In English. No prerequisites.
This course is an interdisciplinary inquiry into seminal literary, artistic, social, political, and intellectual developments in the history of German-language cultures and thought from around 1750 to 1900. The course is open to first-year
students and to all who might not necessarily wish to become a German major or minor but who seek, as part of a well-rounded liberal arts education, basic familiarity with the rich and often vexed history of things German and their impact
on Europe and the world.
Topics include: Tolerance and the age of Enlightenment; Romantic music, painting and poetry; Romantic science; the Faust legend; industrialization and social change in the 19th Century; and others. Short readings of texts by Lessing,
Kant, Goethe, the Brothers Grimm, Marx, Nietzsche, and others. Music by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, etc.
By studying different genres of film and other forms of cultural production (literature, music, art) in relation to the general intellectual development of the period, students will gain insights into ideas, trends and discourses that have shaped
contemporary German culture. As a learning outcome of the course, students will develop their ability to approach texts and works of art both analytically and synthetically, exploring the connections between the historical period and its
cultural representation in critical and creative ways. The course is conducted in English. All course materials, discussions, and readings are in English. Some optional supplemental materials are in German. Students will have an
option to complete written assignments in German.
Course fulfills the Core requirements AHp, WCD.
