Rammstein as a Postmodern

[Guardia Rossa]

http://www.everydayanalysis.com/post...-or-postmodern

For Žižek, far from being sympathetic to Nazi ideas, Rammstein show us the ridiculousness of Nazism by allowing us to experience its emotional structure and the way it works by stirring us up into a violent frenzy, whilst attaching this to something divorced from Nazism completely. This shows us how Nazism works, and undermines its claim that our emotions are stirred by its greater cause or anything like that; they can be stirred up this way for anything, even for a New German Hard band like Rammstein. For Žižek then, ‘the way to fight Nazism is to enjoy these elements […] suspending the Nazi horizon of meaning and undermining Nazism from within.’

Yet, this reading frames Rammstein as something strangely ‘postmodern.’ The band use and mock a style, showing that there is nothing unique about it. Frederic Jameson describes postmodernism as the style which undermines the previous belief in a ‘unique, private style, as unmistakable as your fingertips.’ In mimicking other styles, postmodernism aims to show that all there is is mimicry, repetition and quotation, and nothing individual, original or unique. Rammstein, in these terms, mimic Nazism, showing that there is nothing unique or essential about it.

The most famous definition of postmodernism is that given by Jean-François Lyotard, who writes that the postmodern condition is ‘an incredulity to metanarratives.’ Fascism, perhaps along with religion, is the ultimate example of a metanarrative, and has been discussed as such by many sociologists. A metanarrative is something which makes truth-claims, tries to explain things, to fix itself and appear ‘right’ or ‘natural,’ and this is what postmodernism mocks.

However, There is more: Rammstein not only mocks Nazism in some of their musics, they throw at your face all the taboos our society has. They made musics about almost every taboo, from sexual taboos (Hermaphrodites, Rape, Incest, Rape, Fat sex, Rape, BSDM, Rape, Piss, etc...) to Pill-addiction, Pyromania, Violence, Feminism, Mass Psychology, Cannibalism, Religiousness, etc...

So, what do you guys think of it?

[MarxSchmarx]

Moved to music.

[oneday]

I'm not sure if Rammstein and other bands that use fascist symbology actually undermine fascism from within or contribute to it, even if the band members themselves use it as spectacle. Certainly some of their fans take it seriously.

[GLF]

I stopped listening to Rammstein because I suspect them of being Fascist. Their music and general sound is rife with Fascistic influence and regardless of their personal stance, it is not uncommon for their concerts to be loaded with skinned heads and Dr. Martens.

Look at their video to the song "Du Hast":

+ YouTube Video

Is it necessary for the woman to be wearing red? What do you think they are trying to insinuate here?

One of Rammstein's main influences, Laibach:

+ YouTube Video

Even if both bands are far-left (which Laibach is laughably said to be), it goes without saying that they have embraced Fascist fashion and go out of their way to make totalitarianism look "cool" and "edgy" to misguided and impressionable young minds.

Say no to Rammstein.

[Lord Testicles]

Hey Location C, I edited your post to fix the youtube links when I approved it, I hope that's okay.

Just for future reference, you only need to wrap the following, bolded part of the URL in youtube tags:

www. youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

[ManBeaR]

I don't get why you would not listen to a band because some of their fans are stupid.

[GLF]

Hey Location C, I edited your post to fix the youtube links when I approved it, I hope that's okay.

Just for future reference, you only need to wrap the following, bolded part of the URL in youtube tags:

Sorry. I will remember that from now on. Thank you.

[Guardia Rossa]

Certainly some of their fans take it seriously.

it is not uncommon for their concerts to be loaded with skinned heads and Dr. Martens.

Some people take Trump seriously. It's to be expected.

I stopped listening to Rammstein because I suspect them of being Fascist.

Why? Germans? Military uniforms? Screaming? All three together?

Laibach:

Nice music. The reference to Charles Chaplin's movie "The Great Dictator" is nice, too.

Even if both bands are far-left (which Laibach is laughably said to be)

If Rammstein is postmodern, it cannot be far-left, but they do consider themselves leftists.

[T]hey have embraced Fascist fashion and go out of their way to make totalitarianism look "cool" and "edgy"

People become fascists because of pretty uniforms?

[Comrade Jacob]

As a moderate fan of Rammstein dating back several years I haven't really ever thought of Rammstein as a postmodern band but I guess they are.

"Say no to Rammstein" Fuck off

omg look, there are bald people in the audience, must be Neo-Nazis

[ManBeaR]

Is it necessary for the woman to be wearing red? What do you think they are trying to insinuate here?

The colour red could symbolize a dozed different things. While it is not necessary for the woman to be wearing red, it is necessary for her to be wearing something. Red dresses aren't that uncommon, it could be they aren't trying to say anything with that dress.

[blake 3:17]

I think the anaylysis of Rammstein is from The Pervert's Guide to Ideology, a film I enjoyed very much. I don't care much for industrial metal, the rhythms are all wrong for me, there's no back beat, but yes I could accept the idea that they're a parody of fascism. The problem of parody is that it is just an exaggeration of reality.

I quite like some of Laibach's work, most especially their Sympathy for the Devil EP.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Non-fascist artists/bands have used fascist symbolism and artistic styles frequently. Two others that come to mind are Marilyn Manson and KMFDM.

It's pretty big in the industrial genre.

[GLF]

The colour red could symbolize a dozed different things. While it is not necessary for the woman to be wearing red, it is necessary for her to be wearing something. Red dresses aren't that uncommon, it could be they aren't trying to say anything with that dress.

Um, watch the video again. He's being sent in to kill these guys, but they smack some sense into him and forge him anew in flame, and then the woman in red gets destroyed instead.

Oh, and the band members are wearing masks to hide their true identity. Cute.

Seems pretty obvious. I used to listen to Rammstein - I am not the first person to take exception to their imagery. Such controversy has followed the band around since the early days and they bring much of it on themselves.

I am not saying that they are fascists, but they no doubt like creating controversy and have publicly espoused pro-German sentiment and that alone is enough for me to stop listening to them.

[ManBeaR]

Showcasing cruelty is not the same as promoting it.

Oh, and the band members are wearing masks to hide their true identity. Cute.

They aren't trying to hide their true identity, they show their faces in almost every video.

Also, I know for a fact that some of their other videos aren't their idea, some director comes up with the idea as well as most other decitions. This might be the case with this video as well.