War - as perhaps the most human and, simultaneously, inhumane state of being - has inspired works of art, literature, and music for millennia, and continues to do so. War is indeed an irresistible topic. Representing it, however, is a difficult task, one made increasingly harder by changes in how war is waged. This course examines predominately German-language (all in translation) literary and filmic works produced in the wake of war, posing questions about the tension between martial destruction and literary creation;
the relationship between forms of war and narrative shapes; martial technology and representational techniques; how representations of war can resist heroic narratives; and the struggle to locate the "human" in the most inhumane of organized human activity. Students will examine some of the ways that war has been represented in Germanophone literature and film, with short excurses into other traditions. They will look at various approaches to representing war, looking at how representations of war have changed in response to war itself. Assignments will include an opportunity to merge creative and critical work.
No knowledge of German is necessary for this course. German majors and minors will be required to complete readings and activities (discussions, translations, etc.) appropriate to their linguistic proficiency in order for the course to count toward the major/minor.
We will read the following short works in their entirety
(all in English translation) for the course "War and Representation":
Lamszus, Wilhelm. The Human Slaughterhouse
Jünger, Ernst. Sturm
Handke, Peter. A Journey to the Rivers
In addition, we'll watch two films:
Pabst, G.W. Westfront 1918
Mendes, Sam. 1917 (likely)
We'll also be reading poetry, looking at war photography, listening to Jimi Hendrix, watching a short film, and reading excerpts from:
Homer. Iliad
Kluge, Alexander. The Battle
Clausewitz, Carl von. On War
Grimmelshausen, Hans Jakob Christoffel von. Simplicius Simplicissimus
Jünger, Ernst. Storm of Steel.
Kleist, Heinrich von. (Anecdotes)
Kluge, Alexander. Air Raid
Nossack, Hans Erich. The End:
Hamburg 1943
Herr, Michael. Dispatches.
Buzzell, Colby. My War: Killing Time in Iraq
Please note: All of the above is subject to change. Please email Professor Etherton at ether040@umn.edu with any questions.