“Der Printergang” – Not Sure What to Make of This

Yeah, I saw it — derprintergang’s “Der Printergang” video:

(Also saw the same video, with different captions, on a variety of other subjects.) Students, as Nazis, concerned about University print policies and residential computer labs – I know it’s over the top, and I do get the point – ouch!

Heard the word on the street about this video throughout campus, including conversations with obama_nazi_communist_muslim_peace-thumb-500x840administrators and faculty. I refrained from replying to folk with DM and e-mail links so I could think about it before I passed it on or made comment. Don’t misread me – I’m not a killjoy; I love a good remix; I live for decent satire; I adore commentary on things going on; and, I think human around race, culture, and ethnicity, when done right, is some of the funniest stuff I’ve heard. My gut told me that this time I needed to move on.

Not sure we’re at a point where people portraying Nazis makes good satire. Reminded me of the unease I felt this summer with the Nazi commentary and remarks embedded in some conversations and demonstrations about health care. Maybe we should be over it. Maybe I’m just part of a generation that’s needlessly sensitive about these images and what they have implied – perhaps it’s time for us to grow up and appreciate humor. Is this akin to the Ego Trip videos that I enjoy? Do I need to just lighten up?

I’ll still think hard before I forward or retweet a satirical commentary that uses Nazis.

Peace.

2 comments

  1. Maybe if the administration was capable of foresight and would think about how their decisions affect students’ academic lives, a comparison this drastic wouldnt be necessary.

  2. I’m sure someone’s mentioned this to you Dean Elmore, but the key here is: “Also saw the same video, with different captions, on a variety of other subjects.”

    This is a well-established internet meme, not someone making original commentary or directly comparing students, the administration, and the print quota to Nazis. There are similar videos on hundreds if not thousands of subjects.

    The joke here is the use of the video itself, not necessarily the metaphor, which is probably, well, reversed from the way it should be if we’re saying that the print quota is the “Nazi” thing in question here.

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