Abstract (eng)
In major parts of his work, Christoph Schlingensief uses symbols of the National Socialist party as pawn or refers to National Socialist history via critical comments. Even though many of his works can be used to account to the NS past, it is not his intention to do so. On the one hand, he wants to amuse the spectator with films such as „Menu Total“ or „100 Jahre Adolf Hitler“. On the other hand, he wants to destroy fear in the sense of self provocation. One of his intentions is the abrasion of Hitler’s image and the myths surrounding the Nazi era. This abrasion can be achieved by the permanent use of swastika flags or Nazi actors.
In the same rein, Schlingensief criticizes the actions of right wing parties. Slogans of right wing parties are used in his works to exaggerate the image of these populist politicians thus ridiculing their actions. With his „Container Aktion“, he takes the wind out of the sails of the Austria Free-dom Party’s xenophobic slogans. His production of „Hamlet“ in Zurich sheds a critical light on the SVP and radical right wing youth groups.
Since Christoph Schlingensief’s cancer diagnosis in 2008, the thematic clusters- National Social-ism, neo-National Socialism and right wing parties – have lost their importance in his oeuvre. At the moment, he is involved in coming to terms with his disease as well as in the development of his opera village in Africa.