German Culture through Film (211-0-1)
Topic
From Necromancy to Netflix
Instructors
Alexander John Holt
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-410: Mon, Wed, Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM
Overview of class
This course is an introduction to German culture through the lens of German film. Students will be exposed to aspects of German history, society, politics, and aesthetic movements by analyzing nine significant German films made between 1920 and 2022. By studying selected elements of film, including genre, contexts, actors, directors, production and reception, film history, in addition to central thematic and formal elements of film, students will also learn the basics of film analysis.
Of particular interest will be the role of film in the production of a ‘mass culture' constitutive of collective identity and memory. Some guiding questions will be: How does film shape popular culture and what sort of force does it exert on individuals? How has the relationship of the viewer to images, the screen, and the audience changed over the course of the past century?
This course is taught entirely in German and emphasizes developing cultural knowledge and German language skills. We will screen films by the following directors, among others: F.W. Murnau, Fritz Lang, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarete von Trotta, Fatih Akin, Christian Petzold, and Maren Ade
Registration Requirements
Prerequisite in German: One 200-level course in German or permission of the DUS.
Taught in German
Learning Objectives
- Analyze a wide range of films from the early twentieth century to the present;
- Recognize, describe, and evaluate different approaches to cinema as mass culture;
- Demonstrate skills in formal film analysis, including narrative, cinematography, sound, and editing;
- Write a short paper drawing on primary sources
Teaching Method
The course will be conducted entirely in German.
Evaluation Method
Attendance
Class participation
Homework
Papers
Presentations
Class Materials (Required)
No required materials. All readings will be provided on Canvas.
Class Notes
This course is not open to advanced students: B2/C1 (CEFR) or advanced mid (ACTFL scale).
See here:
https://german.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/language-learning/language-learning-and-proficiency.html
and
https://german.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/language-learning/programmatic-proficiency-goals.html
Class Attributes
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area