Course Details

GERM 320: Life under Socialism: Culture and Society in East Germany

What was life like under “actually existing socialism?” What films, books, music, and other media did people in the German Democratic Republic (or East Germany) consume and how did they cope with their country’s dictatorship? How can the experiences of people—particularly women—living in the GDR provide useful context for contemporary socio-political issues in the United States and beyond? We will discuss topics such as gender equality, education, health care, and queer life in the GDR. Taught in German. Prerequisite: German 204 or equivalent
6 credits; HI, IS; Offered Spring 2021; J. Schicker