Colonialism and Racism

Racism, the ideology that humans may be divided into separate and exclusive biological entities called “races,” justified colonial exploitation and was the essence of Nazism. In this course we will examine Germany’s short era of colonialism (1894-1918), analyze literary and cinematic representations of colonial life, and deconstruct colonialist and racist thinking. We will also trace definitions and usages of the term “race” in German language and culture, read UNESCO’s 1950 “Statement on Race,” which declared that there was no scientific basis or justification for racial distinction, and discuss why in Germany the term “race” (“Rasse”) is no longer used. Taught in German. 3hrs. sem.