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406 Christoph Lorke itself explicitly as an intellectual suggestion, which may generate further research guestions and deeper analysis.? Old-Age Pensioners: Promoting Social Respectability The most elementary form of social differentiation within the context of state socialism was that based on work activity. There was an expectation that, in regard to the old-age-pensioners, the audience should constantly be aware of their importance as crucial members of society, in order to express gratitude to these “veterans of work”. While in the first years after World War I] not a few of the elderly were seen by the regime as bearers of the old, ‘backward’ way of life, this attitude has strikingly changed since the 1960s, not least because of the intensified competitive constellation between the Eastern Bloc and the West. The Cold War was already in full swing and being the more “successful” side in offering more “appropriate” strategies and protection against social risks had an immense importance in this context. Thus, in the mass media soon narratives were established that had to “prove” the pensioners’ submissive and humble attitude towards the state authorities. The strong emphasis on work was essential in the GDR “workfare states” (Hockerts 1998: 21) and was obviously addressed to working people. Active and busy old age—this was the central expression strongly underlining the position of honest and long-standing labour. This was nothing other than a reinterpretation of the high rate of pensioners who continued working in the GDR after their retirement, because this was necessary for them to ensure a reasonable standard of living. As a result, work during old age was romanticized and certain stable images could develop—for example, that of the sewing elderly woman.‘ But even “free-time”-activities were supposed to be spent actively, leisurely, and—ideally—collectively rather than alone. This included celebrations, reader circles, dicing, or parlour games.’ The image of aging collectively as a continuation of the “socialistic community of people” and thus overcoming social isolation was visually outlined in contemporary GDR self-help literature, too (e.g. Eitner 1979) (Fig. 1). Another important recurring pattern was the constant “inter-generational” visualization—thus, obviously, it should be symbolically proven that older people have excellent knowledge and experience in life and labour, which can be passed on to the youth. By contrast, grandmothers were presented as an important factor in For example, it is possible to include the analysis of more local publications, such as daily, weekly, or monthly newspapers and magazines, e.g. the Bulgarian women’s magazine, Zhenata Dnes (Woman Today’). * This work does not seek to present the full range of all the photographs found but rather to offer a selection of “typical” visual representations. For this case, see H. Hein, “Mit 85 noch nicht zum “alten Eisen”” (‘At 85 Still Not on the “Scrap Heap”), Berliner Zeitung, October 30, 1960; R. Scheel, “Erfülltes Leben” (‘Fulfilled Life’), Solidaritdt (‘Solidarity’) 1966. > P Reinke, “Die aus dem früheren Scheunenviertel feiern Weihnachten” (“Those from the Former Scheunenviertel Celebrate Christmas’), Solidarität 1964; M. Freund, “Im Feierabendheim” (‘In the Retirement Home’), Solidarität 1966.
