"Self-Portrait in Hell", Edvard Munch, 1903
Saturday, June 18, 2005
You think you have angst! Munch Museum reopens in Oslo
Also this past week the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway reopened to the public after a 10-month long security overhaul. This was necessitated by last August’s daring daylight robbery in which art thieves entered the museum and in front of museum visitors ripped two of Munch’s most famous works off the wall and ran out. The thieves and Munch’s “The Scream” and “Madonna” remain missing (although several people are in custody in Norway in association with this robbery). If you now wish to see the remaining masterpieces of existential angst in the Munch Museum you have to first go through post-9/11 airport levels of security and the pictures themselves are behind glass and bolted to the walls! In its online version, the Oslo newspaper, Aftenposten, is calling the reopened museum, "Fortress Munch."
Edvard Munch (1863-1944) is Norway’s most famous artist and a prime mover in the development of Expressionism. He also had a major influence on many artists in Germany during the years of the Weimar Republic (1918-1933) and is viewed by art historians as a key player in the development of German existentialism in art. The influence of non-Germans on German cultural movements is interesting and pervasive. Another example that springs to mind is that of the writer, Franz Kafka, who although German speaking and resident (for a time) in Berlin, was Czech.
Some of Munch’s other works include such existentially-titled paintings as “Angst”, “Self-Portrait in Hell” and a portrait of Friedrich Nietsche, the German philosopher who famously wrote that God was dead.
Edvard Munch (1863-1944) is Norway’s most famous artist and a prime mover in the development of Expressionism. He also had a major influence on many artists in Germany during the years of the Weimar Republic (1918-1933) and is viewed by art historians as a key player in the development of German existentialism in art. The influence of non-Germans on German cultural movements is interesting and pervasive. Another example that springs to mind is that of the writer, Franz Kafka, who although German speaking and resident (for a time) in Berlin, was Czech.
Some of Munch’s other works include such existentially-titled paintings as “Angst”, “Self-Portrait in Hell” and a portrait of Friedrich Nietsche, the German philosopher who famously wrote that God was dead.
EU budget crisis-more trouble ahead!
As if the crisis over the failure of France and The Netherlands to ratify the new EU Constitution wasn’t serious enough, European leaders meeting in Brussels for an EU summit are freaking out completely over the proposed EU budget for 2007-2013. There are two main points of contention. First, the so-called “rebate” negotiated for the UK by Margaret Thatcher’s government in 1984. This arrangement reduces the UK contribution to the overall EU budget by almost 5 billion euros annually and was agreed to by the (then 10) EU nations in recognition of Britain’s position at the bottom of the EU economic food chain. At that time the UK had the lowest per capita GDP, significantly lower than either France or Germany. The argument coming from the rest of the EU, is that since the tides have turned and the UK now sits at the economic summit of Western Europe, the raison d’être for the rebate is gone and Britain should cough up the 5 billion euros. The money is acutely needed as the overall economic situation in Western Europe is poor and the newer EU additions from Eastern Europe have particularly weak economies and need assistance. Needless to say, Tony Blair has told his colleagues to stuff themselves, he’s keeping the rebate!
To be fair to Blair, he did agree to discuss further reductions in the rebate (it was reduced somewhat at an earlier EU summit) if the French would consider drastically reducing their enormous EU farm subsidies which total over 13 billion euros a year. French president Jacques Chirac said “Non” (quelle surprise!). Current EU president, Jean-Claude Juncker, had this to say yesterday, "My enthusiasm for Europe has suffered a profound shock…. People will tell you that Europe is not in crisis. It is in a deep crisis." Juncker is the prime minister of Luxembourg which currently holds the rotating EU presidency. Next up as EU president beginning in July, Tony Blair!
Pretty gloomy stuff. However, I did hear an analyst on ITV (a British news service) point out that as far as the Constitution went, the EU does have treaties in place (the most recent being the Treaty of Nice) that are arguably working reasonably well in lieu of a formal constitution and that the budget being discussed at the summit is not to take effect until 2007, so there is some time to get these messes straightened out!
To be fair to Blair, he did agree to discuss further reductions in the rebate (it was reduced somewhat at an earlier EU summit) if the French would consider drastically reducing their enormous EU farm subsidies which total over 13 billion euros a year. French president Jacques Chirac said “Non” (quelle surprise!). Current EU president, Jean-Claude Juncker, had this to say yesterday, "My enthusiasm for Europe has suffered a profound shock…. People will tell you that Europe is not in crisis. It is in a deep crisis." Juncker is the prime minister of Luxembourg which currently holds the rotating EU presidency. Next up as EU president beginning in July, Tony Blair!
Pretty gloomy stuff. However, I did hear an analyst on ITV (a British news service) point out that as far as the Constitution went, the EU does have treaties in place (the most recent being the Treaty of Nice) that are arguably working reasonably well in lieu of a formal constitution and that the budget being discussed at the summit is not to take effect until 2007, so there is some time to get these messes straightened out!
Friday, June 03, 2005
EU Consitution on life-support as Dutch say NO!
Well as expected the results of the Dutch referendum on the new EU constitution was a resounding NO. In fact, something like 65% of Dutch voters rejected the document, an even higher percentage than voted NO in France last weekend. The pattern that is starting to emerge is that, while EU country parliaments (i.e. governments) are in favor of the document and vote YES, when the issue is presented to the people themselves, they say NO WAY!
Again as was the case in France, analysts are saying that the weakening European economic situation (rising cost of living, unemployment) was a factor in the Dutch vote. Some Dutch citizens have expressed unhappiness with the Euro and feel that the guilder was undervalued when Holland joined the Eurozone and switched to the common currency and this has driven prices up.
EU integration is nothing if not complicated. Interestingly, among the reasons given by some in Holland for the NO vote was concern that, an increase in governmental/legal control ceded to the EU parliament in Brussels might result in a rollback of Holland’s liberal policies on drugs, reproductive rights, and physician assisted euthanasia (legal under carefully controlled conditions in the Netherlands, illegal, for example, in Germany).
Fallout from the double NO includes an almost certain decision by Tony Blair’s government in the UK not to put the EU Constitution before the British people in a referendum vote. I should mention also that the German YES for die Verfassung für Europa was a parliamentary vote by the Bundestag, not a referendum put before the German people. Among the other concerns being expressed by the Dutch is a sense that EU expansion to 25 countries has happened too quickly and, particularly, expansion into eastern Europe has created sociological and economic problems for the countries of “old Europe”. There is also quite a bit of concern in Germany about Turkey’s desire to join the EU and, in fact, Angela Merkel and the CDU are on record as opposing Turkey’s application for EU membership.
On a purely selfish, Americanocentric level, the Euro hasn’t been this weak against the US dollar in a long time and was running at about 1.226 USD to the Euro last night. Incredible as it may seem, there is even some speculation in Europe and beyond on the fate of the Eurozone (as distinct from the EU as a political entity). Will the Eurozone countries switch back to their native currencies? Can they do this? Will we once again have to deal with German marks, French francs, Dutch guilders, Austrian schillings, Danish kroner and so on? Will the steadfast refusal of the Brits to abandon their beloved pound sterling and switch to the common currency turn out to have been prescient? Having lived in Europe before the Euro I can tell you that, while it was fun to collect all this exotic looking cool currency from all the countries I visited, it was also a major pain in the butt! I vote for the Euro! Quo vadis Europa--only time will tell!
Again as was the case in France, analysts are saying that the weakening European economic situation (rising cost of living, unemployment) was a factor in the Dutch vote. Some Dutch citizens have expressed unhappiness with the Euro and feel that the guilder was undervalued when Holland joined the Eurozone and switched to the common currency and this has driven prices up.
EU integration is nothing if not complicated. Interestingly, among the reasons given by some in Holland for the NO vote was concern that, an increase in governmental/legal control ceded to the EU parliament in Brussels might result in a rollback of Holland’s liberal policies on drugs, reproductive rights, and physician assisted euthanasia (legal under carefully controlled conditions in the Netherlands, illegal, for example, in Germany).
Fallout from the double NO includes an almost certain decision by Tony Blair’s government in the UK not to put the EU Constitution before the British people in a referendum vote. I should mention also that the German YES for die Verfassung für Europa was a parliamentary vote by the Bundestag, not a referendum put before the German people. Among the other concerns being expressed by the Dutch is a sense that EU expansion to 25 countries has happened too quickly and, particularly, expansion into eastern Europe has created sociological and economic problems for the countries of “old Europe”. There is also quite a bit of concern in Germany about Turkey’s desire to join the EU and, in fact, Angela Merkel and the CDU are on record as opposing Turkey’s application for EU membership.
On a purely selfish, Americanocentric level, the Euro hasn’t been this weak against the US dollar in a long time and was running at about 1.226 USD to the Euro last night. Incredible as it may seem, there is even some speculation in Europe and beyond on the fate of the Eurozone (as distinct from the EU as a political entity). Will the Eurozone countries switch back to their native currencies? Can they do this? Will we once again have to deal with German marks, French francs, Dutch guilders, Austrian schillings, Danish kroner and so on? Will the steadfast refusal of the Brits to abandon their beloved pound sterling and switch to the common currency turn out to have been prescient? Having lived in Europe before the Euro I can tell you that, while it was fun to collect all this exotic looking cool currency from all the countries I visited, it was also a major pain in the butt! I vote for the Euro! Quo vadis Europa--only time will tell!
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Dear Vet Med Group,
First of all, sorry for not having stopped by here in a while. I was very busy preparing for our first Texas A&M group. Also, my boss, Willem Spanninga, was on vacation in Greece, and so that left me even busier and with more stuff to take care of.
But everything went fine and all students of our summer session 1 program on architectural history and photography arrived in pretty good shape here on Monday. As we speak, they are out in town exploring Düsseldorf and some aspects of the city's history and traditions. Last night, we had a first get-together here in our facilities with all host families and participants to have dinner together and chat with each other. The weather has been sunny for the most part and not too hot. After a short interlude of unusually hot weather last weekend, everything seems to be back to normal, which means temperatures in the mid 70s F. (It should be warming up some more until you get here.)
The things we have planned for you are also firming up quite well. Yesterday I was able to secure a guided tour of a very old and yet successful horse-breeding farm in the vicinity of Cologne. I think some of you might like this kind of field trip; there should be some horse-lovers in this group and I bet there is at least one among the 11 female students coming over here. . .
Well, instead of talking and talking all the time, I thought I'd post a picture today and see if I can find some more to post sometime soon. (I have more on my computer at home and I need to bring them in for you to see.)
What you see on those pictures is a) a very rare animal - me - because I am very picture shy (the one in the middle with no manners:-) and b) a scenic view taken from the banks of the river Rhine, where the first photo was taken also, and c) the little old house me and some more friends like to go to on the weekend.
Hopefully more will be coming up soon! Stay cool in hot Texas, and see you soon!
CJ
First of all, sorry for not having stopped by here in a while. I was very busy preparing for our first Texas A&M group. Also, my boss, Willem Spanninga, was on vacation in Greece, and so that left me even busier and with more stuff to take care of.
But everything went fine and all students of our summer session 1 program on architectural history and photography arrived in pretty good shape here on Monday. As we speak, they are out in town exploring Düsseldorf and some aspects of the city's history and traditions. Last night, we had a first get-together here in our facilities with all host families and participants to have dinner together and chat with each other. The weather has been sunny for the most part and not too hot. After a short interlude of unusually hot weather last weekend, everything seems to be back to normal, which means temperatures in the mid 70s F. (It should be warming up some more until you get here.)
The things we have planned for you are also firming up quite well. Yesterday I was able to secure a guided tour of a very old and yet successful horse-breeding farm in the vicinity of Cologne. I think some of you might like this kind of field trip; there should be some horse-lovers in this group and I bet there is at least one among the 11 female students coming over here. . .
Well, instead of talking and talking all the time, I thought I'd post a picture today and see if I can find some more to post sometime soon. (I have more on my computer at home and I need to bring them in for you to see.)
What you see on those pictures is a) a very rare animal - me - because I am very picture shy (the one in the middle with no manners:-) and b) a scenic view taken from the banks of the river Rhine, where the first photo was taken also, and c) the little old house me and some more friends like to go to on the weekend.
Hopefully more will be coming up soon! Stay cool in hot Texas, and see you soon!
CJ
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