all in Euros. Karen is dead right: 'It is full of struggle, alienation and schizophrenia… just like all of us', and many who are alienated, who struggle, who are talented and wish to escape the stifling conservatism and extra spiessig atmosphere of provincial Germany are drawn to this big melting pot. very to the point article.
I found Berlin fascinating as mirror of modern history: abdication of the Kaiser 1918, Weimarer Republik, rise of nationalist Fascism and Communism, Depression and Expressionism in the arts, rise of Hitler, war, total destruction (the highest mountain is in the Grunewald and consists of the rubble of a bombed city), capitulation and division between the Allies, the Cold War, eastgerms and westgerms, the anti capitalist barrier (Wall) to guard holy Socialism ,Perestroika and the implosion of the Eastern Block, Unification of Germany , United Europe…..
One thing in Berlin I will never forget : the veiling of the Bundestag by Christo and Jeanne Claude. Apart from the vision and tenacity over decades to realize the art project, it was just pure magic, a cleansing ritual that had to be. That only Art could succeed in doing.

Dave D, I don’t think its arrogant to complain when suddenly you can’t afford to live in your own Kiez anymore, and get punished out of the city centre by yuppies who happen to have rich parents and who smother creativity and spirit by measuring all in Euros.
Karen is dead right: ‘It is full of struggle, alienation and schizophrenia… just like all of us’, and many who are alienated, who struggle, who are talented and wish to escape the stifling conservatism and extra spiessig atmosphere of provincial Germany are drawn to this big melting pot.

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]]> By: alexd http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/comment-page-1/#comment-9931 alexd Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:13:03 +0000 http://www.mahala.co.za/?p=4967#comment-9931 Haven't been to Berlin yet, but this article took me there. Could feel the streets and texture of the place, the kinds of thoughts that cross your mind when you're keyed into the spirit of a city. Although, I'm not so sure about the romanticisation of South African poverty that comes through here. Who needs the authentic vibe of cool grit when people's lives are fucking intolerable? Haven’t been to Berlin yet, but this article took me there. Could feel the streets and texture of the place, the kinds of thoughts that cross your mind when you’re keyed into the spirit of a city. Although, I’m not so sure about the romanticisation of South African poverty that comes through here. Who needs the authentic vibe of cool grit when people’s lives are fucking intolerable?

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]]> By: Dave D http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/comment-page-1/#comment-9865 Dave D Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:52:38 +0000 http://www.mahala.co.za/?p=4967#comment-9865 Great article.. "Pseudo-poverty" - I love that. I lived and worked in Berlin for two months last year. One lasting impression will be of the groups of homeless people on Warshauer and Revaler Strasse in Friedrichshain - one begs for money while the rest sit around and drink beer. Berliners are struggling to come to terms with yuppiefication that is endemic everywhere in our increasingly globalised world - and particularly in the EU. Beautiful old buildings in trendy neighbourhoods in the old east Berlin are prime targets, understandably. It's sad, but what can one do? Fokol. Those who've been there for years will get worked up about how "their" city is being "stolen"... and about how "cool" it used to be. That's just arrogance. Berlin, like any city, can't remain stuck in the past. And why should it? A divided Berlin may have been interesting, but really... there are more important things than how "cool" a place is. And at the end of the day, as much as Berliners will try to deny it, it's still Germany. Give me Jozi any day! Great article..

“Pseudo-poverty” – I love that. I lived and worked in Berlin for two months last year. One lasting impression will be of the groups of homeless people on Warshauer and Revaler Strasse in Friedrichshain – one begs for money while the rest sit around and drink beer.

Berliners are struggling to come to terms with yuppiefication that is endemic everywhere in our increasingly globalised world – and particularly in the EU. Beautiful old buildings in trendy neighbourhoods in the old east Berlin are prime targets, understandably. It’s sad, but what can one do? Fokol. Those who’ve been there for years will get worked up about how “their” city is being “stolen”… and about how “cool” it used to be. That’s just arrogance. Berlin, like any city, can’t remain stuck in the past. And why should it? A divided Berlin may have been interesting, but really… there are more important things than how “cool” a place is.

And at the end of the day, as much as Berliners will try to deny it, it’s still Germany. Give me Jozi any day!

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]]> By: Dave D http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/fear-of-a-vanilla-city/comment-page-1/#comment-9864 Dave D Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:49:37 +0000 http://www.mahala.co.za/?p=4967#comment-9864 Great article.. "Pseudo-poverty" - I love that. I lived and worked in Berlin for two months last year. One lasting impression will be of the groups of homeless people on Warshauer and Revaler Strasse in Friedrichshain - one begs for money while the rest sit around and drink beer. Berliners are struggling to come to terms with yuppiefication that is endemic everywhere in our increasingly globalised world - and particularly in the EU. Beautiful old buildings in the old east Berlin are prime targets, understandably. It's sad, but what can one do? Fokol. Those who've been there for years will get worked up about how "their" city is being "stolen"... and about how "cool" it used to be. That's just arrogance. Berlin, like any city, can't remain stuck in the past. And why should it? A divided Berlin may have been interesting, but really... there are more important things than how "cool" a place is. And at the end of the day, as much as Berliners will try to deny it, it's still Germany. Give me Jozi any day! Great article..

“Pseudo-poverty” – I love that. I lived and worked in Berlin for two months last year. One lasting impression will be of the groups of homeless people on Warshauer and Revaler Strasse in Friedrichshain – one begs for money while the rest sit around and drink beer.

Berliners are struggling to come to terms with yuppiefication that is endemic everywhere in our increasingly globalised world – and particularly in the EU. Beautiful old buildings in the old east Berlin are prime targets, understandably. It’s sad, but what can one do? Fokol. Those who’ve been there for years will get worked up about how “their” city is being “stolen”… and about how “cool” it used to be. That’s just arrogance. Berlin, like any city, can’t remain stuck in the past. And why should it? A divided Berlin may have been interesting, but really… there are more important things than how “cool” a place is.

And at the end of the day, as much as Berliners will try to deny it, it’s still Germany. Give me Jozi any day!

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