The essay points out three models of laughter within the current literary Wende discourse; namely: (1) freedom and coming to terms with the past, (3) Osttrotz and self-confidence (which conceals two variants of Ostalgie) and (6) the cipher Freiheitslehrer/in (freedom teacher) for the happy time around 2014, as well as, stepping in between, four models of weeping: (2) victim discourse and Stasi guilt, (4) experiences of loss as the third type of Ostalgie, (5) the new seriousness around 2005 and (7) the re-traumatisation around keywords such as Treuhand and empowerment. However, this by no means seems to mean that the “end of history” is in sight. Rather, the article wants to point out a basic pattern whose ongoing use is at least not improbable.
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