Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Berlin Calling

Berlin Calling follows a DJ in Berlin as he deals with drugs, drama, and putting out his new album

1. What do drugs mean to  Ickarus?

Drugs are almost everything everything to him. They are how he deals with stress, anger, as well as when he goes on stage and performs.

2. When, why, and how are his fans taking drugs, and which drugs do they take?

His fans take drugs during his performances and afterwards. They take them to enjoy his music and that is also the culture surrounding Techno music. The drugs I've seen is Herion, Cocaine, Weed, Ecstacy, and DMT.

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

Because the Techno culture wants to be in another world, away from their problems. Hence the light shows and music. He believes that in order to make music that is good enough for his fans, he has to be able to think and act like them. So he takes the same drugs as they do.

Question 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?

I come from small town USA. So doing drugs is extremely frowned upon, and doing them in public is a no no as well. I know people who are very open to this kind of thing with the Techno subculture and have done this kind of thing. They are very open about it. Ive always been raised to keep your private life that.

5. Germany is considered a strong industrial nation the world over. 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 resigns him?

This is a very small group of people, and this is found all over the world. Many people that I have come across do the things they do. Yes listening to Techno has become more popular over the last few years, however more people are aware that doing the drugs and doing the things these people do is very detrimental to the human body. So unless people suddenly think that cocaine and heroin are good for you I don't think this would be detrimental to Gemany or the world. Without drugs Ickarus is very groggy and unable to make music, so he is very dependent on the drugs to do what he does. Alice is very driven and wants the best for Ickarus.

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

I have seen a few that are similar to Berlin Calling. The first one being Trainspotting  It tells of the story of some young adults in Britain who are Heroin addicts. The other one I've seen is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.  It stars Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, and Tobey MacGuire. Its based in the 70's and has a huge drug culture base in there as well.

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