Chapter 8 “Das Mittelalter bricht da wieder durch” in a State in Crisis: Turbostaat’s Lit-Punk Rechtsruck (Non-)Commentary
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Abstract
German punk lyrics have evolved from formerly characteristic simplistic battle cries into a literary venue that is no less part of contemporary literature as more traditional literary works. This article introduces the term “lit-punk” to provide a new platform, allowing space for the discussion of contemporary German punk bands’ works that academic contexts neglected so far. This research provides a close reading of one example of lit-punk, as well as the author’s commentary on his work. The German punk band Turbostaat’s poetic, cryptic lyrics merely narrated snapshots of ordinary everyday life in Germany – far removed from traditional genre stereotypes already – before their 2016 narrative concept album Abalonia. I argue that Abalonia’s lyrics must be read as indirect and opaque commentary on the so-called “refugee crisis”, and as a valuable contribution to contemporary German literature. The band’s lyricist draws on the literary canon to comment on and draw attention to contemporary xenophobic and far-right political developments – a seemingly urgent interpretation that the author, however, strongly refuses to entertain as part of a play with audience expectations, a literary hallmark in and of itself.