Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 1 per week |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 1 per week |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 4,000 WORD ESSAY | 75% |
| Semester Assessment | 2 X ORAL PRESENTATION ON TOPICS OF STUDENT'S CHOICE | 25% |
| Supplementary Assessment | ESSAY TO BE RESUBMITTED IF FAILED | 75% |
| Supplementary Assessment | PIECE OF WRITTEN WORK IN LIEU OF ORAL ELEMENT IF FAILED | 25% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
demonstrate a good detailed knowledge of the key developments in German culture between 1918 and the present day;
demonstrate analytical skills as readers of key 20th-century events in German culture;
demonstrate that they have mastered a thorough knowledge of different theoretical approaches to the study of culture;
demonstrate that they can relate general theoretical issues to particular case studies in a critical fashion;
demonstrate that they can discuss and evaluate critically the pros and cons of various approaches and frameworks used in cultural studies and be able to articulate their own stance on these debates;
express themselves clearly, coherently and in a logical fashion, orally and in writing.
Aims
This module is designed to be a core module in the new MA in Modern European Culture scheme. It is intended to introduce students to key moments in modern German culture, i.e. defining moments which are considered by most commentators to have had a major influence on the development of German culture.
Brief description
This course will examine a range of cultural texts and artefacts in order to introduce students to the development of German culture and society between 1914 and the present day. Through the prism of literature, film and linguistics, students will explore the aftermath of the First World War, the rise and fall of the Weimar Republic, the Nazi period, the division of Germany, developments in the GDR and FRG as well as issues surrounding the unification of 1990. In doing so, students will gain not only a detailed knowledge of the politics and culture of the period, but also increase their competence as critical readers of culture.
Content
2. The Conservative Revolution; Novel by Ernst Juenger: 'Auf den Marmorklippen' (1 hr lecture, 1 hr seminar)
3. National Socialism (1 hr lecture, 1 hr seminar)
4. Economic Miracle and Adenauer Era; Film directed by W. M. Fassbinder: 'Die Ehe der Maria Braun' (1 hr lecture, 1 hr seminar)
5. Vergangenheitsbewaeltigung and culture: A selection of short stories by Heinrich Boell (2 hrs seminar)
6. Establishment of GDR (1 hr lecture)
7. The GDR; Novel by Volker Braun: 'Unvollendete Geschichte' (2 hrs seminar)
8. Political Background to 1968 (1 hr lecture)
9. FRG Feminism and language; Novel by Verena Stefan: 'Haeutungen' (2 hrs seminar)
10. GDR Feminism; Novel by Maxie Wander: 'Guten Morgen du schoene!' (2 hrs seminar)
11. German Reunification (1 hr lecture, 1 seminar)
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | n/a |
| Communication | participating in seminars and writing of essay will require student to express their ideas clearly, cogently and coherently |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | independent preparation for essay and seminars, independent research for essay and seminars |
| Information Technology | students will be required to access bibliographical information and to submit word-processed essays |
| Personal Development and Career planning | student will be expected to show an ability to manage their own time effectively and to engage in independent lines of research in preparing their essays. |
| Problem solving | selection of reading material, answering questions posed by written assessment, seminar work |
| Research skills | researching for essay and for seminars |
| Subject Specific Skills | developed by engaging both in English and German with historical, political, literary and cultural issues encountered in a range of German cultural productions of the twentieth century. |
| Team work | this will apply in the seminars |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7