German 433 - 20Th Century Prose

Authors writing in German include some of the most important of the 20th Century, from Freud and Kafka to Nobel Prize winners. A wide range of figures grappled with the central issues of the age: war, violence and the Holocaust; industrialization, urbanization and the fragmentation of modern identity. Yet innovations in style and critical engagement with European traditions have produced works of profound beauty and world influence. A range of short prose will be treated, with student writing focused on analysis of style in relation to cultural debates of the century. Texts from such authors as Freud, Mann, Kafka, Brecht, Benjamin, Tucholsky, Seghers, Wolf, Grass, Biermann and more contemporary figures representing the increasing diversity of culture in Germany since reunification. Class conducted in German.

From Nazi Germany, through the socialist state of the GDR, to unified Germany, young people have found themselves in very distinct social and cultural contexts that determined their roles in their respective societies. In this seminar, students explore the history of youth as they examine the works of authors and filmmakers engaging with the experiences of young people growing up in 20th and 21st century Germany, and their distinct cultural contexts. Course materials include a selection of novels, short stories, and feature films.
Class conducted in German.