Commentary on "Mechanical properties of mono-domain side chain nematic elastomers" by P. Martinoty et al., Eur. Phys. J. E 14, 311 (2004)

We discuss the rheology experiments on nematic elastomers by Martinoty et al. in the light of theoretical models for the long-wavelength low-frequency dynamics of these materials. We review these theories and discuss how they can be modified to provide a phenomenological description of the non-hydrodynamic frequency regime probed in the experiments. Moreover, we review the concepts of soft and semi-soft elasticity and comment on their implications for the experiments.