German 317 - Berlin: Contested Artworks in the German Capital

In this course, “artworks,” in the broadest sense of the term, will provide entry points to the city of Berlin. With countless historic sites within its cityscape marking pivotal moments in German history, Berlin offers a unique landscape for the critical examination of both past and present. Especially since the fall of the Wall and Berlin’s reinstatement as the German capital, the city has led efforts to shape a new national identity and culture. And yet, Berlin is also home to the country’s largest migrant population, and remains what it has long been: a city of varied cultural influences. Throughout the semester, we will examine how these cultural influences manifest themselves in the arts, as well as at historical sites within the built environment of the city. Each week will be centered around one work of art, film, literature, song, theater or architecture that re/presents Berlin-specific histories and has triggered controversial public debates in Germany. We will trace these debates in German news sources, art/culture magazines, and radio broadcasts, analyzing them alongside critical theory readings. Special attention will be paid to migrant and minority artists engaging with questions of national identity, belonging, exclusion, otherness, and race within their works.
Conducted in German. Prerequisite: German 210 or equivalent. Admission with consent of the instructor.

Spring Semester. Senior Lecturer Anna Schrade.

How to handle overenrollment: Priority to German majors.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: An emphasis on written work, readings, oral presentations, group work, and instruction in languages other than English. Students with documented disabilities who will require accommodations in this course should be in consultation with Accessibility Services and reach out to the professor as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations can be made in a timely manner.