German (GERM)
Chair: Professors Sigrun D. Leonhard, winter and spring, Anne C. Ulmer, fall
Professors: Julie A. Klassen, Sigrun D. Leonhard, John Roger Paas, Anne C. Ulmer
Adjunct Instructor: Nadja Krämer
In our changing global environment, communication is the key to understanding other peoples and cultures. After your first year of German at Carleton, you will have the oral proficiency to live and study in a German-speaking country. Our programs in Berlin, Munich, Nuremberg, and Graz, Austria, offer wide-ranging choices in location. They give you the chance to apply what you learned in your German class in a European environment. (You'll also be surprised how far German gets you in the Czech Republic and Hungary!)
Since the fall of the Wall and the establishment of the European Union as an economic and political power, the question of German identity has again come to the forefront. Its philosophical and literary foundations are crucial to an understanding of the country. You will gain the skills to read important writers and thinkers in the original German: Goethe, Schiller, Kafka, Rilke, Mann, Freud, Brecht, Crista Wolf, Ingeborg Bachmann.
Recent offerings: Science, Authority, and Conscience in Modern German Literature; The German Fairy Tale; Searching for the Self; Views of Reality; Border Crossings: Postmodern Perspectives on French and German Cinema.
Literature and Culture Courses in German: Recent offerings include: Crimes in the Making (Contemporary German mystery writers); Dream and Reality: Vienna, 1900/2000; The Age of Goethe; Topics in German Drama; Post WWII Austria in the Works of Ingeborg Bachmann; Young Adult Literature; Rebels, Revolutionaries and Misfits (German literary figures from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries); Realism and the Rise of Modernism; Romantic Visions of the World.
Literature and Culture Courses in Translation: Studies in German Cinema; European Film; From Gutenberg to Gates: History and Practice of the Book; Contemporary Women Writers in the German-Speaking Countries; Damsels, Dwarfs and Dragons: Medieval German Literature; Cultures in Conflict: The Reception of Shakespeare in Germany.
Special Seminar for First-year Students (in translation): The Face in the Mirror: Searching for the Self, Views of Reality: Understanding Literary Works of the Past
Requirements for a German Major:
Sixty-six credits including 206, Conversation and Composition or 207, Young Adult Literature, one survey course, Literary and Cultural Studies 245 (normally taken during the junior year) and the integrative exercise. Courses 101, 102, 103, 204, and 205 do not count toward the major. Additionally, at least six credits are required in literature outside the major, read in the original language or in translation. Majors are encouraged to take other related courses in fields such as history, philosophy, religion, classics, and art or music history, in order to gain further perspectives on their literary studies.
A special major involving German and another discipline may sometimes be arranged upon consultation with the department chair. Participation by such students in a Carleton or other approved foreign study program is highly recommended.
Certificate of Advanced Study in Foreign Language and Literature or Area Studies: In order to receive the Certificate of Advanced Study in German students must fulfill the general requirements (refer to Academic regulations) in the following course distribution: six courses beyond 103, of which at least three will be taught in the target language, and two of those three courses may be advanced language courses (205, 206 or 207). Courses remaining may be from the German section or from a list of approved courses offered by other departments (philosophy, history, linguistics, music, etc.)
Language Houses: Students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the language by living in the Language House. The Associate is a native speaker, and students organize and participate in numerous cultural activities in the language houses.
Elementary and Intermediate Language Courses:
Language courses 101, 102, 103 and 204 are a sequential series of courses designed to prepare the student to satisfy the College language requirement and/or to pursue advanced work in the language, literature and culture of German-speaking countries. Courses 101, 102 and 103 meet five days a week and 204 meets three days a week. Admission to these courses is determined either by appropriate CEEB or placement test scores, or by completion of the previous course in the sequence with a C- grade or better.
German Courses
GERM 100. Views of Reality: Understanding Literary Works of the Past Views of reality constantly change over time and find their expression in art and literature. This course will focus on European views of reality in the eighteenth century, a century of contentment as well as revolution. Works by such authors as Goethe, Voltaire, Schiller, and Pope will be studied within their historical and social context. Readings and discussion in English. 6 credits cr., S/CR/NC, AL, Fall—R. Paas
GERM 101. Elementary German This course stresses a firm understanding of the basic structural patterns of the German language through reading, writing, speaking, and listening drills. For students with no previous knowledge of German or for those whose test scores indicate that this is the appropriate level of placement. 6 credits cr., ND, Fall—Staff
GERM 102. Elementary German Further study of the basic structural patterns of the German language. Prerequisite: German 101, or appropriate placement score. 6 credits cr., ND, Winter—Staff
GERM 103. Intermediate German Completion of the study of basic structural patterns of the German language, and the reading and discussion of a longer literary work. Prerequisite: German 102. 6 credits cr., ND, Spring—Staff
GERM 204. Intermediate German Critical reading and discussion of selected German plays and short stories. Prerequisite: German 103, or appropriate placement score. 6 credits cr., ND, Fall—Staff
GERM 205. Berlin Program: Intermediate Composition and Conversation This course, taught by a native speaker, will focus on students' reading, writing, and speaking abilities. The class format will feature mainly discussions with grammar exercises interspersed as needed. Students will write frequent papers and correct these papers themselves. 6 credits cr., ND, Fall—Non-Carleton Faculty
GERM 206. Composition and Conversation : Projects in German Culture Short texts, films, video clips and other cultural materials will serve as a diving board to launch us into discussions of contemporary German culture. Prerequisite: German 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits cr., ND, Winter—A. Ulmer
GERM 207. Young Adult Literature The best current German-language literature for teen-aged readers treats serious topics with wit and sensitivity. We will read and discuss books on sexuality, gender identity, politics, peer pressure, the generation gap, drugs, and other topics. These texts, many of which have won prizes, are linguistically accessible and written with flair. Readings and class discussions will be in German. Prerequisite: German 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits cr., ND, Spring— A. Ulmer
GERM 220. Border Crossings: Postmodern Perspectives on French and German Cinema Refer to MEDA 238 for description. No prerequisite. 6 credits cr., AL, Spring—S. Leonhard, D. Strand
GERM 222. Speaking German For students registered in GERM 220, a weekly discussion in German focusing on the films viewed for the course, Postmodern Perspectives on French and German Cinema. The goal is to promote increased language proficiency while deepening understanding of cultural perspectives. The course is also intended to support the use of foreign language across the curriculum. 2 credits cr., S/CR/NC, ND, Spring—S. Leonhard
GERM 229. Science, Authority, and the Conscience in German Literature Cross-listed with ENTS 229. An examination of the literary portrayal of the personal and societal responsibilities connected with gathering and applying (primarily scientific) knowledge. Questions to be addressed include: In what ways does knowledge liberate, threaten, and/or obligate us? Who controls the pursuit of knowledge and its applications? What is the role for individual and societal conscience? The settings and authors range from the Renaissance world of Goethe's Faust and Brecht's Galileo to the McCarthy era in the USA (Kipphardt), a post-WWII Swiss sanatorium (Dürrenmatt), and the intra- and inter-border dilemmas in the erstwhile East Germany (Wolf, Maron). In English translation. 6 credits cr., AL, Winter—J. Klassen
GERM 230. From Gutenberg to Gates: History and Practice of the Book Gutenberg's invention of printing with movable type has had a far-reaching impact on the political, social, and intellectual development in the Western World. A similarly profound revolution is taking place today with the use of computers. This course will focus on the major developments in printing since 1450 against the relevant historical and social background. In addition to lectures and discussions there will be a regular "lab," in which students will gain first-hand knowledge of such techniques as woodcutting, engraving, etching, lithography, bookbinding, and papermaking. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 231. Damsels, Dwarfs, and Dragons: Medieval German Literature Cross-listed with LCST 231. Around the year 1200 German poets wrote some of the most lasting works in the Western literary tradition. It was a time of courtly love and Arthurian romances, and themes vary widely from love and honor to revenge and murder. In this course attention will be focused on the poetry of Walther von der Vogelweide and on two major epics: The Nibelungenlied and Gottfried von Strassburg's Tristan and Isolde. In translation. 6 credits cr., AL, Winter—R. Paas
GERM 233. Cultures in Conflict: The Reception of Shakespeare in Germany Cross-listed with LCST 233. Shakespeare was rediscovered in the eighteenth century and rapidly became an icon in the struggle between conflicting social and literary tastes. Although this cultural battle was fought primarily between the French and the English, German writers such as Goethe, Herder, and Lessing were also key participants. This course will focus on the German contribution to Shakespeare reception and will place it within the broader context of the cultural debate in eighteenth century Europe. In translation. 3 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 235. Dream and Reality: Vienna 1900/2000 This course will examine the beginnings of Modernism in Austrian culture, music, theater, philosophy, art and architecture, focusing on literature within its wider context. We will look at such thinkers and artists as Freud, Schnitzler, Hofmannsthal, Hermann Bahr, Karl Kraus, Robert Musil and Peter Altenberg, as well as the great musicians, architects (Adolf Loos, Otto Wagner) and painters (Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele) of the period. We will focus primarily on the period from around 1890-1920, but will also look at present-day Vienna at the turn of the Millennium. This course will involve multi-media approaches to the material. In translation. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 237. Contemporary Women Writers in the German Speaking Countries Cross-listed with WGST 238. In this course, we will read and discuss works by Austrian, German and Swiss writers from the 1960s to the present, including Ingeborg Bachmann, Sigrid Damm, Barbara Frischmuth, Marlen Haushofer, Monika Maron, Christa Reinig, Gabriele Wohmann and Christa Wolf. We will also view some films by women and analyze them in the context of the women's movement. Topics include (self) concepts of women, the use of myth, the relationship with the Nazi past and the concern for the environment. We will interpret these works using various theoretical approaches, with the construction of gender as a focal point throughout the course. There is an option to read the works in the original, and to set up a weekly discussion in German. In translation. 6 credits cr., AL, Winter—S. Leonhard
GERM 239. Memoirs of the Twentieth Century The goal of this course is to analyze and to discuss a number of important twentieth century European memoirs, both as records of their time and as a developing literary form. Memoirs dealing with Holocaust experiences will play a central role, but we will also examine gender differences in the (re)construction of history, as well as reflections on the nature of memory, its promises, and limitations. In translation. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 241. Minority Voices in German Literature An examination of German texts by authors who have not been considered members of the traditional ethnic German majority, such as Turks, Afro-Germans, and Jewish-Germans. We will explore such issues as the experiences of minority groups in German-speaking countries (whether as citizens or non-German nationals), the question of identity, the role of mother tongue and/or dialect in shaping German language usage, hostile and helpful reactions of the majority society, the issue of citizenship, and prospects for future relationships. Supporting materials include essays and films. Prerequisites: German 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits cr., AL,RAD, Winter—J. Klassen
GERM 244. Berlin Program: Knowledge and Its Discontents: The Fate of Enlightenment in Modern German Literature In this course, we will explore current social, political, and cultural issues as reflected in German literature and film, such as the changing definition of national identity in the wake of unification, Germany's position within the new Europe, and the role of the new emerging technologies. The syllabus will include a number of plays that will be performed at Berlin theaters, which the class will view together. A specific reading list will be available at the beginning of the seminar. 6 credits cr., AL, Fall—S. Leonhard
GERM 248. Romantic Visions of the World This course explores the various phases and goals of German Romanticism. Our discussions will revolve around definitions and origins of Romanticism, the early romanticists' call to poeticize the world, and the fascination with the supernatural. Materials include poetry (some with musical settings), folk and art tales, a play, novellas, paintings and a few theoretical essays. Authors include the brothers Grimm, the Schlegels, Novalis, Tieck, Brentano, Eichendorff and Heine. Prerequisite: German 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 260. Community and the Individual: German Literature and Life, 1780-1900 This survey of German literature examines significant works of prose, poetry, and drama in their cultural contexts, by authors ranging from Goethe and Novalis to Storm and Rilke. Besides gaining a sense of genre traditions and literary epochs, participants will also explore the tensions between individuals and the changing social and political order. Specific factors to be considered include the artist's role in society, high culture versus popular culture, German identity, censorship, and the dreams of nationhood. Prerequisite: German 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 261. Visions of Reality: Germany in the Twentieth Century The twentieth century saw profound changes in the perception and representation of reality. In this course, we will explore the aesthetic, cultural and political visions of "reality" and the impact they had on the individual and on German society. What are the concepts of time and space? Of history? How are individual/culture/society represented? We will look at avant-garde and mainstream movements in different media such as literature, film, the visual arts, and architecture. Some secondary readings in English. Prerequisite: German 206 or equivalent. 6 credits cr., AL, Spring—N. Krämer
GERM 268. Trials and Tribulations Various aspects of justice and law (Gerechtigkeit and Recht) are central to many literary works in German. What is guilt? What is justice? Is there such a thing as innocence? Who decides? We will focus on both societal and individual existential views of these topics, as seen through several novels and plays. Authors will include Kafka, Lenz, Frisch, Dürrenmatt and others. Primary literature will be in German, though some secondary reading may be in English. Class discussions in German. Prerequisite: German 204 or equivalent. 6 credits cr., AL, Fall—A. Ulmer
GERM 270. German Life and Literature at the Dawn of the New Millennium In this course, we will examine major works of literature, film and non-fiction in the German-speaking countries written between 1995 and 2000. Important cultural and political themes to be discussed through and in these works will be national identity, minority literatures, feminist visions and revisions, and the evolution of an environmentalist consciousness. However, we will not only read these works as cultural and political documents of their time, but also pay attention to their textual qualities as plays, novels, poems, and films. Prerequisite: German 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 280. Memory and Representations of the Holocaust In Translation This course explores how the Holocaust is remembered and represented in contemporary cultural media: film, literature, documentaries, comics, museums, and memorials. We will look at differences between first-and second generation survivor testimonies, fictional treatments, and public memorializations. How are events remembered and memorialized and in what way? Who can legitimately remember? What different modes of representation are permissible, appropriate or desirable? These are the questions this course tries to answer. In translation. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 290. Berlin Program: Directed Reading To be carried out during the summer before the program starts. This reading, consisting of a short review of German history and various prose pieces relevant to our literature course (some of them in German), will prepare students for the program both in terms of content and in terms of speaking, reading, and writing the language in an all-German context. During the orientation period, there will be a discussion of these texts, followed by a test. 4 credits cr., S/CR/NC, ND, Fall—S. Leonhard
GERM 301. German in Review This course is intended as a refresher course for students who have completed the basic language sequence and/or taken part in the German program. Practice in writing and speaking German. Prerequisite: German 204 or the equivalent. 3 credits cr., S/CR/NC, ND, Winter,Spring—A. Ulmer
GERM 347. Methods of Teaching World Languages and Cultures Cross-listed with FREN 346,EDUC 346,RUSS 346,SPAN 346. This course will provide practical, hands-on experience in the teaching of foreign languages and develop the skills to enter the teaching profession. The course will include the study of theoretical perspectives and practical strategies for planning and implementing an effective language program. Students will learn about classroom management, foreign language teaching methods, strategies for teaching reading, writing, speaking and listening in a foreign language, and second language acquisition research. Students will reflect on the role of teaching in their professional development, observe and teach in public school classrooms, and review relevant texts. 6 credits cr., ND, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 350. Two Countries – One Nation? Germany and the Cold War The fall of the Berlin Wall and the creation of one German State in 1990 has caused a debate. Does this event reflect a "reunification" of "two countries that belonged together" or, is this a "unification" of two disparate political and cultural units that have evolved since WWII. We will address this question within the context of the debate on German identity and nationalism. We will explore literature, film, theater, social and cultural politics, along with a special emphasis on the phenomenon of the "Grenzgänger" who transcendends the physical and intellectual boundaries between the two German States. Prerequisite: German 206 or the equivalent. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 351. The Age of Goethe The literary movements of Enlightenment, Storm and Stress, and Classicism as seen through selected works of Goethe, Schiller, Lessing and Herder. Prerequisite: German 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 355. Topics in German Drama: Twentieth Century Theatrical Experiments We will read and discuss in German a range of plays which push the limits of theatrical possibilities. Possible playwrights include Georg Kaiser, Bert Brecht, Wolfgang Borchert, Rolf Hochhuth, Peter Handke, Heiner Müller, Thomas Bernhard, and perhaps a twenty-first century writer. Videos of play productions and our own dramatic readings of scenes will help us explore some of the century's theories of acting and staging. Prerequisite: German 204 or the equivalent. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 360. The Song that Sleeps in Everything: German Poetry through the Ages Starting with the Baroque era, we will examine German poems as expressions of the literary movements that gave birth to them. Since the class will focus on each poem as representative of an aesthetic code grounded in specific literary movements, this class is also an excellent introduction to German literary history. We will read the poems, discuss them, listen to recordings and do our own lyrical or dramatic readings. Selections will include poems set to music, as well as twentieth century Cabaret. Interested students may also try their hand at translation. Prerequisite: German 204 or equivalent. 6 credits cr., AL, Not offered in 2002-2003.
GERM 400. Integrative Exercise Examining an aspect of German literature across eras or genres. 6 credits cr., S/NC, ND, Fall,Winter,Spring—Staff