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First-Year Writing Seminar (104-8-1)

Topic

The Nazi Olympics

Instructors

Christine M Helmer
847/491-2616
Kresge Hall #3341
Office Hours: Wed 2-4 pm on zoom

Meeting Info

Willard Hall B72: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

This course explores the Nazi Olympics, held in Berlin 1936, in relation to religion, philosophy, politics, and the history of fascism. We show how the Nazi Olympics appropriated themes from the ancient Olympics in Greece in order to create a new religious, aesthetic, and political ethos. We also look at the contemporary Olympics, particularly in view of ethics and political activism.

Learning Objectives

The student will know the history of the Nazi Olympics (Berlin 1936) and its relation to the ancient Olympics in Greece.
The student will be able to appreciate the religious and political aspects of the contemporary Olympics.
The student will learn how to write two academic papers.

Class Materials (Required)

Tony Perrottet, The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games (New York: Random House, 2004). ISBN: 978-0812969917; list price $18.00.
Oliver Hilmes, Berlin 1936: 16 Days in August (New York: Other Press, 2018). ISBN: 978-1590519295; list price $24.95.

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar