Last but not least: The bin liner controversy
A poster controversy marks the start of the tenure of Karin Beier, the new artistic director of the Cologne Schauspielhaus. The image of a bound woman with a trash bag over her head was actually intended to promote the premiere of the «quite violent» play *Die Nibelungen*—according to *Welt Online*—throughout the city.
A poster affair kicks off the tenure of the new director of Cologne's Schauspielhaus Karin Beier. The image of a bound woman with a bin bag over her head was actually intended to advertise the premiere of the "quite violent" play "Die Nibelungen" throughout the city, according to Welt Online. However, after the advertising company expressed concerns and feared that the poster could possibly violate Section 131 of the Criminal Code, which criminalizes the glorification of violence, controversy erupted around the campaign by Lucerne-based communications agency Velvet.
First, Cologne's cultural commissioner informed the theater that he considered the poster to be unobjectionable. Then, when Beier demanded express permission from the Lord Mayor and did not receive it, he recommended that the poster be removed.
As a result, the theater quickly toned down the posters and put them up itself. In November, Beier wants to debate the case from the point of view of artistic freedom at a panel discussion. But perhaps artistic reasons are not the decisive factor here. In the end, the problem may have been that the picture did not show Cologne's chargeable garbage bag, but a model of a dog's commune. Who knows?
First, Cologne's cultural commissioner informed the theater that he considered the poster to be unobjectionable. Then, when Beier demanded express permission from the Lord Mayor and did not receive it, he recommended that the poster be removed.
As a result, the theater quickly toned down the posters and put them up itself. In November, Beier wants to debate the case from the point of view of artistic freedom at a panel discussion. But perhaps artistic reasons are not the decisive factor here. In the end, the problem may have been that the picture did not show Cologne's chargeable garbage bag, but a model of a dog's commune. Who knows?
