Anya and Alan talk about the award-winning German-language thriller “The Lives of Others”. We loved this tightly plotted story about Art and Fascism in the 1980s. It resonated with the politics of our time, the fights over the importance of storytelling in culture, and why the truth is worth standing up for.

Measures of Truth is a podcast about His Dark Materials- both the novels and the BBC TV show.

What are the “Stasi”?

Socialism has been co-opted by political operators that are not interested in the values that define the ideology. Freedom and independence for working class people, with no central authority that owns property. Most of what has been called Socialism has either been Fascism or Social Democracy.

Vladimir Lenin was a hero to the East German government officials, and would have been lionized in bad plays like Weisler’s.

Lenin’s quote about ‘Appassionanata’ was given second-hand years after the fact and might not be true at all. Here is the full quote as related by Maxim Gorky in Georg Lukács' "Lenin - Theoretician of Practice": “I know the Appassionata inside out and yet I am willing to listen to it every day. It is wonderful, ethereal music. On hearing it I proudly, maybe somewhat naively, think: See! people are able to produce such marvels!” He then winked, laughed and added sadly: “I’m often unable to listen to music, it gets on my nerves, I would like to stroke my fellow beings and whisper sweet nothings in their ears for being able to produce such beautiful things in spite of the abominable hell they are living in. However, today one shouldn’t caress anybody - for people will only bite off your hand; strike, without pity, although theoretically we are against any kind of violence. Umph, it is, in fact, an infernally difficult task!”

The history of Prostitution in the German Democratic Republic.

What’s a Toxic Masculinity?

Bertolt Brecht had certain qualities in common with the playwright in the film. He was a playwright who was a loyal Marxist in East Germany who lived with his lead actress, Marianne Zoff.

“The Power of the Powerless” was written by playwright Václav Havel about the USSR in Poland during the 1970s. Alan brought this essay up in the fifth episode of Measures of Truth’s coverage of ‘The Golden Compass’ which was about Chapters 18-20.

What is Post Truth?

“Man” as a gender-neutral word.

You have to give your ID to buy allergy medicine?

Haiku:

Susan-

You’re a fan like us,

Locke- Buffy- Chidi- Lyra,

So many stories…

Sarah-

Storms broke over us,

We fought all broken-hearted,

He Rā Ki Tua

If you would like a haiku, please leave a review on Apple Podcast!

Next time we are watching The Mexican.

Our theme song is Background Blues Guitar by Blowball Music.

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