Among the participating artists of the Documenta addressing migration and drawing attention to the international postcolonial past was the Nigerian-American artist Olu Oguibe, who erected an obelisk with the inscription "I was a stranger and you took me in" on the Königsplatz in Kassel. With this inscription he was referring to the Book of Matthew in order to commemorate all victims of migration and their host societies. This essay wants to highlight Oguibe's debate on "The Aliens and Refugees Monument."
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Historical and cultural Background of the art object and the debate
3. Method
4. Analyses
5. Conclusion
6. References
7. Articles used in text and used for qualitative synopsis
Research Objectives and Topics
This study aims to examine how different media outlets reported on the controversial removal of Olu Oguibe's "The Aliens and Refugees Monument" in Kassel and whether alternative media provided a more peace-oriented or critical perspective compared to mainstream news outlets.
- Analysis of media coverage regarding the secret removal of the art monument in 2018.
- Comparison between mainstream media (e.g., FAZ, HNA) and alternative media (e.g., Hyperallergic, Kasselzeitung).
- Application of qualitative content analysis to evaluate reporting tones and biases.
- Theoretical framing through the lenses of vulnerability and discourse analysis (e.g., Judith Butler, Spivak, Foucault/Deleuze).
- Critical exploration of the aesthetic and political implications of art in public space.
Excerpt from the Book
Historical and cultural Background of the art object and the debate
Since decades the city of Kassel in Germany has not only been the venue for one of the most important art festivals, the documenta, it is and had always been the central location for accommodating diverse nationalities. For this reason, the most commonly spoken languages seen on the monument are: Arabic, English, German and Turkish.
Beginning with the major guest worker movement in Germany during the 60ies and 70ies Kassel became an important city for Turks as it offered them the chance to live and work in the country through so called Anwerbeabkommen. The organization and costs for travel, payment and possible family reunification were regulated in such agreements (Herbert, 2001). Due to a weakening economy and the oil crisis, the federal government decided at the end of 1973 to stop recruiting for all countries (Herbert, 2001). But this had no effect on the guest workers already living in the country (Herbert, 2001). Since Kassel is an important industrial location in Germany and guest workers were needed here, many stayed in Kassel and brought their families to them. As a result, the population of Turkish speakers in Kassel increased and Turkish became one of the most widely spoken languages of the city.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the background of the conflict regarding right-wing extremism in Kassel and introduces the research question centered on the media coverage of the Oguibe monument.
2. Historical and cultural Background of the art object and the debate: Details the demographic history of Kassel, including guest worker migration and refugee arrivals, and explains the artistic intent behind the obelisk.
3. Method: Describes the application of Philipp Mayring’s qualitative content analysis to categorize and evaluate media coverage as positive, negative, or neutral.
4. Analyses: Evaluates specific media reports using theories of vulnerability and power, contrasting the critical stance of alternative media with the largely neutral mainstream news.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the study's findings, highlighting that while alternative media were more activist in their reporting, the overall narrative was not fundamentally shifted by mainstream outlets.
6. References: Lists the academic literature and primary journalistic sources used throughout the study.
7. Articles used in text and used for qualitative synopsis: Provides a dedicated list of the specific journalistic articles analyzed for the qualitative synthesis.
Keywords
Olu Oguibe, The Aliens and Refugees Monument, Documenta 14, Kassel, media analysis, alternative media, mainstream media, xenophobia, migration, vulnerability, Judith Butler, qualitative content analysis, art in public space, right-wing extremism, discourse analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the media discourse surrounding the controversial removal of Olu Oguibe's art monument in Kassel, investigating how different media formats reported on the event and the artist's vulnerability.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the intersection of art and public memory, the role of alternative versus mainstream media, migration narratives in Germany, and the political climate surrounding refugee support.
What is the main research question of this study?
The research asks how media outlets reported on the case of Olu Oguibe after documenta 14 and whether there was a stronger condemnation of the debate in alternative media compared to mainstream ones.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The author uses a qualitative content analysis based on the methodology of Philipp Mayring to categorize and evaluate newspaper articles according to their tone (positive, negative, neutral).
What does the main body of the text cover?
The body covers the historical context of Kassel as a migration hub, the symbolic significance of the obelisk, the methodology for analyzing political discourse, and a critical analysis of specific reports from magazines and newspapers.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Important keywords include Olu Oguibe, Documenta 14, media analysis, xenophobia, migration, mainstream media, alternative media, and aesthetic discourse.
Why was October, the month of German Unity, significant in this debate?
The removal of a monument dedicated to strangers and refugees on the very day of celebrating German reunification was perceived by many as an ironic and insensitive political act, fueling the debate on xenophobia.
How does the author define the distinction between mainstream and alternative media in this context?
Mainstream media are defined by large, daily circulations and a primarily informative, neutral stance, while alternative media are defined by independent, profit-non-oriented models that facilitate social, environmental, and critical discourse.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2022, A qualitative summary of the media of Olu Oguibe's debate on "The Aliens and Refugees Monument" (2017) in Kassel, Germany, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1352535
