GERM 332 - Writing the City: The Urban Experience from Expressionism to New Objectivity

FC ARHU CD

4 credits
A city in the times of crisis: how can it be represented in literature, art, and film? To answer this question, we will focus on Berlin of the Weimar era (1918-33). This was a period of political upheavals and drastic social changes that began with the emergence of the new democracy and ended with the rise of national socialism. We will explore literary and artistic reflections of the most topical aspects of life in the modern metropolis: from the everyday absurdities and anxieties to the fight against the historical inequalities. Class readings and discussions will cover works of different genres: writings by Benjamin, Brecht, Kafka, and others; films, music, and visual artworks.
Prerequisites & Notes: Please note: this course meets at the same time as GERM 332. Students who have studied German before on the intermediate level or above should enroll in GERM 332. (Prerequisites: German 203/204 or placement test.) All other students should enroll in GERM 232 (Prerequisites: None.) Class readings will have two options: German or English. Other class activities will include discussions in English and group work in German (for GERM 332) or English (for GERM 232).