This equation of Muftiâs has intrigued me for some time. I read a fairly⌠imaginative explanation positing it as a curse of some sort (the problem is, those readings of the Futhark are based on a book which would not be written until at least a year after this photo was taken.)
To me, just looking at it, it is so clearly an equation. Addition symbol (+), multiplication symbol (X) and you can see from âchaosâ, that is simply how Mufti writes the letter S. This is maths!
á is a symbol for life, sometimes used for âbornâ on German Gravestones.
ጠis a symbol for death, sometimes used for âdiedâ on graves.
ÎŁ is Sigma, a Greek letter typically used in maths for Summation.
á plus S times Sigma ጠNEIN
â (the double arrow) means equivalence: A â B means âIf A is true, B is true; if A is false, B is falseâ. Chaos and E (typically Energy, as in Einsteinâs equation) are equivalent.
NDW 33 days (as mentioned in another blog, this is a comparison between the Neue Deutsche Welle genre, and the RAF, the Rote Armee Fraktion. Given Neubautenâs fractious relationship with the NDW, I reckon theyâre expressing disdain, as in they feel they have been âtaken hostageâ by being placed in a musical movement they feel no kinship with, for 33 days.)
EinstĂźrzende Neubauten used equations in their work frequently. Here is a very similar equation in the lyrics for Sehnsucht:
Chaos equals âSensuchtâ divided by Energie. (I feel less bad about my German spelling now!) Though in Blixaâs maths, the equivalence only goes one way. Chaos implies Sehnsucht, but Sehnsucht does not always imply Chaos.
In the corner, this is expressed in a mathematical equation.
Î (Delta, meaning change over time in maths) S equals ÎH divided by T
Does that equation look familiar? It should. Itâs the the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Anyone whoâll have had even Gymnasium level Physics would recognise it.
ÎS is the change in entropy (ÎS) of a system over time (T is generally time.)
It is often said that entropy is an expression of the disorder, or randomness of a system - in other words, the symbol in thermodynamic physics, for Chaos. So âSâ in Muftiâs equation is also likely to be entropy or chaos. But whatâs ÎH - in Thermodynamics, H means HEAT. Whatâs a synonym for hot? Similar to Berlinâs favourite word⌠Geil. Oh, itâs Sehnsucht. (Desire. Longing. Yearning.)
Itâs a mathematical pun, entropy equals heat divided by time; chaos equals desire divided by energy.
I speculate therefore, that we can assume that the S in Muftiâs equation means Chaos. The equation below equates Chaos with E (usually Energy, as in Einsteinâs equation).
So my translation of Muftiâs sign is as follows:
Life, plus Chaos times the Summation of Death - NO!
Chaos is equivalent with Energy.
(Hostage of the NDW for 33 days.)
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