The Tin Drum by Günter Grass (1959). Oskar Matzerath negotiates a deal with a photographer to stage various emotionally charged scenes for financial gain. Oskar is cold, calculated, and businesslike, clearly outlining the terms of each staged photograph and negotiating a precise payment structure. The photographer, however, is unnerved by Oskar’s dispassionate, methodical approach. The focus on detailed terms and rational calculations reflects a distinctly German emphasis on order, clear expectations, and financial accountability.