Berlin Calling

1. What do drugs mean to Ickarus?

At first he uses the drugs for similar reasons most people do, to help them relax and de-stress themselves, as well as to have fun because they are bored. 

2. Why, when, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?

Taking drugs are part of the social norm in the music/fame industry, especially with his genre of music. His fans also take drugs because they are in the clubs, partying. This is due to the setting as well as being young and adventurous. It shows the drugs being taken in the bathrooms at the clubs, and also apartments. Various drugs are mentioned throughout this film they are: Ketamine, MDMA, MDA, Crystal, THC, Cocaine, amphetamine, and PMA.

3. While we can see that his drug habits get him ill and into a psychosis, and while we witness his relapse and inability to work successfully, why does the subculture Ickarus belongs to focus on drugs?

Drugs are often associated with the fame, club, and partying setting. Ickarus is apart of this setting as he is a musician. 

4. Compare the standards you know from your home society with the people you see depicted in this movie. Which are the stark differences and contrasts?

Sex and nudity in our American culture I would say is not as explicit as it is in German culture, but I would argue that it is glamorized and used a lot in our social media. Also I would say that in German culture it seems that they are a lot more accepting of homosexuals, as there is the scene where the Priest accepts this son when he tells him of his sexuality. This is America is not only different from the norm, but it also is a reality that is shunned, and criticized by many. 

5. Germany is considered a strong industrial nation over the world.  Do you think that the youth culture as depicted here could change that? How about work ethics of Ickarus and of Alice, the label director who fires and then re-signs him?

Germany has a strong sense of work ethic that is embedded into the youth at a young age. You can see this with Ickarus when he still works hard, and keeps working on his projects even when he is battling his drug addictions. His work was important to him, it was his life. I think Alice also has strong work ethics because she knows that Ickarus is talented, but she decides to let him go when he destroys her office while he is high off of drugs. After he cleans himself up Alice re-signs him, and all is forgiven because of his strong work ethic, and passion for his music.

6. Which similar "cult movies" of US origin have you seen, if any?

American History X. This movie is about a neo-nazi American Gangster/skinhead. 

Personal Opinion

To me this movie was very real. It showed a reality that was not sugar coated, or exaggerated, as most hollywood films do. The nudity in this film was not a shock, or something that I did not think I could not handle due to all the media in my culture that shares and glamorizes sex, and especially the female body. Also the drug use in this film did not seem to come as a shock to me either, as there are lots of movies, shows, and other forms of media out there that has made this apart of my life. What did surprise me was how some drugs are legal in Germany as well as other European countries. This is quite shocking when comparing to American culture where all drugs are illegal. America seems to be more strict on such issues, like drinking, consumption of drugs, and nudity, than does Germany. Where its not challenging, and is probably more easy than most of American society would like to admit, drugs, drinking, partying, and sex - are all a large part of our everyday lives, probably just as much as it is in Germany. The attention factor is simply lacking here in America, where for the most part it is not spoken of in society, and is shunned in public, but behind closed doors is very much prevalent.