222
AdAptAtion in the Age of MediA ConvergenCe
an easily solved riddle. This camouflage, coupled with the above-named
dissimulation through selective references to Nazi crimes and the Holocaust,
results in a product centered on entertainment rather than education.
Perhaps surprisingly, only the unfiltered version of Wolfenstein: The New
Order could be regarded as an exception to this trend. In general, however,
camouflage and dissimulation amplify the mythologization of Nazi Germany.
This camouflaging and dissimulation of references to National Socialism
in the filtered versions have been triggered by a restrictive application of
the law prohibiting the use of forbidden symbols in Germany. 84 Paradoxically, this result can be argued not to serve the law’s intention by granting
National Socialism the aura of something obscure and tabooed, rather than
by preventing NS propaganda. 85
However, the resulting amplified mythologization is closely related
to a punishable communicative intention in media products containing
references to Nazi Germany, captioned “Incitement to hatred” in the German
Criminal Code:
Whosoever publicly or in a meeting disturbs the public peace in a manner
that violates the dignity of the victims by approving of, glorifying, or justifying National Socialist rule of arbitrary force shall be liable to imprisonment
not exceeding three years or a fine. 86
Legal commentary further characterizes what is meant by glorification of
Nazi rule: “glorification” in the legal sense is, among other things, understood
as depicting Nazi rule “as something great, impressive, or heroic,” or as
“highly valuing principal actors or symbolic figures of the NS regime by
emphasizing them in a special way.” 87 Wolfenstein: The New Order depicts
Nazi world domination, including hallmarks such as the establishment of
a permanent lunar base. This depiction of Nazism might fall under this
prohibition. Indeed, this could explain the very thorough filtering process
84 Cf. Schumann, “Ist die Ausfuhr von Computerspielen mit NS-Symbolen strafbar?.”
85 Cf. Hörnle, “Verwendung von NS-Symbolen,” 698–699; Hörnle, Grob anstößiges Verhalten,
276–281; Fischer et al., Strafgesetzbuch und Nebengesetze, 779, § 86a, no. 2b.
86 German Criminal Code, § 130, paragraph 4, own emphases.
87 “[…] als etwas Großartiges, Imponierendes oder Heldenhaftes […] oder in der Schilderung
der Unrechtshandlungen und ihrer Verantwortungsträger entsprechende positive Wertakzente
setzt […] z.B. dadurch […], dass ein Verantwortungsträger oder eine Symbolfigur des NS-Regimes
angepriesen oder in besonderer Weise hervorgehoben wird” (Georg Bauer et al., eds., Strafgesetzbuch: Leipziger Kommentar, 12., neubearbeitete Auflage, 14 vols. (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2007),
503, paragraph 116, my translation). While paragraph 6 of this article introduces the provision
of social adequacy to this law, this provision has not yet been applied to video games.
AdAptAtion in the Age of MediA ConvergenCe
an easily solved riddle. This camouflage, coupled with the above-named
dissimulation through selective references to Nazi crimes and the Holocaust,
results in a product centered on entertainment rather than education.
Perhaps surprisingly, only the unfiltered version of Wolfenstein: The New
Order could be regarded as an exception to this trend. In general, however,
camouflage and dissimulation amplify the mythologization of Nazi Germany.
This camouflaging and dissimulation of references to National Socialism
in the filtered versions have been triggered by a restrictive application of
the law prohibiting the use of forbidden symbols in Germany. 84 Paradoxically, this result can be argued not to serve the law’s intention by granting
National Socialism the aura of something obscure and tabooed, rather than
by preventing NS propaganda. 85
However, the resulting amplified mythologization is closely related
to a punishable communicative intention in media products containing
references to Nazi Germany, captioned “Incitement to hatred” in the German
Criminal Code:
Whosoever publicly or in a meeting disturbs the public peace in a manner
that violates the dignity of the victims by approving of, glorifying, or justifying National Socialist rule of arbitrary force shall be liable to imprisonment
not exceeding three years or a fine. 86
Legal commentary further characterizes what is meant by glorification of
Nazi rule: “glorification” in the legal sense is, among other things, understood
as depicting Nazi rule “as something great, impressive, or heroic,” or as
“highly valuing principal actors or symbolic figures of the NS regime by
emphasizing them in a special way.” 87 Wolfenstein: The New Order depicts
Nazi world domination, including hallmarks such as the establishment of
a permanent lunar base. This depiction of Nazism might fall under this
prohibition. Indeed, this could explain the very thorough filtering process
84 Cf. Schumann, “Ist die Ausfuhr von Computerspielen mit NS-Symbolen strafbar?.”
85 Cf. Hörnle, “Verwendung von NS-Symbolen,” 698–699; Hörnle, Grob anstößiges Verhalten,
276–281; Fischer et al., Strafgesetzbuch und Nebengesetze, 779, § 86a, no. 2b.
86 German Criminal Code, § 130, paragraph 4, own emphases.
87 “[…] als etwas Großartiges, Imponierendes oder Heldenhaftes […] oder in der Schilderung
der Unrechtshandlungen und ihrer Verantwortungsträger entsprechende positive Wertakzente
setzt […] z.B. dadurch […], dass ein Verantwortungsträger oder eine Symbolfigur des NS-Regimes
angepriesen oder in besonderer Weise hervorgehoben wird” (Georg Bauer et al., eds., Strafgesetzbuch: Leipziger Kommentar, 12., neubearbeitete Auflage, 14 vols. (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2007),
503, paragraph 116, my translation). While paragraph 6 of this article introduces the provision
of social adequacy to this law, this provision has not yet been applied to video games.