illustration & photo: Amanda Artiaga.
The new decade we have just entered invites comparisons with the much-mythologized 1920s. People are undoubtedly fascinated by that bygone time, and that fascination has found an outlet multiple times even on this very blog, like when we were recounting the 20s nightlife with the History Phone. But the phenomenon is universal – chances are you’ve heard about the very popular TV series ‘’Babylon Berlin’’, which brings to the screen the novels of Volker Kutscher set in the Weimar Republic.
Even though there seem to be clear dichotomies between the former and current 20s like techno replacing jazz, I think that one could also find a few common denominators. Read about some of these cultural intersections of the 20s in this article.
Read on…
by Michalina | Stories
It’s safe to say that when I arrived in Berlin at 19, I knew very little in general. In the two years I’ve spent here, there have been times when I fooled myself I’ve obtained some general knowledge I could apply to reality – and time after time found myself utterly perplexed at yet another of life’s intricacies that Berlin exists to accentuate. And then it dawned on me – the only certainty I’ve experienced is the love for this city. The History Phone is my attempt to pay it forward – join us for a journey to discover a few of the lesser known facts from Berlin’s past that will add some sparkle to your everyday walk though familiar streets.
Read on…
by Michalina | Stories, Videos
illustrations: Robert Nippoldt
Berlin in the time of the Weimar Republic is one of the city’s most thrilling periods and no wonder many have tried to revive this time – for instance with this Second Life animation. There’s a new illustration book coming out now that will take you on a joyride through that enchanted section of the city’s past – we tell you what you can expect inside.
The German illustrator Robert Nippoldt has been following a brilliant concept while creating his subsequent books. ”Night falls on the Berlin of the Roaring 20s” is already his third work, after ”Hollywood in the 30s” and ”Jazz. New York in the Roaring 20s” that takes the readers on a time travel. Nippoldt’s illustrations are accompanied by stories and anecdotes gradually unraveling the secrets of a particular era.
Read on…
by Michalina | Art, Books
photo: Frédéric Batier/X Filme
Mark your calendars: The highly anticipated TV show “Babylon Berlin” premiers in mid October. Although we rarely get all over excited about German TV shows (sorry), we really can’t wait for this one to air. If there is one place that we wanna time travel back to, it’s the buzzing Berlin of the 1920’s. A metropolis overflowing with creative energy, full of radical extremes in economy and culture, from politics to the underworld. It feels like the mysterious aura of these few years has never left our streets, but so far few shows have done justice to how our imagination makes these times come alive.
Read on…
by Andy | TV
We love posting pictures dating back to Berlin’s glorious past, like the beginning of the 20th century. You’ve already had the chance to take a glimpse of the past in Schöneberg, Charlottenburg, or Kreuzberg. But as it turns out, digging up such visual treasures is not the only way to get into the spirit of past Berlin. We’ve stumbled upon an incredible virtual reality video in Second Life – take a look at it after the jump!
Read on…
by Michalina | Videos
