The German term “Bereitschaft” encompasses readiness and willingness to take action, yet it also harbors darker undertones. In 1939, German sculptor Arno Breker (1900-1991) crafted a statue titled with this word, portraying a male, nude warrior drawing a sword, symbolizing preparedness for the impending call to arms faced by the German people. This sculpture has become an obsession on TikTok. Through their video work, the artists delve into the glorification of the ‘sculpted’ male physique and the advocacy of self-discipline within TikTok fitness trends, examining how these inclinations mirror fascist tendencies and serve as symptoms of a right-wing ideo- logical shift. Terms like ‘brohood’, ‘gymbros’, and ‘bromance’ evoke a sense of unity, wherein the individual becomes subordinate. Influencers promote order and disci- pline, urging followers to disregard the inner “bitch voice” which purportedly leads to weakness. The trend not only defends masculinity with misogynistic characteristics but also manifests increasingly peculiar manifestations, including ‘bonesmashing’, ‘chiselled jawline’, ‘mewing’, ‘looksmaxxing’, facial fitness, and ‘hunter eyes’, advocat- ing an unsettling and extreme pursuit of physical perfection.
Jakob Ganslmeier & Ana Zibelnik, 2024
motion design: Studio RNDR
sound : Daniel Hermann-Collini
Produced by Paradox
Full BEREITSCHAFT video available upon request
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While much of the presented material may not initially appear to align with far-right ideology, Ganslmeier and Zibelnik adeptly delineate a pattern illustrating how mainstream visual language is co-opted by extremist factions to amplify their influence.
Mirjam Kooiman, head of artistic programming at FOAM
Bereitschaft at Foam
Image by Christian van der Kooy
Arno Breker is the catalyst of this waging culture war that is happening in this very instant. When you look at the (Bereitschaft, 1939) statue, it’s like a masculine-looking guy, strong, you look at it and your testosterone levels go up 50%, just by looking at the picture. If you look at culture right now — Arno Breker goes viral, looksmaxxing goes viral.
By YouTube user "Alcantar," 2024
Design by Studio Sallali