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ROMA_INDUSTRIE? “The link will remain on it. File a lawsuit or help us!”
courtesy of Marika Schmiedt
Activist and filmmaker Marika Schmiedt speaks out against the disrespectful and arrogant behavior of two producers who tried to capitalize on her work in order to publicize a highly problematic film:
from the daily life of a Roma woman …
On February 7, I was contacted via email by Wolfgang Gumpelmaier, who asked for my support of the film MANUSHA – The Little Gypsy Witch/ Die kleine Romahexe. I told Gumpelmaier that I think the film is problematic, particularly the title “GYPSY WITCH,” as well as the many clichés in the film.
Shortly thereafter, I was contacted by producer Knut Ogris, with a renewed request for my opinion. I told him that I find the film questionable for children. This morning, I found a link to my film “ROMA MEMENTO. Uncertain future?” on the official site of his film, serving to raise funds and also market the film. After my request to remove my link from their site, Knut Ogris responded: ”The link will remain on it. File a lawsuit or help us!”
see e-mail correspondences:
On 02/07/2012 at 11:57 Manusha wrote:
Dear Marika Schmiedt, I support the film producer Knut Ogris in terms of online communication for his children’s film MANUSHA – THE LITTLE GYPSY WITCH. Currently, the film is in post-production and requires the support of the fans. Therefore, we have launched a crowdfunding campaign. Since you have already written several times about ROMA issues, we would be delighted if you could post about our children’s film (blog, website, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Here the link to the trailer, the press release and Crowdfunding page.
Crowd Funding: http://www.mysherpas.com/de/projekt/Manusha-die-kleine-Romahexe-moechte-ins-Kino/
Trailer: http://www.manusha-derfilm.at/film/trailer/
Press: http://www.manusha-derfilm.at/presse/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/romahexe
Thank you,
Wolfgang Gumpelmaier
On 02/07/2012 at 11:53 Marika Schmiedt wrote:
dear mr. gumpelmaier, I think the film is questionable!
with best greetings
marika schmiedt
On 02/07/2012 Manusha wrote:
In what way?
Wolfgang
On 02/07/2012 Marika Schmiedt wrote:
a lot of stereotypes ..
even the title “GYPSY WITCH”
On 02/07/2012 Knut Ogris wrote:
Dear Mrs. Schmiedt, I have just received your comments on Manusha – die kleine RomaHexe – the engl. title: Manusha – the little Gypsy Witch! Can you explain, I do not understand you! Do you know the movie? If so where from? In what form?
What’s wrong with clichés – if there are not bad clichés!
We are not doing a documentary but a product made for children, which deals with FOREIGNERS in SCHOOLS, trying to keep children from bullying and ask them to deal with strangers!
AND: we want the film to be successful in movie theatres and also to offer solutions.
Please explain! See the links in yellow below for you to use if you like!
Thanks in advance!
On 02/07/2012 Marika Schmiedt wrote:
I have seen extracts from the film a while ago on tv, orf- heimat fremde heimat.
As to the social and political situation of Roma in Europe, have you dealt with it in a serious way?
and what do you mean by good clichés?
As a Roma woman, I find such a product for children more than questionable.
best regards
marika schmiedt
On 02/07/2012 Knut Ogris wrote:
Well, I am glad that you are sooo expressive – but what is it that bothers you in particular?
Which part?
Did you know that Heli Maimann plotted against me once, because as a non-Jew I mixed a Jewish film? http://www.defamation-thefilm.com also a hornet’s nest – but it all went well, although some of it was unpleasant!
Well then help us, if they know the movie so well.
And tell us what you want?
We are in the final production and would also welcome and adopt your comments and suggestions for improvement, even consider them!
But please do not use platitudes but concrete suggestions –
because: Yes, WE HAVE DEALT WITH THE CONDITIONS OF ROMA – ESPECIALLY IN THE BALKANS – AND SINCE MACEDONIA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY WHICH RECOGNIZES ROMA minorities, the film developed the way it did!
Mlg
Knut
On 02/10/2012 Marika Schmiedt wrote:
mr. ogris, on your website you have posted a link to my film Roma Memento under the rubric Roma in the arts and culture.
why did you this?
please remove it from your website.
I do not want to be brought in connection with this film.
best regards
marika schmiedt
On 02/10/2012 Knut Ogris wrote:
Dear Mrs. Schmiedt, despite my polite offers for you to help with the improvement, nothing concrete comes from you – the link will remain on it. File a lawsuit or help us!
Thanks
Mlg
Knut ogris
On 02/10/2012 Marika Schmiedt wrote:
alright, if you think so, I will publish our email correspondences about the film on my blog and make my rejection public!
besides, your attitude clearly shows how disrespectful, extortionate and dishonorable your actions in connection to this film are, especially towards a Roma woman who expresses her opinion.
please remove the link.
Originally posted on February 10, 2012 on Marika Schmiedt’s website.
Artist Oliver Ressler recounts the exclusion of his work, “Elections are a Con,” from a juried competition organized by the TKI – Tiroler Kulturinitiativen / IG Kultur Tirol, after the Cultural Department of the Tyrolean Provincial Government considered his work to be “wrong.”
Oliver Ressler, Elections are a Con/ Wahlen sind Betrug, courtesy of the artist
On November 21, 2011, I received a funding commitment from TKI – Tiroler Kulturinitiativen / IG Kultur Tirol. This resulted from an exemplary transparent juried process that selected, from 56 proposals, seven projects for funding, including my poster project “Elections are a Con.” The posters with the terse slogan “Elections are a con” were to be displayed over a period of two weeks in Innsbruck (Austria) as a series of city-light posters or on large billboards.
The slogan “Elections are a Con” (Elections piège à cons) was coined in May 1968 in Paris. The German version of this slogan, shaped by a specific historical setting, would be placed over a photograph that shows the Tyrolean Alps. Comparable images appear repeatedly in the background of posters from political parties competing in Austrian elections. The poster series “Elections are a Con” would lack the usual portraits of politicians and constitute a provocative blank space. Instead of meaningless election advertising, one could read the matter-of-fact statement that “elections are a con”.
Surprisingly, I was notified on December 21, 2011 by an email from the Cultural Department of the Tyrolean provincial government that “after another thorough examination of the submitted documents and in consultation with a member of the provincial government of Tyrol, Dr. Palfrader, my project would not be supported.” Despite repeated requests, there has been no explanation for this unusual decision to override a work, which was selected by a jury in a lengthy process. The only “response” was a short e-mail on December 23, 2011 by Mag. Nagiller Wöll of the cultural department of the government of Tyrol, in which she stated that she had explained the reasons for rejecting it in a conversation with a representative of TKI (Dr. Anita Moser).
In that conversation, Mag. Nagiller Wöll explained that the Tyrolean provincial government could not support my work, because the text on the poster would be wrong. Elections would not be a con, but election advertising.
The Tyrolean government claims for itself the right to judge something decided by a jury meeting openly in front of an audience, without apparently being able to understand the contents of a clear project description.
The project description had the following explanation:
“Walden Bello was arguing that Western democracy is an ideal situation for insuring the continued power of elites; because it allows elites to contest with each other, while at the same time shutting out the dispossessed, the impoverished and workers, while paradoxically offering them the illusion of having a participation in building their own future and having a participation in the political process.* Elections have mutated so that today’s system of representative democracy has become an increasingly meaningless ritual, while self-appointed elites in international trade organizations, the World Bank and transnational bodies such as the EU increasingly make the real decisions away from public discussions.”
The five-member expert jury of the TKI based its decision to support, “Elections are a Con”, with the following arguments:
• The project concept is coherent and artistically convincing, and the planned implementation of the imagery is very well chosen.
• Through “simple” means, discussions can be incited and widespread attention can be stimulated.
• At the present time (and also considering Innsbruck’s municipal elections to take place next year), such an artistic statement is very important.
There has not yet been an official explanation of the Tyrolean provincial government’s decision to override the jury’s clearly written decision.
This is not an isolated case. The same jury hearing of the expert panel of the TKI also selected the project “Alpine Studies” by Tal Adler. The artistic research project on how the Tyrolean province dealt with its Nazi past was shown no mercy under the strict eyes of the Tyrolean provincial government and was rejected on the same terms as my project.
Thus, the Tyrolean provincial government acts against the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of art and tries to determine what artists have to say publicly and what not. The prevention of unwelcome political work has a name: censorship
It is to be hoped for the Tyroleans that their reactionary politicians, along with the supposedly representative system in which elections only serve the function of “legitimacy by procedure” (Niklas Luhmann), will be sent as soon as possible into the desert of meaninglessness.
Oliver Ressler, artist and filmmaker, lives in Vienna. www.ressler.at
* See David McNeill in the 8-channel video installation “What Is Democracy?” by Oliver Ressler, 2009
A printable version of the poster “Elections are a Con” is eagerly provided upon request (email to oliver@ressler.at)
Democracy arrested in India: Aseem Trivedi continues his struggle against censorship
We continue to report on the case of cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, whose website of political cartoons against corruption in India was recently banned by Mumbai Police, responding to a claim that the content was “defamatory and derogatory.” You can read the details of the case here. Recently, Trivedi was also charged with treason in the Beed District Court, Maharashtra. This is his most statement reflecting on the case, reaffirming his commitment to the struggle for freedom of expression:
I am a Cartoonist and I initiated a battle against corruption by expressing the reality of the present scenario of our nation through my cartoons focusing politics and corruption. I started a campaign against corruption through my website Cartoons Against Corruption and during Anna Hazare’s campaign of India Against Corruption in Mumbai, I displayed my cartoons in public to support the movement. On the very first day of Anna’s fast, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch put a ban on my website after receiving a complaint.
Even after the ban, I continued my battle and shifted the content to a new website . But recently, some blind folded people who can’t understand the objective of my cartoons have filed a case against me, claiming that I am traitor against the nation – the case was filled in the Beed District Court, Maharashtra.
This is not the first instance when freedom of speech and expression has been brutally murdered under the boots of politicians and some bureaucrats who believe in ‘gain through others’ pain’. Instead of looking upon the seriousness of the issue – why an artist would be provoked to make such cartoons in the first place – these self -centered people try to make their name by unnecessarily heating up the issue in the name of “national disrespect.”
There are several examples of cartoonists who have been taken under custody for expressing their unbiased views. Mohammad al-Amin, a Libyan cartoonist went missing after he expressed his views against Muammar Qaddafi. Ahmed Kishore, the Cartoonist Rights Network (CRN) representative waged a campaign against ‘Eve Teasing’ through his cartoons – and he along with his wife was attacked by a group of thugs who were backed by some political powers. Political Cartoonist, ‘Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque faced a ban on two of his books, ‘Funny Malasia’ and ‘Perak Darul Cartoon’. These are just some examples of how the democracy and freedom of speech has been put on halt in India and worldwide. But where is the end? Is it humanitarian to take an artist under the custody for expressing his/her views? Is it justified to ban art or expression?
Apart from a certain section of populace who are expressing their rage on my cartoons, there are some people who understand the motive of my art and are supporting the cause.
Arvind Gaud, a core member of team Anna [Hazare movement] has raised his voice supporting the objectivity of my cartoons. He says, “I have minutely observed the cartoons made by Aseem Trivedi who has raised a voice against corruption through this medium of Art. He has not tried to make a fun of the constitution or nation rather he has very perfectly tried to show the anger and the rage of the common people of India who are dying because of the unrestricted corruption in the nation. According to me, putting a ban on Aseem’s cartoons is not only a ban on his cartoons rather it is a restriction on media and social networking sites on their working”. Read more here.
Swami Agnivesh has also raised his voice in support of my cartoons and questioning the ban on my cartoons. “At first instance banning his website and secondly claiming him as a traitor and filling a case against him in the court of law, shows that even our judiciary is also not serious in classifying the issues which are worthy to be discussed in the court or not. I will support Mr. Aseem Trivedi in his cause till the end. I will fight for the ban on the freedom of expression.” Read the entire statement here.
Other media platforms have covered the case of the banning of my cartoons: The Free Press Journal, The Wall Street Journal/India, Times of India, X-Index, The Indian Express [in English] and others.[in Hindi]
Following are the links to my Facebook page, Cartoons Against Corruption and Cartoonist Aseem, through which you can keep updated.
I understand that this is just the beginning of my struggle. I hope that you would take out the black folds from your eyes and will consider the issue without any bias or prejudice.
Thank you
Aseem Trivedi
January 12, 2011
UPDATE: Times of India reports (January 13, 2012)
A night at MMRDA ground, December 2011, in Mumbai, Maharashtra / Courtesy of Aseem Trivedi
A petition has been filed in the High Court seeking directions to asking state to file a criminal complaint against Anna Hazare for insulting the national honour by displaying cartoons and pictures during his fast campaign in Mumbailast month. The petition states is filed by a law graduate and businessman, Krishjeet Gaikwad, who said while Hazare sat on fast on December 27, 2011 at the MMRDA ground at Bandra-Kurla Complex , an exhibition was also on display.
His petition stated that cartoons and pictures which put up were such that they “hurt national honour and sentiments of people at large” were put up. He has urged direction for a probe and also sought similar direction against Anna’s associates Aseem Trivedi, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwaland organisers India Against Corruption.
The matter did not reach hearing.
In early December we reported on the case of members and former-members from the Austrian Association of Women Artists (VBKÖ), who issued open statements in response to what they saw as neglect for democratic governance by its president, Rudolfine Lackner. You can read their description of the situation and their demands here; the response from the president of the institution can be consulted here. We continued to follow their case and now share with you some of the resolutions adopted after a General Assembly recently held at the VBKÖ. We will post all updates around this case on this page and you can follow their progress through their website and facebook group.
___________________________________
On December 19th 2011, at the general assembly of the VBKÖ (The Austrian Association of Women Artists) a new executive board was elected and now consists of Veronika Dirnhofer and Lina Dokuzovic.
With the intention of opening the space and creating a new structure that permits more transparency, we will be redesigning membership modalities, establishing a wider executive board, and introducing an external advisory board.
With these structural adaptations we want to create a wider base of members and thereby encourage support and participation in various ways.
We want the VBKÖ to be a place that fosters contemporary feminist artistic agendas, that offers a space for experiments and supports political and activist work.
We want an Association that supports the advancement of artists today by benefiting from access to the historical archive in order to learn from the rich, complex and important history of the VBKÖ, as well as gaining a foothold in contemporary spaces for artistic production.
We consider these changes as a chance to make new lively connections between the historically important association of women artists and contemporary queer feminist art production.
We want to create an infrastructure that supports the development and the expansion of the founding principles, a VBKÖ that is always in the becoming.
The next general assembly will take place on Feb 1st 2012 at 7 pm in order to inaugurate this round of changes. More information and an official invitation to the general assembly will be sent out soon.
On behalf of the VBKÖ,
Elke Auer, Veronika Dirnhofer, Lina Dokuzovic, Hilde Fuchs, Nina Höchtl, Esther Straganz, Angela Wiedermann and Julia Wieger
__________________
Finally, per the members’ request, we share the new anthem of the VBKÖ (only available in German at this time)
HYMNE DER VBKÖ
written by Eva J. 2010
Der Zugang blieb verschlossen
Triumphe stets vergällt
Dem Gleichheitsdrängen trotzend
Schloss man sie aus der Welt
Doch durstig stets die Kunst
Nach Freiheit bar Geschlecht
Daran sollst du erinnern
Und deshalb sollst du steh’n
Noch hundert weit‘re Jahr
Oh VBKÖ!
Nach einem freien Orte
Fern herrschaftlichen Hohns
Sehnten sich uns’re Schwestern
Du bist des Kampfes Lohn
Denn durstig stets die Kunst
Nach Freiheit bar Geschlecht!
Daran sollst du erinnern
Und deshalb sollst du steh’n
Noch hundert weit‘re Jahr
Oh VBKÖ!
Du stellst im hellen Lichte
Die Wahrheitssuche aus
Du zeugst von wahrer Größe
Denn offen steht dein Haus
Für Kunst die durstet stets
Nach Freiheit bar Geschlecht!
Daran sollst du erinnern
Und deshalb sollst du steh’n
Noch hundert weit’re Jahre
Oh VBKÖ!
Anti-corruption cartoon website suspended in India
The website of Indian cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, Cartoons Against Corruption, has been suspended by its internet host after complaints that it featured content mocking India’s constitution, Index on Censorship reports. Trivedi works as a freelance cartoonist for several Hindi newspapers in the Lucknow and Kanpur area. The complaint, filed by Mumbai-based lawyer, Rajendra Pratap Pandey, described the cartoons as “defamatory and derogatory”. In Pandey’s view, some of the images violate sections of the Indian Penal Code, including The State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005. According to the act, the national emblem cannot be used for “any trade, business, calling or profession or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design” unless authorized by the government. Under the same act, the penalty for violations is up to two years imprisonment or a 5,000 rupee fine (about 100$) or both.
Domain provider Big Rock explained their decision to take down the website which featured more than 50 anti-corruption cartoons by Trivedi: “We have received a complaint from Crime Branch – Mumbai against domain name ‘cartoonsagainstcorruption.com’ for displaying objectionable pictures & texts related to flag and emblem of India. Hence we have suspended the domain name and its associated services. You may contact them at mahapolice.gov.in for further assistance. ”
Megha Bahree/The Wall Street Journal: Supporters of Anna Hazare with Trivedi’s posters in Mumbai, Dec. 27, 2011
In an interview with Wall Street Journal’s India Real Time, Trivedi declared that his intention was to “depict the ailing truth of the nation and send across a strong message to the masses.” Trivedi continued: “By suppressing art, you cannot suppress corruption. The aam admi [common man] succumbs at the realms of corruption every second – from struggling to achieve justice for a raped daughter to obtaining old age pension from corrupt government officers.” He also declared that his work is inspired by the Anna Hazare anticorruption movement.
“Should we not put our foot down?” he asked.
courtesy of Aseem Trivedi, Cartoons Against Corruption, 2011
The same source reported that the cartoons that caused the stir included Trivedi’s interpretation of the Indian national emblem, where four venomous wolves stand in place of King Asoka’s Sarnath lions. Further, the inscription on the emblem reads “Bhrashtamev Jayate” (Long Live Corruption) instead of “Satyamev Jayate” (Long Live Truth).
Several sympathizers expressed rage over Aseem Trivedi’s website ban, Preetika Rana reported for India Real Time:
“No one raises objection to pornographic content readily accessible online, but when it comes to the government, people suddenly propagate so called responsibility,” a user wrote in Hindi on Cartoons Against Corruption’s Facebook page while several others contented that the ban violated freedom of expression.
Following his website’s ban last week, Trivedi initiated a blog where he continues to express his opinion through “hard hitting cartoons,” as he described them.
“To quit now would be to end the common man’s anger over corruption. I will not give up,” he said.
UPDATES: In recent statements, the artist has declared that he will be filing a RTI (Right To Information), adding that “I’m an artist. We’re supposed to have liberty. This move is tyrannical.” The RTI is considered a fundamental right under the Constitution in India: “under which every citizen has freedom of speech and expression and have the right to know how the government works, what role does it play, what are its functions and so on.”
Supporters of the artist’s right to freedom of expressions continue to issue harsh critiques against Mumbai Police and the domain holder, Big Rock, for taking down the website without giving Trivedi any chance to defend himself or contest the ban. Blogger News Netowork argues:
“The uniqueness of this blocking incident has been that it is not an ISP level blocking but a blocking at the domain name level by a notice to the domain name registrar Big Rock. Also the site has been remove not by a Court order but by Police action.
While the cartoon site has reportedly been now moved to another host, the incident creates a legal precedent of far reaching consequences though in a wrong context. It is to be noted that blocking an objectionable content is different from forcing cancellation of a domain name. Domain Name is a “Virtual Property” and what Mumbai Police have done in this case is “Depriving a Citizen of his Right to Property”. This is violation of his fundamental right. The action needs to be questioned. The domain name registrar BigRock.in should also be questioned on the propreity of their action without even giving an opportunity for the domain owner to defend. It amounts to deficiency of service on their part. Their action reminds me of the famous quote in the Post Emergency days that “When some people were asked to bend, they crawled”.
This incident is therefore to be considered as a serious threat to democratic principles.”
More updates on Aseem Trivedi’s struggle against censorship can be read here.
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