Germany1871-1990:Exp. Modernty

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Germany 1871-1990: Experiences of Modernity. The course combines selected readings of non-fiction, historical accounts, political treatise, and literary works with a generous cross-section of films to look at some major cultural developments in Germany between the founding of the second empire in 1871 and the reunification of Germany in 1990. A particular focus will be on issues of modernity (and post-modernity) such as technological advances, urbanization, mass society, democratization, totalitarianism, migration, and globalized economic development. Students will have extensive reading assignments and watch one to three movies every week. The readings will be complemented by writing assignments in three distinctive genres (narrative of a story-line; analytical interpretation of multiple non-fiction texts and films; evaluation of divergent positions) and a formal oral presentation of additional materials.