{"id":10013,"date":"2006-10-01T23:42:20","date_gmt":"2006-10-01T21:42:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.harald-bluechel.com\/in-the-realm-of-the-middle-i-v\/"},"modified":"2006-10-01T23:42:20","modified_gmt":"2006-10-01T21:42:20","slug":"in-the-realm-of-the-middle-i-v","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harald-bluechel.com\/en\/in-the-realm-of-the-middle-i-v\/","title":{"rendered":"IN THE REALM OF THE MIDDLE (I-V)"},"content":{"rendered":"

IN THE REALM OF THE MIDDLE (I-V)<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

I<\/strong><\/p>\n

Strained howls of triumph<\/p>\n

– Temporary job security –<\/p>\n

when the first poll results come in,<\/p>\n

on which a lot of money was spent,<\/p>\n

offset against the artist’s license income.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Puppets on the string of quotas.<\/p>\n

Rope teams of a different kind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Competitions for votings.<\/p>\n

Auctioned poles at the point of sale.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The famous “as well as”,<\/p>\n

the prescribed search for the “golden mean”<\/p>\n

but which<\/p>\n

exciting<\/p>\n

sexy<\/p>\n

unique<\/p>\n

sensational<\/p>\n

never been there before<\/p>\n

should be.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are specialists from the<\/p>\n

product management, the<\/p>\n

marketing, the<\/p>\n

visual communication.<\/p>\n

They provide the artistic packaging of a<\/p>\n

successfully emptied of nothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Constructors of success.<\/p>\n

They always do a “great job”.<\/p>\n

For whatever. It doesn’t matter. <\/p>\n

But when<\/p>\n

Votings and Quotings,<\/p>\n

Research and polls,<\/p>\n

Surveys, polls and<\/p>\n

Ratings<\/p>\n

did not allow it,<\/p>\n

then only one is the loser:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

the originator of the product,<\/p>\n

who now also<\/p>\n

The originator of the failure, which is now<\/p>\n

ashamed and with forced looseness<\/p>\n

Vowed to do better<\/p>\n

for the next time, if there is still a<\/p>\n

next time for him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The workplace is in danger.<\/p>\n

The center wasn’t centered enough, was it<\/p>\n

too centered,<\/p>\n

too much both, too little as well<\/p>\n

or<\/p>\n

too little Both and too much As well<\/p>\n

or what ?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

II<\/strong><\/p>\n

Magic formula.<\/p>\n

Oracle-like,<\/p>\n

unpredictable like a force of nature,<\/p>\n

this golden mean,<\/p>\n

which quickly becomes a yawning void,<\/p>\n

which cannot be a lesson to anyone in business, because<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

the controller’s balance sheets,<\/p>\n

the plans of the Supervisory Board and<\/p>\n

the expectations of shareholders<\/p>\n

say otherwise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The golden mean, is<\/p>\n

the golden calf,<\/p>\n

the divine fleece,<\/p>\n

that everyone is looking for voluntarily.<\/p>\n

Think tanks of free individualists,<\/p>\n

Purchased experts,<\/p>\n

Maker<\/p>\n

of taste<\/p>\n

with a nose for it,<\/p>\n

what arrives.<\/p>\n

What could arrive.<\/p>\n

Must arrive.<\/p>\n

about an opener<\/p>\n

is to become a customer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They use the same codes of their own free will.<\/p>\n

They decide completely independently of each other<\/p>\n

exactly the same.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Freedom is always the freedom of those who agree.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Contents<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

free<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

from<\/p>\n

Dedication,<\/p>\n

Sympathy,<\/p>\n

Personality,<\/p>\n

Irritation,<\/p>\n

contradictions,<\/p>\n

Bulkiness,<\/p>\n

Confrontation,<\/p>\n

Criticism,<\/p>\n

Vision,<\/p>\n

Courage,<\/p>\n

Chutzpah,<\/p>\n

Courage,<\/p>\n

Desire,<\/p>\n

Esprit,<\/p>\n

Emotion,<\/p>\n

Mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

at the very most:<\/p>\n

Sophistication,<\/p>\n

Cunning,<\/p>\n

Shrewdness,<\/p>\n

intuition,<\/p>\n

Professionalism;<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

well calculated,<\/p>\n

cleverly dosed,<\/p>\n

wittily presented,<\/p>\n

clever or cheeky<\/p>\n

stirred together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Met the requirements,<\/p>\n

meets the requirements,<\/p>\n

with precise naturalness.<\/p>\n

Relaxed and dogmatic-innovative-dynamic<\/p>\n

recognized the signs of the times.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In other contexts, people used to talk about:<\/p>\n

Loyalty to the line,<\/p>\n

Subject spirit,<\/p>\n

Submissiveness,<\/p>\n

Cadaver obedience,<\/p>\n

Synchronization,<\/p>\n

prescribed art,<\/p>\n

Apparatschicks,<\/p>\n

One hundred and fifty percent,<\/p>\n

vicarious agents.<\/p>\n

Prohibition.<\/p>\n

Dictation.<\/p>\n

Censorship.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today that is:<\/p>\n

be at the cutting edge,<\/p>\n

deliver what people want,<\/p>\n

the signs of the times and<\/p>\n

the challenges of the market<\/p>\n

and act accordingly.<\/p>\n

Take part in the competition.<\/p>\n

Be successful.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They call it:<\/p>\n

make the world a little more beautiful,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

III<\/strong><\/p>\n

The dictates of an economy,<\/p>\n

who are otherwise incessantly<\/p>\n

Freedom,<\/p>\n

Personal responsibility,<\/p>\n

Mobility,<\/p>\n

Willingness to take risks,<\/p>\n

Innovation and<\/p>\n

Independence<\/p>\n

rambles.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What remains:<\/p>\n

Efficiency in the sense of capital growth.<\/p>\n

Little else.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Always talking about the center,<\/p>\n

which we then call<\/p>\n

have to endure the best of all worlds,<\/p>\n

entirely voluntarily,<\/p>\n

because we have a choice,<\/p>\n

because we decide<\/p>\n

about what dies and survives in competition.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And suddenly they are talking about constraints, laws and realities,<\/p>\n

which must be recognized,<\/p>\n

when they talk about the free market,<\/p>\n

would be inconceivable without the freedom of the individual.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Always finding the golden mean is difficult,<\/p>\n

becomes art<\/p>\n

to the art of the modern, civilized – democratic – casual<\/p>\n

Tommy Hilfiger – Duck mousiness:<\/p>\n

Just don’t use the wrong word,<\/p>\n

Just don’t make an unbalanced statement.<\/p>\n

Always do everything right,<\/p>\n

so don’t make a mistake –<\/p>\n

which in reality means:<\/p>\n

just pretending to have your own opinion.<\/p>\n

Opinion simulation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lead images for the album of the<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Panini pluralism.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The few remaining ones can be seen in the pictures.<\/p>\n

The many others can collect, swap and stick them in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And dream of becoming an album picture themselves.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Commercial,<\/p>\n

an increasingly manic search,<\/p>\n

an insane compression.<\/p>\n

Social,<\/p>\n

an increasingly brutal crumbling<\/p>\n

this<\/p>\n

Golden<\/p>\n

Center.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Magic words that are nothing more than coded regulatory commands:<\/p>\n

Political correctness<\/p>\n

Pluralism<\/p>\n

Tolerance<\/p>\n

Respect<\/p>\n

Balanced judgment<\/p>\n

Competence<\/p>\n

Civilization<\/p>\n

Community of values.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

IV<\/strong><\/p>\n

You, the interpreter,<\/p>\n

who first<\/p>\n

and<\/p>\n

should sound like<\/p>\n

it’s all great and beautiful.<\/p>\n

From the makers in the background to the best<\/p>\n

be-guess<\/p>\n

supported,<\/p>\n

re-touched,<\/p>\n

built up,<\/p>\n

stylized,<\/p>\n

up-lifted.<\/p>\n

Until you believed it yourself,<\/p>\n

that this is the case.<\/p>\n

That you are like this –<\/p>\n

Because everyone is like that.<\/p>\n

Because all<\/p>\n

represent like this-<\/p>\n

if they want to be successful.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If it wasn’t enough,<\/p>\n

when the market has spit you out,<\/p>\n

you stand there naked.<\/p>\n

The public is merciless.<\/p>\n

When the red button is pressed.<\/p>\n

The worst humiliation.<\/p>\n

If you have to listen to the contemptuous whispering behind your back,<\/p>\n

when you have to look into the painfully loud, direct malice of the bored or jeering mob,<\/p>\n

which was already in the papers the day before,<\/p>\n

when all the slogans – however well-intentioned – fit the image,<\/p>\n

become a boomerang.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then you are<\/p>\n

no longer<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“the sensation”,<\/p>\n

“the new shooting star”,<\/p>\n

“the best thing since XYZ”,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

but<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

a laughing stock.<\/p>\n

The last straw.<\/p>\n

Committee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is difficult for you to understand,<\/p>\n

You are finding it difficult to reorganize yourself,<\/p>\n

because you cannot overwrite your face.<\/p>\n

Now you have to reintegrate,<\/p>\n

without a probation officer,<\/p>\n

to the 2nd class.<\/p>\n

A downgrade from a dizzying height.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They didn’t buy it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You had your chance.<\/p>\n

You didn’t use it.<\/p>\n

Or ?<\/p>\n

That was fair.<\/p>\n

Or ?<\/p>\n

Not everyone can stand at the top.<\/p>\n

Or ?<\/p>\n

Because then there would be no top.<\/p>\n

Or ?<\/p>\n

No top and bottom.<\/p>\n

Or ?<\/p>\n

And where there is no top and bottom,<\/p>\n

there is no freedom.<\/p>\n

Or ?<\/p>\n

Because equality and freedom,<\/p>\n

that doesn’t fit together.<\/p>\n

Or ?<\/p>\n

Either or.<\/p>\n

Or ?<\/p>\n

So,<\/p>\n

where there is no top and bottom,<\/p>\n

There is no freedom there either.<\/p>\n

And consequently no golden mean.<\/p>\n

Or ?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

V<\/strong><\/p>\n

The wasteland in the Middle Kingdom.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

party landscape,<\/p>\n

Television landscape,<\/p>\n

radio landscape,<\/p>\n

Newspaper landscape,<\/p>\n

Opinion landscape,<\/p>\n

Product landscape.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Evening series,<\/p>\n

Gossip columns,<\/p>\n

Quiz programs,<\/p>\n

Election events,<\/p>\n

Pedestrian zones,<\/p>\n

Referendums,<\/p>\n

Debates,<\/p>\n

Competitions,<\/p>\n

Industrial estates,<\/p>\n

Land consolidation,<\/p>\n

Hotel chains,<\/p>\n

Chain stores,<\/p>\n

recycling chains,<\/p>\n

Company family,<\/p>\n

Product families,<\/p>\n

Discounter,<\/p>\n

Leisure paradises,<\/p>\n

Airport halls,<\/p>\n

Edification literature,<\/p>\n

Event culture,<\/p>\n

adventure parks,<\/p>\n

Long nights,<\/p>\n

Lounges,<\/p>\n

Sundays open for business,<\/p>\n

Special offers,<\/p>\n

Structural design,<\/p>\n

Corporate alliances,<\/p>\n

Advertising slots,<\/p>\n

Financial injections,<\/p>\n

Service<\/p>\n

Price performance,<\/p>\n

Customer friendliness,<\/p>\n

Info Center,<\/p>\n

Service Center,<\/p>\n

Call Center,<\/p>\n

Wellness Center,<\/p>\n

Smart Design,<\/p>\n

Product Design,<\/p>\n

Think Tanks,<\/p>\n

Coaching, Consulting, Commerce and more,<\/p>\n

all in one,<\/p>\n

all inclusive,<\/p>\n

pay one, get three,<\/p>\n

get it all,<\/p>\n

hot line,<\/p>\n

great free,<\/p>\n

feel free,<\/p>\n

feel the difference,<\/p>\n

make the difference,<\/p>\n

think different,<\/p>\n

be different,<\/p>\n

be yourself,<\/p>\n

be real,<\/p>\n

just be,<\/p>\n

lets make things better,<\/p>\n

for a better world,<\/p>\n

better price, better look,<\/p>\n

we care,<\/p>\n

we understand,<\/p>\n

we love you,<\/p>\n

I love it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(October 1, 2006)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IN THE REALM OF THE MIDDLE (I-V) I Strained howls of triumph – Temporary job security – when the first poll results come in, on which a lot of money […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[425,424,419,422],"class_list":["post-10013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-biography","tag-capitalism","tag-politics","tag-zeitgeist-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harald-bluechel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harald-bluechel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harald-bluechel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.harald-bluechel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.harald-bluechel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10013"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.harald-bluechel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10013\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harald-bluechel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.harald-bluechel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.harald-bluechel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}