Tag friedrichstadt palast berlin

The Spectacular & Surreal – “Spiel mit der Zeit” Premiere 2023

Red Haircrow

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I’ll keep this short and sweet, as I already shared information about my participation in the updated show in anticipation of, Premiere of “Spiel mit der Zeit” at Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin on 25 November – Intercultural Cooperation & Positive Change. 

View their website and all information about the show, which is open through January 2024, and how to get your tickets. (LINK)

I was cultural consultant on North American Native American material, and helped write the new dialogue for the main 1800s Old American West characters, and the solo song by “White Dove”. Striking the completely false but widely still believed/taught lie that C*lumbus discovered America was critical. Showing how easy and simple it is to explain why Ind*ander is inappropriate, and never was appropriate, (this isn’t new information or a new complaint), is especially important for young audiences and people, to BREAK the cycle of Eurocentricism and European interpretation of “Others” and actually learn intercultural respect and humility.

This was done is a very tasteful way that fit well into the overall theme I wanted to convey: there were always ones who wished to have peace with Natives or others, who were against slavery also, for example, but it was their largely European peers who insisted on genocide and dehumanization, and which continues around the world….exactly as we see now. We and they MUST correct these deadly, disempowering and dehumanizing behaviors still being normalized.

One of the suggestions I made that wasn’t accepted was updating the type of “Native inspired” song, rhymes and beats used. I provided wonderful examples of “modern” Native music that still incorporated traditional ideas, themes and beliefs, but they stayed with the melody from before. Their choice, of course. Another was regarding the Native costumes, which were changed from the original, more mascot (and objectionable) appearance, very true, but my suggestion of universally recognized, natural based motifs were not. The colors were nice, but….

It’s a good thing the Old West historic scene was first. It would have been very underwhelming if it followed the complex dances, the lighting, the acrobatics, the costumes and personalities presented in the other “historic” scenes, which DID recognizably combine modern beats and costumes with historic accents. I still don’t get where “Neanderthals” are included with “bones in their hair and noses” when this is a stereotype still far more commonly seen in “comic” depictions of Africans or other non-European peoples considered primitive, but…

It is an unforgettable, enjoyable show I would recommend, especially as someone who does not believe in political correctness (a practice created by yt people, especially men anyway), but instead use events, films, books, shows, for discussion and dialogues on how to improve, change and correct. Exactly as Friedrichstadt-Palast made the momentous decision to do, in a Germany in the middle of making bad decisions, repeating very flawed reasonings of the past. Many of us still have hope…

As my companion for the event remarked, however, looking around at the packed house and an audience full of excited children, that at that and this very moment, Germany and much of the west not only are watching, but supporting the deaths of innocent children. And this reminds me of my original purpose, my main purpose in beginning the series of education on stereotypes, racism, colonialism and Indigenous peoples, which in film version started in “Forget Winnetou! Loving in the Wrong Way”. I want to help change the world, to create a better world for ALL children, not just certain children. I’m open to working with anyone, whatever their heredity, background, nationality or belief system, to achieve such a critically important goal any real human being should respect.

To see the cast taking a bow at the end of the show, please visit the short video on YouTube. (LINK)

25 Nov Premiere at Friedrichstadt-Palast #Berlin – Intercultural Cooperation & Positive Change

Red Haircrow

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Instead of focusing on Thankstaking or that Germany as a whole only mentions Natives during times of controversy or misuse, tomorrow, 25 November at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Germany’s capital city, Berlin, we’ll see what’s up with the revamped scene featuring Native themes! It’ll be my first time seeing and hearing all components together after I served as cultural consultant on the scene set in the 1800s of the USA, for the youth show, “Spiel mit der Zeit”.

Around this time last year, I was contacted by one of the directors to provide feedback and cultural accuracy/representation on a scene, then it also evolved into co-writing song lyrics and feedback on costuming. They had heard about then viewed my documentary “Forget Winnetou! Loving in the Wrong Way”, and taken it into consideration in their internal discussions.

The main director was reviewing the show’s elements, having been a part of its original creation and so forth, but through educational efforts by so many Indigenous peoples and allies through the years, rightly decided it needed an update and overhaul to remove as many stereotypes and misrepresentations as possible. Then adding more culturally appropriate perspectives and insights on both sides of the camera, as it were: in consultation and creative action.

In Germany, if there’s a famous person wearing a “Native costume” to a party and there’s an outcry, if there’s a new film or book with Native slurs, stereotypes, perpetuating “white-washed” Eurocentric narratives of Native caricatures like 2022’s ridiculous but antagonistic debacle, or one of the USA’s holidays based on lies to erase their genocide and theft of Native lands and lives… then you might hear about Natives in the news. Or when Germans are complaining that educational efforts to stop Native stereotyping and misuse is taking away their freedom or German culture. (Which begs the question anyway, so racism is part of your culture?)

Every year there are dozens of articles and other media usually glamorizing “Indian hobbyists and hobbyism”, and the actors, directors, museum curators and so forth, who make their careers on Eurocentric possessiveness and “ownership” of Native cultures, traditions and history. Otherwise, ACTUAL Natives are usually ignored, especially if they are not the stereotype Germany prefers. Rarely IF EVER do you see stories of any kind about the positive collaborations, cooperations and endeavors Natives and non-Natives are accomplishing, which deserves note and celebration.

Friedrichstadt-Palast didn’t have to change anything about Native representation in their youth show, but they chose to do so. It’s 2023, and there’s firsthand information available at any time about other cultures, and actual cultural consultants from any culture where they can speak in person, especially in a huge city like Berlin. They didn’t remove the scene, although they considered it. They didn’t omit Native references, they didn’t rationalize their previous choices, nor get defensive when certain issues were pointed out. They had committed to positive change, and then worked in cooperation with myself and others to make it happen. Sure, more change still needs to be made and it understood that creatives who happen to be Native CAN ALSO be regular members of any production team anyway, this is a good step.

I will see the whole production tomorrow and post my review later, whether I had been a part of it or not, I applaud Friedrichstadt-Palast, its directors and others who I feel are a good example of what Natives have been asking all along: intercutural cooperation and changes in alignment with overall Indigenous perspectives regarding self-representation. Nothing was denied German or other European peoples who have relied on stereotypes, misrepresentation and misuse of Native cultures and peoples, and in fact, a better, more well-rounded and enjoyable show may have been attained. And what is even more important to me, a FAR BETTER EXAMPLE was set for the 1000’s of young people and others who will see the show, on how we can work together without Eurocentric narratives, red-facing, stereotypes.

Anyway, check out the trailer and other info about the show at the link.  https://www.palast.berlin/show/spiel-mit-der-zeit/