Ost-Ampelmännchen and the Memory of The
Crossing Past and Present: Ost-Ampelmännchen and the Memory of the German Democratic Republic By: Kyle Massia A thesis submitted to Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts. April, 2014, Halifax, Nova Scotia Copyright by Kyle Massia, 2014 Dr. Kirrily Freeman Associate Professor Dr. Nicole Neatby Associate Professor Dr. John Munro Assistant Professor Dr. John Bingham Assistant Professor Date: 22 April 2014 1 Abstract Crossing Past and Present: Ost-Ampelmännchen and the Memory of the German Democratic Republic By Kyle Massia, 22 April 2014 Abstract: Despite his connection to daily life in East Germany; east Germans began replacing their chubby, hat-wearing pedestrian light figure (the Ost-Ampelmännchen, or Ampelmann) with the non-descript West German one in the euphoria of reunification. By the mid-1990s, however, east Germans began to see their old state differently, bringing back their Ampelmann as a reminder of the safety, security, and equality their old state possessed. Following his resurrection, Ampelmann transformed into a pop-culture icon as shops sprung up selling Ampelmann-branded products. From here, his popularity spread as Ampelmann lights appeared in western Germany and Ampelmann shops opened their doors not only in Berlin, but also in Tokyo and Seoul. East Germans supported this, declaring that his popularity showed that their past and its values could find a place in a globalizing world. In doing so, East Germans have used and rewritten their past to promote a more respectful and equitable alternative to modern life. 2 Introduction: Traffic lights were probably the last thing on the minds of East Germans on 9 November 1989 as the Berlin Wall fell and the borders of their German Democratic Republic (GDR) opened.
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