UCJOKN05 Cultural History of Germany

Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Winter 2021
Extent and Intensity
0/6/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Mathias Becker, M.A. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Mathias Becker, M.A.
Institute of Foreign Languages – Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
  • German (programme FPF, N7310 Filo)
Course objectives
The aim of this class is to offer some insights into everyday life, history, and culture of Germany from a historical point of view, based on a choice of subjects which have some representative meaning. Subjects and events from German culture, politics, and society are to be analysed which have gained somewhat symbolical meanings; the latter, and their interpretation during different periods from history and in particular nowadays is a further object of study. The aim is an introduction into fundamental knowledge about German history and nowadays' Germany. Special emphasis is placed on subjects from cultural history. These may be, for example, but are not limited to: 1. North and South, East and West, rich and poor: What is separating the Germans from each other - and what makes them stick together 2. Highbrow culture, "Ami-Kultur", culture of singing: Clashes and moments of continuity in German cultural memory Referring to the first ensemble of subjects, you will find e.g. the border between former Eastern and Western Germany, in particular the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1989, the history of the concept of the social responsibility of the state ("Sozialstaat"), and the differences between Northern and Southern Germany which have been rather ironically summarized by the terminus "Weißwurstäquator". Below the second headline it will be recommended to work on subjects like the history of the city of Weimar, German glee clubs (as an example of the German love for associations and clubs ("Vereine") in general), and the cultural and political changes brought about by the year "1968". The seminar is based on the three volumes of collected essays entitled as "Deutsche Erinnerungsorte" ('lieux de mémoire of the Germans') which have been edited by François Etienne and Hagen Schulze. The choice of main subjects may therefore occasionally be revised and changed.
Syllabus
  • Four subjects from each of the fields ?everyday life', ?history', and 'cultural life' will be selected, as may be changed in the following academical year, e.g.: 1. The Berlin Wall, the 'Weißwurstäquator': What is or has been separating the Germans. 2. The cultural memory of the Germans and its paradoxies. 3. The social life of the Germans: ?Vereine' and other particularities.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Etienne François, Hagen Schulze (Hrsg.): Deutsche Erinnerungsort. Etienne François, Hagen Schulze (Hrsg.): Deutsche Erinnerungsorte. Bde. 1-3. München: Beck 2003 (zuerst 2001). info
Language of instruction
German
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Teacher's information
Attendance of at least 80 %, active participation, homework. There will be a written examination at the end of the course.
The course is also listed under the following terms Summer 2012, Summer 2013, Summer 2014, Summer 2015, Summer 2016, Winter 2016, Winter 2017, Winter 2018, Winter 2019, Winter 2020, Winter 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Winter 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fpf/winter2021/UCJOKN05