Post #627645 by bigbrotiki on Mon, Mar 5, 2012 8:13 AM

The Dr. Funk and Augustin Kraemer stories illustrate an interesting dichotomy of the history of colonization: That while the main reason for any Western country to take over some exotic nation was to increase its economic and strategic power (with religious conversion being used as a tool for such means), and much original culture was destroyed in the course of such egotistical endeavors, it brought with it an interesting cultural exchange on the individual human level, with many of the "foreign agents" of colonization carrying a genuine love for that culture, often acting as preservationists of its traditions and arts, by recording and collecting these.

In regards to this part:

On 2012-03-04 16:32, TikiTomD wrote:

Leilani’s paper cites an interesting anecdote about Dr. Funk. In his unpublished work George Westbrook recalled that the old doctor’s face and head had numerous battle scars. On seeing a photograph of himself that Westbrook had retouched to hide the scars, Funk was indignant...

”Who is this?” he said, “it is certainly not me, where are the scars on my face and head? Do you know that I have been an army officer and gone through a German university? What does the photographer think of when he tries to make me look like a pretty Jane?”

What George Westbrook could not have known is that Dr. Funk's reaction most likely was caused by the fact that in his generation, the "Schmiss", a facial scar brought on by a fraternity duel with sharp blades, was seen as a life-long sign of honor and valor. Germany had a very strong martial tradition that pervaded all walks of life before it was horribly manipulated and abused by the Nazis for their world domination philosophy.

For those who care to read more about this archaic custom, here is a great website discussing the ritualistic fencing rules of German 19th Century fraternities, with scary "Schmiss" illustrations at the end:

http://www.pickelhauben.net/articles/Students.htm

Here are some excerpts:

"For a student and all of German Society, the badge of courage was the Schmiss (The dueling scar, or sometimes called the Renommierschmiss, or bragging scar), mostly on the left side of the face, where blows would fall from a right-handed duelist. This was borne by a generation of doctors, jurists, professors and officials, certifying the owner's claim to manly stature. The dueling scar was certain to attract attention because it signified courage and breeding. There are stories that students would resort to self-infliction with a razor. Those who received their Schmiss in this less honorable way would frequently enhance it by pulling the wound apart and irritate it by pouring in wine or sewing horse hair into the gash."

As a matter of fact, the rest of the body was well protected, with only the face and head be left open, resulting in strange "Devo"-like outfits:

Quoting further from the site:

"Another example of a Schmiss, this one from the collection of Mike Huxley. Stories relate that females were attracted to people with such a scar. Somehow I doubt that. I just cannot imagine my wife waking up next to this face and thinking it is a bonus.":

I believe that, despite Dr.Funk probably also carrying some real battle scars from his war years, his attitude of "being made into a plain (not pretty) Jane" by the retouching of his photo is based on the fact that his face bore one or more "Schmiss" scars. Furthermore, to native Polynesian women, whose societies had traditions of tattooing and self-scarification, the scars most likely WERE perceived as marks of a great, manly warrior.

OK Tom, next: A photo of the good doctor WITH facial scars (probably on the left side of his face), please! :D

I leave you with this great illustration of a weird German fraternity "Beer handshake" custom: