Hitler Continuing To Make Pages Of Phila. Arts & Culture Journals

Since Hitler came up twice this morning, I figured I’d take a look at everyone’s favorite Hitler-referencing publication was doing. The Broad Street Review has a handy search function; so far in 2008, Hitler has been referenced five times. It’s only February 19!

I gotta keep a running tally. Here’s the current score, with ratings measured in Godwins:

• “It’s astonishing, watching The Rape of Europa in a Philadelphia theater, to think that one of the world’s great collections of art is endangered in our own community by the sort of arrogance that Hitler and Goering displayed in extremis more than 60 years ago.” Robert Zoller, movie review. Rating: Four Reverse Godwins. Movie is about the Nazis’ art destruction, but is compared to the Barnes Museum’s Parkway relocation.
• “When he started the composition, Americans didn’t yet know of Hitler’s systematic plan to kill all the Jews.” Steve Cohen, review of Philadelphia orchestra, Jan. 22. Rating: One Godwin. Referenced in a play about Jews.
• “In words and pictures alike (for Miller had become a published journalist as well as a photographer), she documented the flaming end of Adolf Hitler’s dream.” Andrew Mangravite, photography review, Jan 27. Rating: One Godwin. The artist photographed hitler.
• “Conversely, the French tradition of rigorous critical analysis is actually an excuse for inaction— a good thing in some instances (the French avoided our current Iraq trap) and a bad thing in others (the French failed to stand up aggressively to Hitler).” Dan Rottenberg, play review. Rating: Two Godwins. Eh, he coulda done without the Hitler reference, but it’s not too bad.
• “My parents, born in 1916 and 1917, were the exact contemporaries of Arthur Miller and his fictitious Victor Franz. They belonged to the so-called “Greatest Generation,” the one that licked both the Great Depression and Hitler.” Rottenberg, play review. Rating: Two Godwins. The same applies here.

I’ll try to keep updating this as the references roll in; there are more on the letters page!