Perusing through the internet for articles on East German identity, I found a lot of varying viewpoints. First of all, it was obvious that recreating East German life is a growing craze. The theme of "ostalgie" (east nostalgia) is making its mark on clothes, food, cars, TV programs and even a hotel! The East German viewpoint is to revive the life that they have lived for 20 years of their lives, not the government. However, many West Germans percieve the East Germans as not being ignorant to the "bad"-ness of their past.
I would like to research the different East German businesses (Trabant, Ostel Hotel...) that are coming out and find the motivation behind the owners to become entrepreneurs. After the westernization of East German society, some East Germans claim that the new way of life is not actually freedom. To what extent are the East Germans discriminated? Through research I have found that East Germans are marginalized politically, economically (jobs), and socially. (See http://mondediplo.com/1997/02/09germany) Is the discrimination a cause of bringing back the "old life," fondness of the past, or pure memories of the East German lifestyle that they are accustomed to?
My research topic needs a lot of refining, but that is the general idea.
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