Following the success of her 2008 novel Wetlands and her 2011 novel Wrecked, few of us fear to get to know the woman behind these “disgustingly pornographic” books; most of us, however, are dying to learn more about this quirky, outspoken TV presenter and inspirational writer.
Charlotte Roche has done it all. She shaved her head way before Britney Spears set the trend, played for a garage rock band called The Dubinskis, created art work with her own blood and finally landed a job at the German music channel VIVA presenting the show Fast Forward. She soon established herself as the “Queen of German Pop Television” and was nominated for the Grimme Prize in 2001.
In 2012, she joined together with fellow journalist Jan Böhmermann to host the controversial talk show Roche & Böhmermann, which is described as “A talk show in the style of the past made new.” Each week four to six guests were invited, none of which had much in common. Sometimes it even seemed as though Roche and Böhmermann purposely invited guests they couldn’t (under)stand in order to allow their audience a greater insight into the thoughts and opinions of these characters, i.e. their twisted morals and need for fame by all means necessary. It was a brilliantly sarcastic, in-your-face show screened from a darkly-lit room in which guests were openly invited to smoke and drink freely. Unfortunately, due to disagreements, the show was cancelled in 2013.
Charlotte’s blunt commentary and strong, female poise will be missed, but we’re sure it won’t be for long. Right now, we are all excited to see the film adaptation to her novel Wrecked, a strange and intimate story that reads almost like an autobiography (which it partially is). If you haven’t yet heard of Charlotte Roche, here are three reasons you really should get to know and love her!
1. What You See Is What You Get
One characteristic that makes Charlotte Roche the most refreshing personalities on TV these days is the fact that she has absolutely no desire to sell herself as someone other than who she actually is. Back in her VIVA days she proudly presented up and coming musicians as well as her hairy armpits. Regardless of who she is interviewing or simply speaking to, she stays true to her own voice, her own choice of words and humour. This means she has no problem sharing intimate details with rock stars such as Bela B from the German punk band Die Ärtze; she was happy to give him a meticulous account of the state of the greasy zits on her back. She has never once strayed from her own identity in an attempt to please or soothe the opinions of others and for a public figure like herself that deserves some serious RESPECT.
2. She Says it Like it Is
If you’ve read Wetlands, you’re either still reeling from shock and nauseating disgust or you are applauding a hilariously written big f*ck you to the world and it’s ridiculous bodily obsessions. A lot of people were under the impression that Roche was merely craving media attention with her provocative scribbling’s, but that just goes to show how ignorant people really are. Wetlands tells the story of eighteen year old Helen Memel, who finds herself in hospital after a colorectal surgery. Helen is a child of divorce who wishes for nothing more than her parents getting back together, but there’s a fat chance of that happening. To keep her mind off of her home-life and her anal pain, she whiles away her time in hospital masturbating, experimenting with her bodily fluids, fabricating DIY tampons and making sweet slimy love to her avocado pit. Helen describes herself as a “Bodily-Fluid-Recycler” and is fascinated by all themes taboo.
What Roche is really trying to point out through her character Helen Memel is the fact that society’s obsession with hygiene and bodily ideals has negative influences on people’s sex lives in that these chosen standards go against all things natural. People no longer appreciate the natural states of their bodies, be that in terms of appearance or smell. The allure of our natural pheromones has been masked with heavy perfumes, lotions and sprays. Even our vaginas aren’t safe from scented pads, lotions and supposedly PH neutral soaps. Charlotte’s message here is simple: Go back to au natural and stop letting the beauty industry get into your head!
3. She Stands Up For Her Beliefs
Charlotte is a self-professed eco-nun who was so taken by Jonathan Safran Foer’s book Eating Animals she had the cover tattooed onto her wrist. Everything she does, she does it to the absolute extreme. As a member of the activist organisation ATTAC, she has shown a rather passionate interest in fighting for the abolition of nuclear power plants in Germany. In fact, she was ready to –literally- take one for the team: She offered ex-German President Christian Wolff a steamy night of sex in return for his not signing the nuclear treaty. Yes, Roche sure has some interesting techniques; we dare not think about her bedroom habits…Then again, after the mixed mass of sexual information we’ve accumulated in her books, we kind of do….
Although she has herself always been part of the media circus in one form or another, she believes in professionalism (For the sake of the argument: Never mind the VIVA days spent tripping balls while hosting) and, well, human decency. She has developed a fond hatred of sleazy journalists who will readily exploit tragedy-stricken families for a vile headline and a snappy title. Roche shows no interest in disguising her genuine hostility towards odious publications such as the Bild. Her crusades against the Bild newspaper is extremely personal and even though she has had plenty a fantasy of mowing down the entire corporation, a chance meeting with the boss of Springer publication Mathias Döpfner proved just as therapeutic. Knowing he was on the same plane as her she got up, walked up towards his seat and simply told him, I think you are a very bad person because of your work with the Bild newspaper and walked off. Chew on that, Döpfner!
If these points weren’t enough to convince you of Charlotte Roche’s irresistible flair, we suggest it’s about time for you to order copies of her books Wetlands and Wrecked – love at first read is guaranteed!
