Off topic, but educational.
Thomas Adams writes:
> Hmm, does anybody out there in Germany
> know Art Spiegelman at all? :)
A few might. A court in Sonneberg handed a public
prosecutor, one Hoenninger from Meiningen,
free license confiscate whatever the publishing
company distributing "Maus" in Germany had in
store that offended him, his 40 cops, or the
dog (well, they were allegedly facing 8 employees).
That was in July 1995. The Hoenninger decided in
August 1995 that a "Maus" ad poster should be
considered nazi propaganda (it showed a swastika).
The same month the case collapsed, and most
publications were handed back - but not "Maus".
The Hoenninger announced further investigation
at his discretion. In April 1996, the Hoenninger
asked in another shot at this publisher (seemingly
following up on the case of "Maus" as nazi propaganda)
480 police departments all over germany to search
bookstores (a total of 1200) and confiscate whatever
publications they deemed offensive.
Public support enabled the publisher to succeed
in a higher court, which basically dismissed the
case entirely in March 1998. The Hoenninger is
currently appealing this decision.
Remember the name. I believe in accountability.
The Internet Age warrants dedicated pillory sites
for people like this.
b.
[the summary above is based on an article in
kunst&kultur 5/98, pp. 35-36, by Christine Wagner.
Consider all errors and inaccuracies translation
blunders on my account.]
[the phrase "the Hoenninger" is an appropriate
approximation of german court language, used
when referring to suspects, defendants, and
witnesses alike. It is always the language that
gives them away.]
