German literature, from 1890 to present, in historical, political, social, and cultural context. prereq: 3011
Class Notes:
http://classinfo.umn.edu/?ether040+GER3441+Fall2020 This course is completely online in a synchronous format. The course will meet online at the scheduled times.
Class Description:
In "War Media" students will examine modern German war literature, film, and music through the prism of technological change. Taking as their starting point early German media theory's apparent fascination with war, they will read texts by Ernst Jünger, Bernhard Kellermann, Franz Kafka, Alexander Kluge, Marcel Beyer and others; watch films by G. W. Pabst, Josef von Báky, Veit Harlan, and Harun Farocki; and listen to music by Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd. Throughout the course, students will identify ways in which media technologies become part of war efforts and its representation; isolate an operative martial technology within artistic representations of war and interpret them through the lens of that technology; and ask questions about what happens when martial and media technologies merge. This course is taught in German and a significant amount of the reading will be in German. Students should have taken GER 3011 or have sufficient fluency to work closely with texts and discuss them in class.
Who Should Take This Class?:
This course is open to graduate students and undergraduates using 5610 to satisfy the capstone/major project requirement in GSD. Capstone students will be asked either to produce an extended, research-based paper (approximately 15 pages in either English or German). Contact the instructor for further information.
Learning Objectives:
Familiarity with contemporary forms of literature and their interconnection with social and political matters; literature as a unique source of knowledge
Grading:
15% in-class presentation, 15% class participation, 15% mid-term exam, 30% papers, 25% final project
1 presentation; Canvas discussion posts; 1 final essay (15 - 20 pages); 50-125 pages reading per week; 1 exam; 2 short papers (these may be integrated into the final paper/project)