[Air-L] the case for critical commons

[Charles Ess]

Very sorry to have to say this ...
How profoundly disappointing, if not on the edge of insulting.
If (a) you know German reasonably well, and especially if (b) you've seen
the terrific film, Der Untergang, that is ripped off here - it doesn't
strike me as funny at all.
The kindest thing that I can say about it from my standpoint is that it is a
weak attempt at humor that depends first of all upon complete ignorance of
German, and secondly a strikingly uncritical willingness to accept the now
very tired trope of Hitler as the archetype of reactionary evil. (Part of
the irony here: I don't think he was all that reactionary, especially with
regard to new technologies.)
As sympathetic as I am to the argument attempted to be made here - this
seems to me to thereby works directly contrary to its intentions.

Sorry - no one bats a thousand, not even the redoubtable Jeremy!

- charles ess
Institut for Informations- og Medievidenskab
Helsingforsgade 14
8200 Århus N.
Denmark
mail: <imvce at hum.au.dk>
tel: (+45) 8942 9250

Distinguished Research Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies
Drury University, Springfield, Missouri 65802 USA

Exemplary persons seek harmony, not sameness. -- Analects 13.23

 

> in case you've not seen this
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VREJV--VHSw
>