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Help[Opinions] Re: Leni?
in reply to a message by Alienor
Riefenstahl - you may say she was a gifted filmmaker, but I feel no sympathy for her and if I saw a child named Leni, I would firstly think that her parents wanted to honour her. You know, there are names that will be always associated with certain persons and you can't get over it - Wolfgang Amadeus, Adolf, Marlene...
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Leni Riefenstahl, wasn't proud of the propaganda aspect of her life, but in the circumstances I don't think many people would have done much different, she was between a rock and hard place.
Post War however, she did a lot of magnificent photography work in Africa, and captured many tribal practices on film that have now been wiped out through warfare in Sudan. So although she did a bad thing making Hitler films etc, she did do a great service to those African peoples whose traditions she captured on film. Although it doesn't excuse or explain her war activites, I like to think it's something on her path to redemption.
I love the name Leni, I'd use it.
Post War however, she did a lot of magnificent photography work in Africa, and captured many tribal practices on film that have now been wiped out through warfare in Sudan. So although she did a bad thing making Hitler films etc, she did do a great service to those African peoples whose traditions she captured on film. Although it doesn't excuse or explain her war activites, I like to think it's something on her path to redemption.
I love the name Leni, I'd use it.
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hehe
here in Germany Wolfgang is such a common name (at least for older people) so hearing that it is first associated with Wolfgang Amadeus is kind of funny. Same for Marlene. I know Marlene Dietrich but I don't think the name is that attached to her. Many people don't even know her. I know Leni Riefenstahl but I think that you need to use a name to disattach it from a negative connection. I would also use let's say Lilith or Salome. When people see it on a child they immediately forget the first association with the "famous" person. The only exception is Adolf. I think it would be difficult not to think of the person.
here in Germany Wolfgang is such a common name (at least for older people) so hearing that it is first associated with Wolfgang Amadeus is kind of funny. Same for Marlene. I know Marlene Dietrich but I don't think the name is that attached to her. Many people don't even know her. I know Leni Riefenstahl but I think that you need to use a name to disattach it from a negative connection. I would also use let's say Lilith or Salome. When people see it on a child they immediately forget the first association with the "famous" person. The only exception is Adolf. I think it would be difficult not to think of the person.
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Yep, meeting someone (especially someone nice) with "strong namesaked" name is the best way to get over the associations. Actually, I once wrote a story, where a shy and nice character was named Adolf. I just wanted to get over the association. :D
Funny you mentioned Wolfgang! Being an ex-student of German school and having many connections to Germany and German people (my bf is German), I know many people named Wolfgang - my old music teacher, a book seller who lives in St. Petersburg, a pianist and a doctor from Berlin, at least. As far as I remember, the current director of the school I mentioned is Wolfgang, too.
But usually the first impression of all non-German people is very simple: Wolfgang=Mozart.
Funny you mentioned Wolfgang! Being an ex-student of German school and having many connections to Germany and German people (my bf is German), I know many people named Wolfgang - my old music teacher, a book seller who lives in St. Petersburg, a pianist and a doctor from Berlin, at least. As far as I remember, the current director of the school I mentioned is Wolfgang, too.
But usually the first impression of all non-German people is very simple: Wolfgang=Mozart.
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