Girl Talk's literary equivalent, or, Berlin condones a charlatan.

In academia, regardless of department, plagiarism is not only frowned upon, but results in heavy penalties. Likewise, the same standards apply to the creative world that exists beyond the tediousness of academia. Authors are not free to roam and reproduce another author's work, disguising it as their own. Unless you live in Berlin, apparently.

What a fucking fraud looks like

To be blunt, a fraud by the name of Helene Hegemann "wrote" a novel, which after its publication, was found to have many similarities to a lesser known novel, named "Strobo." To This charlatan, I say, piss off. The revelation of her theft aside, Hegemann has found solace in her smugness, daring to proclaim her act not as plagiarism, but as, preposterously, "mixing."

You can't mash up novels, you hack. It just doesn't work that way. The writing community at least attempts to self-police, as opposed to the community propping up that fraud combing Enya with Blackstreet. But, even they don't accept awards like you have, or hide behind the fact that the idiots of your great nation have stood behind you, even after knowing that you have PLAGIARIZED ENTIRE PAGES FROM ANOTHER NOVEL.

The musical equivalent of Helen Hegemann

This phony and the asshats bank-rolling her should apologize for theft. Yes, the German imbeciles are condoning thievery of the laziest sort. I mean, did she actually think she could prevail unscathed? And who will hold her accountable? This fraud's recycled income depends on someone else's legitimacy, which saddens me.

Hopefully, with the New York Times expose on this charlatan, she gets put in her place. Which, quite frankly, should be far, far away from any books. Well, let her read Ayn Rand or something. No one cares about that.

Big ups to the Live blog for exposing this thief. (http://airen.wordpress.com)