This module introduces you to major issues and developments in modern and contemporary German History and Culture. It provides the foundations for all further studies in German history, literature, society and culture in year two, the intercalary year abroad, and the final year. The module is structured in two parts.

Aims of this course

PART TWO: German Culture and Texts (Gerrit-Jan Berendse, spring semester)

The second part of this module is designed to introduce key aspects of modern and contemporary German culture through a selection of poems and pop songs. The selected texts will be discussed and analysed in their relevant historical, social and cultural contexts. During the course of the semester, students will have to write four commentaries. The module will be taught both in German and in English

Part Two aims to:

• Provide an introduction to the history of German literature from 1945 till 1990;
• Apply techniques for analysing German texts in their historical contexts;
• Raise awareness about the different artistic forms of German texts and the plurality of contemporary historical contexts;
• Provide key skills and techniques required to write insightful and effective academic commentaries of fictional texts.

• Demonstrate a knowledge of various aspects of German social, political, economic and cultural history since 1945;
• Comment on major historiographical and literary debates which have dominated the study of German history and culture over the past thirty years;
• Discuss critically the historical causes and complex nature of both the division of Germany and its sudden reunification;
• Use appropriate registers when communicating knowledge and understanding of the course material;
• Analyse a story, its ideas and narrative effects;
• Relate texts to one another and their literary context;
• Deliver commentary on a poem or extract, its themes and linguistic effects;
• Show familiarity with different phases and trends in the history of German culture;
• Apply basic concepts of textual analysis; and
• Present arguments logically, drawing on secondary reading.

Please bear in mind that learning is an active process, requiring not only the acquisition of knowledge but also the exchange of ideas, opinions and arguments with others. It is therefore essential that you do all the reading for the seminars: the essential preparatory reading will be provided on Learning Central. To facilitate your preparations, some lectures will be complemented by relevant film screenings. You will have the opportunity to receive continuous feedback throughout the semester.  Please make use of our weekly office hours – they are reserved for you!

The second part is taught by means of one weekly lecture/seminar, a commentary workshop, and by regular feedback. Every second week students will have to start writing their commentaries as a conclusion of the topic covered in the past two weeks as formative assessments. Students will sit a two-hour written exam during the Spring exam period. There will be a revision component in the final lecture and guidance on how to prepare for the exam will be given throughout the semester. Past exam papers are available for consultation on the university website. To further increase language competence in general, and familiarity with relevant terminology in particular, the part two of the module will be taught both in German and in English.

On completion of this module a typical student will be able to:

Personal transferable skills:

·         Communicate ideas effectively and fluently, both orally and in writing as appropriate.

·         Use communications and information technologies for the retrieval and presentation of information.

·         Work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management.

·         Collaborate with others and contribute to the achievement of common goals.

·         Close reading.

·         Critical thought.

·         Basic research skills.

·         Organisational skills.

·         Study skills.

·         Writing skills.

Generic intellectual skills:

·         Gather, organize and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of sources.

·         Develop a reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement.

·         Reflect on his or her own learning and make use of constructive feedback.

·         Manage his or her own learning self-critically.

The generic skills will be manifest in the following activities: literature searches on the internet (library), compilation of bibliographies for essays, and presentation of written work.

2 hour written exam - Spring Semester, 100%

PART TWO:

• Introduction
• 1945-1950 - Günter Eich, ‘Inventur’
• New beginning and Group 47 | commentary workshop
• 1965-1970 - Erich Fried, ‘Einbürgerung’
• Reading Week
• Politics and literature in the Sixties | commentary workshop
• 1970-1980 - Ton Steine Scherben, ‚Macht kaputt was euch kaputt macht‘
• Cultural memory of left-wing terrorism | commentary workshop
• 1980-1990 – Adolf Endler, ‚Die Stunde des Korrektors‘
• Literature in East Germany | commentary workshop
• Revision

PART TWO:

Recommended text books:

• Helen Watanabe-O’Kelly (ed.),The Cambridge History of German Literature (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000). [PT91.C20]
• Michael Minden, Modern German Literature (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2011). [PT111.M4]

PART TWO:

Recommendations for further reading and topic-specific seminar readings will be provided on Learning Central.