Topics – Page 5 – understand-culture

Cherry Blossoms

Kirschblüten (Cherry Blossoms, 2008). Though more of a family drama, the film shows German family members dealing with grief, duty, and personal desires. Disagreements about responsibilities and life choices are handled directly and openly, but the underlying relationships remain intact, exemplifying the German approach to direct yet non-destructive communication.

Though more of a family drama, the film shows German family members dealing with grief, duty, and personal desires. Disagreements about responsibilities and life choices are handled directly and openly, but the underlying relationships remain intact, exemplifying the German approach to direct yet non-destructive communication.

Der Vorleser

Der Vorleser (The Reader, 2008). In this adaptation of Bernhard Schlink’s novel, characters confront moral and legal dilemmas in postwar Germany. Courtroom scenes and personal discussions showcase direct, sometimes confrontational exchanges about justice and responsibility, but the characters strive to keep these discussions focused on the issues, not personal attacks.

friendship over time

Nikola. A popular sitcom set in a hospital, Nikola centers on the head nurse Nikola and Chief Physician Dr. Schmidt. The two regularly argue about work-related issues and hospital management, often with sharp wit and directness. However, their professional disputes do not prevent them from developing mutual trust and even a friendship over time.

League of Nations

U.S. Refusal to Join the League of Nations (1919): After World War I, President Woodrow Wilson negotiated the Treaty of Versailles, which included the League of Nations. However, the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the treaty, and the United States never joined the League, demonstrating a reluctance to commit to binding international agreements that could limit national autonomy.

Paris Climate Agreement

Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement (2017): Although not in the search results, this modern example fits the pattern: the U.S. entered the Paris Agreement on climate change but later withdrew, asserting the right to exit when national interests were perceived to be at stake.

McDonald brothers

The Founder (2016). This film tells the story of Ray Kroc and the McDonald brothers. Kroc enters into an agreement with the brothers to franchise their restaurant, maintains constant contact as the business grows, but ultimately finds ways to change the terms and force the original owners out. The movie highlights how agreements can be transactional, with parties reserving the right to alter or exit arrangements when it suits their interests .

ein Bier trinken

Wir können uns streiten und danach ein Bier trinken gehen. We can argue and then go for a beer together.” This saying reflects the idea that professional disagreements do not impact personal relationships, and colleagues can remain friendly after a heated debate.

principles not feeling

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s dramas, such as Torquato Tasso and Iphigenie auf Tauris, are notable for their exploration of conflict through rational dialogue and the pursuit of objective truth. Characters in these works often engage in intense intellectual or ethical debates, but the disagreements remain focused on principles or duties, not personal animosity. The emphasis is on the matter at hand—be it justice, truth, or duty—rather than on personal feelings.

reasoned discourse

Thomas Mann’s essays, especially his Deutsche Ansprache. Ein Appell an die Vernunft (German Address. An Appeal to Reason), explicitly champion the idea of rational, objective debate as a cornerstone of German culture. Mann’s literary and public works often reflect his belief that German identity is rooted in a tradition of reasoned discourse, even in times of personal or national crisis. His approach exemplifies the separation of the personal (identity, emotion) from the professional or civic duty to engage in rational debate for the common good.

Doctor Faustus

In this reimagining of the Faust legend, the protagonist Adrian Leverkühn’s life as a composer is marked by a strict separation between his artistic (professional) pursuits and his personal relationships. The narrative delves into the costs of such compartmentalization, reflecting broader themes of German culture and intellectual life.

These novels use family, business, and societal settings to highlight the German tendency to address professional or ideological matters directly, while striving to keep personal relationships unaffected by such disputes.