User:Evita 87

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Background and General Data

The "Skulpturenboulevard" ("Boulevard of Sculptures") was a central element of the Initiative Deutschland – Land der Ideen ("Initiative Germany – Country of Ideas"). The campaign, which was under the auspices of the former German Federal President Horst Köhler, was a joint project of the German government and German industry aimed to promote a positive image of Germany in general and as a location for industry at home and abroad. The German economy was represented by the Bundesverband der deutschen Industrie (BDI) (Federation of German Industry).

The corporate design of the campaign and the design of the sculptures were devised and implemented by the design agency Scholz & Driends Identify in Berlin. The agency received several international awards for the campaign, for example the coveted EVA award 2006. The sculptures were put up in central squares in the city center of Berlin, such as the Bebelplatz and the Gendarmenmarkt. For the unveiling, small celebrations took place, at which opening speeches were held by politicians, members of the initiative and representatives of the companies involved. The first sculpture - "Der moderne Fußballschuh" ("The modern Soccer Shoe") –, was unveiled in Spreebogenpark on March 10, 2006. The last sculpture that was unveiled was "Relativitätstheorie" ("Theory of Relativity") in Lustgarten on May 19, 2006. In fall 2006, the sculptures were taken down again. One sculpture – "Das Automobil" ("The Automobile") –, travelled to Munich. It is not certain if and how the other pieces of art have been used or recycled.

The total costs for each sculpture – from planning to implementation – amounted to between 300,000 and 350,000 euros. All sculptures were made of the modern plastic Neopor and coated with a special shiny white paint. The time of production was about two months for each and the final assembly on the squares took up to three days.

At every object on the "journey through Germany’s research landscape and cultural history", information boards in German and English gave extensive explanations about their symbolism.

Assesment 2

Frankfurt was one of the centers of the Pre-March. The satiric writings of the journalist Ludwig Börne, who was born in 1786 in Judengasse (“Jew Lane”), made him one of the outstanding figures of the young Republic. Even though the German Parliament and the civic authorities, who were concerned about their reputation, tried to prohibit political associations and eliminate the spread of liberal writings, the oppositional circles adopted the revolutionary spirit especially since the Julirevolution (“Revolution of July”) in 1830. However, the step from idealistic enthusiasm to decisive action failed miserably. […] But even though these events were for the most part of no consequence, they still had significant consequences for Frankfurt’s bourgeois elite, because from that time on a garrison of 2,500 Austrian and Prussian soldiers defied the civic sovereignty, and the baronial diplomats of the parliament reviled the Free City as a liberal nest. […]

At the beginning of March 1848, the revolutionary spirit originating from France swept over Germany. In France, as everywhere else, people demanded freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, equalitiy of treatment under constitutional law for all citizens, amnesty for those who had been arrested for political offences. There was also a general call for the people to take up arms. On March 3, the senate complied with all the requests except for the complete emancipation of the Jews. The reformists meeting in their Monday clubs ("Montagskränzchen") demanded a constitutional reform for Frankfurt as well. A committee, elected by all citizens, was to work out a new constitution as a substitution for the Constitution Amendment File.

On March 9, the black-red-golden flag was waving over the Bundespalais (“Palace of the Republic”). On March 31, the provisional parliament met in Paulskirche (Paul’s Cathedral), which had been redecorated in great haste. The walls and windows of the church were decorated with black-red-golden flags. The pulpit was veiled with a cloth, and the organ was covered with a large curtain with a fresco of Philipp Veit: The goddess Germania, carrying a flag and a sword, with a laurel wreath with patriotic verses to her left, and another to her right. The presidential desk replaced the altar.