I find nosflow's translation of "I Herz Gelsenkirchen" as "Ithaca is Gorges" particularly delightful. Well played, sir.
I feel like I've read this somewhere before...
I do feel a little disappointed at the realization that the site is over a year old. I thought you were on the cutting edge, nosflow.
So now will you tell us what Zweckmäßigkeit is?
I'd love to order some of these, but really, 17.40€ is just excessive. Wouldn't the marginal cost of producing these be tiny?
I've had different versions of an "Ithaca is Gorges" shirt every year since I was about 5, so suck it German hipsters.
7: so... you were into them before they were cool?
Actually I think at that age I had both that t shirt and an OG trucker hat, and I was cute and slender. If I could have transported myself into Brooklyn/Silverlake circa 2001, I could have gotten lots of play, if somehow we can get around the 5 years old part of the fantasy. Work with me here.
I really have no idea what role either Gelsenkirchen or shirts that say "I Herz Gelsenkirchen" play in the German economy of hipness.
5: "Purposiveness".
10.2: Thanks.
7: I wasn't aware that there were different versions of the "Ithaca is Gorges" shirt. Every one I've ever seen is the same shade of green with the same typeface. I had assumed that this had been determined at one of the People's Soviets for Casual Garment Production.
I wasn't aware that there were different versions of the "Ithaca is Gorges" shirt. Every one I've ever seen is the same shade of green with the same typeface. I had assumed that this had been determined at one of the People's Soviets for Casual Garment Production.
All the straight ones I've seen are the same, but there are dozens of takeoffs like "Ithaca Is Freezing."
I probably should have said sizes, not versions. I think it was adopted as a slogan by the Tompkins County tourism office in the late 70s, for brochures and whatnot, and the shirts just riffed off that design. My relatives got boatloads of free ones so I had at least one a year as a kid.
If I had to guess, I would guess that "I ♥ Gelsenkirchen" would serve a similar function of "I ♥ [mid-sized rustbelt American city--maybe Cincinnati?--I don't actually know anything about American rustbelt cities.]" would in the US. Former coal town, now with 0 collieries; down almost a third from population peak; has a big-time sports team, which the hipster is unlikely to appreciate except ironically.
All the straight ones I've seen are the same, but there are dozens of takeoffs like "Ithaca Is Freezing."
Both the regular ones and the takeoffs come in various colors as well, although the green is the most classic.
17: Reminds me how, the first time I ever saw a Yankees cap in a non-navy blue, my reaction (after an obligatory WTF?) was that it was significant that the Yankees logo is so iconic that it works even divorced from its native livery.
Then, of course, within a year or 3, every MLB team was doing it, and it became much less interesting.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
My sainted mother has just informed me that my grandfather was from Gelsenkirchen.
What does your real mother think?
We are neglecting the real issue: Young Noseflow, does your mother read this blog? And if so, do we need to raise funds to send her flowers?