#DeutschlandNoFilter: The Germany Magazine of the Goethe-Institut

A blue-tinted photo shows protesters at a “Slut Walk” in Philadelphia in August 2011. Most appear to be female-presenting and are holding signs, one of which reads: “My ass is not a reason for assault.”

Word! The Language Column Prohibit? Appropriate? Reinvent?

Bettina Wilpert is not the only one to criticise the authoritarian language policy of the current US government. Because when terms disappear, many things can no longer be named. Sometimes, on the other hand, it is good when words are replaced. And where is it said that you can't invent new words?

Perhaps this is where it all began: local pub “Henkel-Stuben”, Blücherstraße, Berlin-Kreuzberg

Cherrypicker | Literature The fortune and misfortune of fools

What do fools and tassels have in common? In a quirky hybrid between a joke book and a comic book, Robert Seethaler and comic artist Marcus Weimer explore this and other pointless questions. Above all, they prove that questions are more important than answers.

The “Omas gegen Rechts” (grannies against the right) take part in a demonstration against the right on Munich's Odeonsplatz.

Report on the “Omas gegen Rechts” Saturday Commitment to Democracy

Every Saturday, Munich's “Omas gegen Rechts” defend democracy. With words, umbrellas, banners – and the firm conviction that democracy must remain visible. What happens when 15 elderly ladies meet the public in the pedestrian zone.

Collage of food photos from above, shoes and an arm serving potatoes on a plate.

Everyday Life in Germany: Dinner Edition Dinner at a Friend’s House

Take off your shoes, bring some wine and (don't) help out. Lena Maurer from South Tyrol loves to spend evenings at friends' homes. That's why she knows how a 'typical German' dinner invitation works. A personal insight.

Picture Palace Key Visual — Picture Palace

The latest news from the world of film as well as must-see German series and movies

Language

A mural on the building of the former art centre Tacheles, which reads: How long is now

Word! The Language Column Today Is Tomorrow

Why? When? What? Bettina Wilpert's daughters are discovering the world by asking questions – and the peculiarities of the German language. Extremely stimulating for parents – and sometimes exhausting, because not every explanation comes easily.

Two ravens on the left edge of the picture, beaks tucked into each other. The author's portrait of columnist Bettina Wilpert on the right.

Word! The Language Column Deadbeat Fathers and Family-Oriented Mothers

Mothers bear an endless burden of societal expectations. This was the case in the past, and it often remains so today. Our new columnist, Bettina Wilpert, critically examines thought patterns and linguistic imagery surrounding motherhood. She asks: Why are there no “deadbeat fathers”?

Illustration: Person with a green speech bubble containing a recycling symbol

Word! The Language Column Rubbish Bins and Yellow Bags

How is German identity forged? Exactly: by sorting waste correctly. As a teacher of German as a foreign language, Christiane Rösinger introduced her students to the secrets of different types of waste and their containers. After all, only those who separate their rubbish correctly are properly integrated.

Culture

Wax figure of Volker Bruch at the unveiling of the new Babylon Berlin area at Madame Tussauds in Berlin on 28 September 2023

Cherrypicker | Literature Lost in terrible times

Ex-crime commissioner Gereon Rath, who was thought to be dead, returns to Germany from the USA. He wants to say goodbye to his dying father. A bad idea, because the SS doubt his death. The last Rath novel by Volker Kutscher ends with the November pogroms of 1938.

The picture shows the cover image of the podcast ‘Klimanews’: A person is travelling by tram and looking at their mobile phone. A burning landscape can be seen through the window of the tram.

Interview with the podcast hosts of Klimanews “We Want to Make It Easy to Engage With the Climate.”

"Klimanews"' volunteer podcast hosts, Valeria and Jonathan, give an insight into their day-to-day editorial work.

The picture shows the cover of the podcast ‘Garten Ede’: A man is surrounded by plants.

Interview with podcast host Elias from Garten Ede "As an Untrained Gardener, I Make a Lot of Mistakes"

In this interview, podcast host Elias explains how he got into gardening, what makes his podcast special and what tips he has for future gardeners.

Germany

An aerial view of a Rundling village: Meuchefitz in the Wendland.

Detours | The Wendland Region Traditional Villages and the Spirit of Resistance

The Wendland region in the German state of Lower Saxony is a great place for fans of the Middle Ages, as many of the villages here are still arranged in just the same way they were in the twelfth century. But what does that mean? Above all, that they are round.

Graffiti on the Munich slaughterhouse grounds in memory of Sophie and Hans Scholl and their resistance group “White Rose”

9 Women Who Changed German Society Women Power

Whether in politics, science, art, or resistance – these women have profoundly changed German society with their courage, determination, and talent. Their stories show how individuals can shape the course of history.

The Last Supper at Passover being enacted during the 2010 Passion Play in Oberammergau.

Detours | Passion plays An Ancient Local Tradition in the Bavarian Alps

It was long considered unthinkable for women or Muslims to take part in a Christian passion play – but it’s certainly possible in Oberammergau nowadays. This local spectacle attracts visitors from all over the world.

Illustration of several symbols: Windmill, bicycle, garbage, earth and thermometer

Sustainably Explained

Our climate and sustainability format provides information on the climate crisis and its links to Language, Culture and Germany.