German 304 - From Berlin to Hollywood

An introduction to German cinema, treating Weimar Expressionism, Nazi film and
anti-Nazi exile cinema, film in post-WWII East and West Germany, and German film
since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Conducted in English. (Gen.Ed. AT)

"Women in the lead: from silent film stars to pop culture icons" will be the special focus of this course for spring, 2017. The careers of key women in German and Scandinavian film will provide the core of the course, tracing especially the creation of "stardom" as a phenomenon in international film culture and leading to the media and pop culture "celebrity" of today. Film history will be traced in the work of those who began in the silent cinema and extended into the post-WWII era (Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Asta Nielsen, Herta Thiele, Valeska Gert, Leni Riefenstahl, Lotte Reiniger), in feature film (directing and scriptwriting), documentary and animation. Prominent feminist work of the "New German Cinema" in West Germany will be compared with work by East German women directors and the role of gender in contemporary German film. American stars who made history in Europe will also be studied, such as Josephine Baker, Louise Brooks and Anna Mae Wong. Finally, contemporary popular culture will be examined, such as David Bowie's celebrations of Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich or the influence of such historic stars on performers such as Madonna and Lady Gaga.
Professor Louise Wallenberg of the Department of Media Studies (and Institute for Fashion Studies) at the University of Stockholm has been invited to contribute lectures to the course, on queer cinema and fashion and cinema in the Scandinavian and international context.
Conducted in English; Lecture, discussion.
The course can be used to fulfill requirements for: German and Scandinavian studies majors; film studies certificate; Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies elective.