German Culture through Film (211-0-1)
Topic
From Necromancy to Netflix
Instructors
Alexander John Holt
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-319: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM
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.
Registration Requirements
One 200-level course in German taught in German
Learning Objectives
After successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- list vocabulary relevant to the analysis of (German-language) film, television, and popular culture, and implement this vocabulary in grammatically accurate and semantically sound sentences in both speaking and writing;
- define, identify, and distinguish the popular genres horror, melodrama, and science fiction with regard to (German-language) film and television;
- identify and classify the formal elements of a film or series and interpret the impact of these elements on the work's message or tone;
- list and differentiate key cinematic movements in German-speaking Europe from the beginning of the twentieth century to today;
- identify the impact of historical events, political realities, and social movements on cinematic and televisual works of art, and interpret these works' comments on their surrounding social, political, and economic circumstances.
Teaching Method
The course will be conducted entirely in German.
Evaluation Method
Attendance
Class participation
Homework
Papers
Presentations
Class Materials (Required)
None
Class Notes
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Class Attributes
Advanced Expression
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg Students Only