NationStates Jolt Archive

I got a TG recently saying that my excerpt from the Erlkonig by Goethe is considered "promoting rape" and it was removed. I'm just wondering why, given that the context of the stanza of the poem has absolutely nothing to do with rape...I mean, if it seems open to that kind of interpretation, I'll get rid of it but I don't see the problem myself.

Some clarification would be appreciated.

I'll admit that my Deutsch is not the best, so I'll have to rely on an online translation
"I love thee, [I'm drawn by] thy beauteous form;
And beëst thou not willing, so need I force."--
"My father, my father, now [he seizes me ...]!
[The] Elvenking has to me a sorrow done!"--
In context, you may be absolutely right. Out of context, it reads as a case of paternal sexual abuse. Since probably most of our readers aren't completely familiar with the works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, it's safer to assume that it would be misread.

In any case, I was responding to a complaint filed via one of the normal methods, and I agreed with their assessment.


Source: http://www.talisman.org/~erlkonig/erlkonig-poem.shtml

Alright, it's replaced. It does have a particularly unseemly sound unless you know the context, so I agree with the decision fully.

No problems here, just wanted to make sure what the issue was.

After a heated discussion of German philosophical poetry in the OMG Secr1t Mod Space, we've decided to reverse the ruling and allow you to replace the stanza in your sig if you wish. The winning argument was "don't censor, educate!" Yup.

Were I to use that, I'd link part or all of it to a German / English translation, so it can be read in context. It's a classic.

Ooops, so I complimented you on your superb sig right before it got deleted?

I totally see how it can be read that way without knowledge of the context, and yet I still applaud the reversion of that decision. Fris' suggestion to link it is great, as a fervent lover of this ballad I shall look for a good link now and offer it here. *is off to do so*

Okay, back I am.

This (http://german.about.com/library/blerlking.htm)is where you can find the German original and a semantically correct, yet not oh so poetically pleasing English version right next to each other on one page. There's a little intro in English to it, too.

These are seperate sites with the German version (http://www.blog.de/main/index.php/bubblethoughts?p=198980&more=1&page=2)as well as a very nicely crafted English version (http://www.blog.de/main/index.php/bubblethoughts?p=198980&more=1&page=3)that I can highly recommend, plus the English text suchly translated that it fits the melody that is connected with the German version (http://www.blog.de/main/index.php/bubblethoughts?p=198980&more=1&page=4).

And it returns!...I'll put a good English translation as well as attribute it to Goethe. Thanks, Fris.

We must encourage good culture. I'm actually happy that this thread came up. I had forgotten about this poem and it had been on my "To Read" list for well over a year.

And I thought that it was long....

And it returns!...I'll put a good English translation as well as attribute it to Goethe.
/me gets all anal and reminds Vetalia to maintain the 8 line sig limit. Let the link do your explaining.

After the first readings I wanted to inject something abrasive over misusing german cultural treasurers -where this poem belongs-, now I can only congratulate to the reversal...a victory of education and cultural sophistication over trashing, stomping political pseudo-correctness

Congratulations to wisdom

I hope you don't mind my interjection, and if it's unneeded, please delete, but I'll give a quick explaination of Der Erlkoenig (my favourite poem, as a matter of fact).

German mythology once portrayed elves as creatures of evil and the Elf King, which is the main antagonist in the poem, was their version of death much as many people identify the Grim Reaper as the typical figure of death now. He would often be portrayed as a sort of seductive force, attempting to charm people away from life with games, candies, and other pleasures, but if he was unable, he would simply take ahold of them, and take their lives.

I'll have to admit that this is a good decision by the Mods. Thank you guys for making a wise decision.