debate
ZDF stands by “Winnetou” – this broadcast is planned
Winnetou will continue to ride across the screens on ZDF
© Mary Evans / Imago Images
The debate about Karl May’s “Winnetou” stories has been stirring things up for days. There is often talk of “cancel culture”. But is that really the case?
A passionate debate about the “Winnetou” stories has been going on for days. On the one hand, the books by Karl May and the films based on them criticize stereotypes and racism. Others, in turn, complained about an alleged “Cancel Culture” and claimed that they wanted to ban the “Winnetou” cultural asset.
“Winnetou” on ZDF
Finally, a reason for excitement for the second group: ARD no longer shows the classic films, as reported by the “Bild” newspaper. However, this is not an answer to the ongoing discussion on the subject. Because the broadcasters let the licenses expire in 2020, a purchase is not planned in the future. So there can be no question of “cancel culture” here.
And what about the public service ZDF? At the request of star A ZDF spokeswoman explained that the broadcaster still had the broadcasting rights “for various Karl May films that will be broadcast in the next few years”. “Winnetou and the Half-Blood Apanatschi” is to be broadcast on October 3 at 11:30 a.m. Not all public broadcasters are doing without “Winnetou”.
The story of Winnetou and Old Shatterhand has been the subject of debate for some time, but has flared up again in recent days after Ravensburger Verlag removed a children’s book from its range. “We have followed the many negative responses to our book ‘The Young Chief Winnetou’ and we decided today to stop the delivery of the titles,” it said in a statement published on Instagram.
Ravensburger Verlag withdraws books
The books withdrawn from circulation by Ravensburger Verlag were not Karl May’s classics. Both titles were released to accompany the August 11th cinema film “The Young Chief Winnetou”. A puzzle and a sticker book were also affected by the measure.
The jury of the German Film and Media Evaluation (FBW) made it clear that they had different opinions when evaluating the film. According to the jury members, Karl May’s literary idyll in the homeland of the indigenous peoples of North America is a lie that would completely ignore the genocide of the Native Americans and the injustice inflicted on them by the land grab by the white settlers and the destruction of their natural habitat “, it said in a statement.
Sources: “Bild” newspaper / FBW / ZDF