This interdisciplinary course surveys modern European culture to disclose the alignment of literature, opposition, and revolution. Reaching back to the foundational representations of anarchism in nineteenth-century Europe (Kleist, Conrad) the curriculum extends through the literary and media representations of militant organizations in the 1970s and 80s (Italy’s Red Brigade, Germany’s Red Army Faction, and the Real Irish Republican Army). In the middle of the term students will have the opportunity to hear a lecture by Margarethe von Trotta, one of the most important filmmakers who has worked on terrorism. The course concludes with a critical examination of the ways that certain segments of European popular media have returned to the “radical chic” that many perceive to have exhausted itself more than two decades ago.

Poster showing a mother consoling her children by a canal, with the wreckage of a boat and a windmill in the background. Title from item. The Sec., 71 Duke Street, Grosvenor Square, W.

Resource: This is a website made by the German Bundestag explaining where, what and how their government works.

This course will conduct a comparative study of the grand strategies of the great powers (Britain, France, Germany and Russia) competing for mastery of Europe from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. Grand strategy is the collection of political and military means and ends with which a state attempts to achieve security. We will examine strategic developments in the years preceding World Wars I and II, and how those developments played themselves out in these wars. The following questions will guide the inquiry: What is grand strategy and what are its critical aspects? What recurring factors have exerted the greatest influence on the strategies of the states selected for study? How may the quality of a grand strategy be judged? What consequences seem to follow from grand strategies of different types? A second theme of the course is methodological. We will pay close attention to how comparative historical case studies are conducted.

At the center of the foreign policy debate for the last 25 years, Karsten Voigt was a leader of the German Social Democratic Party, a member of the Parliament, and today heads efforts to coordinate cultural exchanges between the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. (57 min)

Allegory showing the figure of Liberty leading troops to victory, in the foreground are German prisoners of war and refugees.

This course examines similarities and differences in politics and political economy in Britain, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. In particular, the course focuses on the structure of political power within the state, and on important institutions that form the link between state and society, especially political parties and interest organizations.

Caspar David Friedrich, Abbey among Oak Trees, 1809 or 1810, oil on canvas, 110.4 x 171 cm (Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin). Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

Caspar David Friedrich, Monk by the Sea, 1808 or 1810, oil on canvas, 110 x 171.5 cm (Alte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin). Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

Caspar David Friedrich, Solitary Tree (or Lone Tree), 1822, oil on canvas, 55 x 71 cm (Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin). Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

Caspar David Friedrich, Woman at a Window, 1822, oil on canvas, 44 x 73 cm (Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin). In the Google Art Project: http://www.googleartproject.com/collection/alte-nationalgalerie/artwork/woman-at-a-window-caspar-david-friedrich/328396/. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

This OER, German: Berufe / Professions, was remixed by Ashton Krueger as part of the 2024 World Language OER Summer work and training. Educators worked with Chrystal Liu, Nick Ziegler, Dorann Avey to find and create OER Learning Plans and materials.The attached Lesson Plan is designed for 9-12 World Language Arts teachers for Novice Learners of German. Students will discuss what they look for in a career and what their dream job is. They will also describe what people with different careers do at work and what kind of personalities do well in these jobs as well as consider job salaries. This lesson plan addresses the following NDE World Language Standard(s): NE WL Standards: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 3.1. It is expected that this activity will take 50 minutes to complete.

The topic for Fall 2006 is short film and radio plays. This course investigates current trends and topics in German literary, theater, film, television, radio, and other media arts productions. Students analyze media texts in the context of their production, reception, and distribution as well as the public debates initiated by these works. The topic for Fall 2006 is German Short Film, a popular format that represents most recent trends in film production, and German Radio Art, a striving genre that includes experimental radio plays, sound art, and audio installations. Special attention will be given to the representation of German minorities, contrasted by their own artistic expressions reflecting changes in identity and a new political voice. Students have the opportunity to discuss course topics with a writer, filmmaker, and/or media artist from Germany. The course is taught in German.

This course focuses on development of interpretive skills, using literary texts (B. Brecht, S. Zweig) and contemporary media texts (film, TV broadcasts, Web materials). The emphasis is on discussion and exploration of cultural topics in their current social, political, and historical context via hypermedia documentaries. It also covers further refinement of oral and written expression and expansion of communicative competence in practical everyday situations.

Students will use a map of Berlin to give directions on how to navigate from one landmark to another.

Students are taking a trip to Germany/Switzerland/Austria for Thanksgiving (11/18-11/26). They will need to use their German knowledge to “book” a hotel for the duration of their stay, as well as ask if certain amenities are available

Students will discuss and answer questions relating to different professions, as well as what they might do during an interview.

Students will discuss and answer questions about their current living situations, as well as what their living expenses look like.

Students will practice coming up with their own news stories using pictures and headlines provided.