golem!

[rm]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/world/europe/11golem.html

Interesting stuff. But also, golem? Serious business. The idea of it as a souvenir tschotke is a bit disconcerting.

But then I am of the school of "I don't care if we're all supposed to know it's not real, here's a list of stuff you don't mess around with."

Comments

[dipping_sauce]

Only slightly related, have you read Why Is This Night Different?

[marcmagus]

"...a recent musical starring a dancing Golem..."

I was in Prague in the summer of 2002. Unless I recently threw it out, somewhere around here I have a pamphlet advertising Golem: the Musical. We didn't get a chance to go.

I didn't notice any tschotschkes [as you say, a bit disconcerting], and I think I was happier not knowing about the restaurant.

I'm pleased that, as I read the article, they're still not letting anybody into the attic. I hope nobody's deciding to try to make a new one . . ..

[1-mad-squirrel.livejournal.com]

I'm not even Jewish, and I think that's not something to be messed around with. Maybe it's that I'm Pagan, and I believe you don't trivialize something with such potentially dangerous magic.

[newsbean.livejournal.com]

Sucking the power out of things through mass production. Dilution and loss.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

Eeeew!

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

That part of Prague is spooky. I had classes in a building on the top floor and from the windows you could see the cemetery.

[lovefromgirl.livejournal.com]

That'd be like giving out Kali keychains in Mumbai.

[sethg]

How can it be a souvenir tschotke golem if it doesn't have the Hebrew on the forehead? Even for kitsch, there should be some standards here.

(I also have this vision of silent clay-faced men patrolling the streets, wearing black windbreakers with white GOLEM across the back. You know, kind of like the POLICE jackets they wear when they're doing a bust.)

[sykii.livejournal.com]

I feel that way about golems too. And you know how in touch with my roots I'm not.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Wow. VERY creepy story. Highly recommended!

And while I don't BELIEVE in the Golem, and I'm not even Jewish, I'd just as soon be respectful.

[shipchan.livejournal.com]

Is it weird that I'm freaked out by this? Like I know it's not real, but it is! Stories are real! *rant rant runs off into the night*

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean, good that the story is being passed on, but to reduce it to a merchandising opportunity (sort of pre-emptive cultural appropriation)... just, sigh.

[shipchan.livejournal.com]

Yeah it just seems sort of weird. I mean, Prague already has the weird realationship with Kafka, do we really need this?

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

But then I am of the school of "I don't care if we're all supposed to know it's not real, here's a list of stuff you don't mess around with."

Is there a secret handshake for this? Because dude. There are things I will not touch with a ten meter cattle prod for this very same reason.

[mamadar.livejournal.com]

I want in on the secret handshake, yes. I was just reading some poems by Marge Piercy about visiting Prague, which made reading this article that much more creepy.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Whereas I think it would be in worse taste if it had the letters.

On the whole, I think that if tschotke-izing legends (not central parts of the religion) is an aspect of Judaism becoming a normal part of the non-Jewish world, it's a really small and acceptable price.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Hell yes. I'm very fond of our ridiculous material culture.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

On that level, golem toys don't bother me at all. I'd suspected that I'm in a middle ground about the amount of weird stuff I believe in with rather few other people, and this is evidence.

[shipchan.livejournal.com]

LOL Then where's my Kafka plush doll?

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

A Scream Pillow might tide you over until one turns up.

[shipchan.livejournal.com]

Oh god.

[woogledesigns.livejournal.com]

"don't mess around with."

Cos of superstition or respect for history?

[raaven.livejournal.com]

I must admit to a sort of disturbed fascination with golems in general, and the Golem of Prague in particular.

And yeah, it's completely creepy that people are treating it trivially. Feels like poking at a primal force.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Superstition mainly. I get freaked out by people who have the Dark Mark from Harry Potter tattooed on their arms too. Don't mess with stuff!