h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Loriot - caricarturing the German soul - A87893482
Author: Tavaron da Quirm - Arts Editor - U1314679

There still seems to be the prejudice that Germans have no humor. This shall teach people the opposite - with the help of a Prussian even.

One of the greatest Germans of the 20th Century.

Having been called a 'Saupreiss' in my day, I wish to protest the implied slight against Prussian humour. I have known some very funny Prussians.

This is great! And much needed. The world needs to know about Loriot, because he was brilliant!

Could I suggest that you include a Youtube link so that people can see one of the cartoons? Of course, my favourite is the German professors in the bathtub one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pTITcV-Se8

Even though it's in German, I think the reader will still be amused.

I've taken the liberty of making a list of proofreading suggestions - many of them are just typos, but I thought I'd be gründlich while I was at it. Here goes:

diginified - dignified
jodeling - yodeling
prussian - Prussian
Swizz - Swiss
'Auf den Hund gekommen: 44 lieblose Zeichnungen' - Maybe add a translation: Gone to the Dogs: 44 Uncharitable Drawings
which originally should showcase - which were originally intended to showcase (They won't understand 'should' in this context.)
Loriot leed through the show - I don't know what this means? Do you mean 'Loriot presided over the show...'?
urniture - furniture
in a bulk to get a cheper price - in bulk to get a cheaper price
occassions - occasions
Prokovjew's - Prokofiev's (English transliteration)
oparas - operas
some quotes got almost proverbial status - some quotes achieved almost proverbial status

That's really interesting about where he got his name from. I always wondered, though I knew he was a von Bülow.

Thanks Dmitri, I made the changes.

Excellent! Thanks Tav - I've heard of Loriot but knew very little about him so this is really helpful.

I like how you convey the flavour of the humour throughout I can visualise "the difficult discussion about breakfast eggs"

That's disturbingly hilarious that he had a number one hit with 'Ich wünsch' mir ne kleine Miezekatze' (I want to have a little kitty cat) for nine weeks (Queen's ultimate song Bohemian Rhapsody was number one for nine weeks!)

Interesting the influence of Loriot, that stories such as the man who retires before his family is ready is now a classic one - very useful to learn about.

Fascinating about his musical work too - 'Ring an einem Abend' would be well received by opera goers without 16 hours to spare...

" the German AIDS-Gala, which he moderated for ten years ." - I'm not sure I know what 'moderated' means here...

Why are Stone Lice associated with Loriot?

Superb concluding paragraph

I just watched the video of the bathtub - superb! My German is rusty these days, so I missed some of the verbal humour, but the serious facial expressions and postures added to the humour and absurdity of the situation so I enjoyed it indeed!

I believe, by 'moderated' is meant that Loriot hosted the gala? At least, in the US, we'd say 'hosted'. In the UK, you talk about 'presenters', which we don't. What do you call the person who announces the numbers, introduces people, and makes jokes?

Tav, maybe the stone lice need more explanation.

'Stone lice' are made-up - Loriot wrote a parody of nature documentaries using an invented creature. To continue the joke, a zoo has a 'stone louse' exhibit, and some wag put an entry about them in a scientific dictionary, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_louse

Thanks a lot Sasha!

I changed moderated to 'presented' but maybe 'hosted' would be even better.

I also added to the stone lice that Loriot invented them.

The way it's worded now, it sounds like Loriot invented the buildings. (Unlike German speakers, English speakers are easily confused by modifiers. ) Could you write something like this, with the link, maybe?

>>Die Steinlaus - an endangered kind of louse that eats stone, often damaging buildings which Loriot invented. <<

How about ' Die Steinlaus: an endangered 'species' of louse (invented by Loriot and not found in nature) that eats stone, often damaging buildings &ndash; or even collapsing them, as shown in Loriot's tongue-in-cheek mockumentary.

thank you!

Thanks Tav You've answered my questions very clearly now

Steinlaus is another example of how Loriot's work is influential, that his mention of it inspired so much scientific discussion!

I've been spring cleaning recently, and found my Loriot cartoon book "Fur den Fall"

I'm searching for my copy of 'Auf den Hund gekommen' but just can't find it. I know I had it a few weeks ago...

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Bravo Tav.

Dödel didl doo

Well done!

Thank you!

Hollerö du dödel di (I think)