20th Century Literature of the German Speaking Countries

This course analyzes literatures, cultures and societies of German-speaking countries by focusing on the shared experience of unification and its impact on German society and politics. By looking at literary and filmic representations of the peaceful protests in the GDR, the subsequent German reunification and its aftermath, students will engage with recent German history and culture through critical readings from 1989 to the present day. Rather than seeing the “Wendejahr” 1989/1990 as a finished historical event, this course seeks to trace its reverberations over time, and to discuss its current implications in literature and other media. The course involves extensive classroom discussion, academic and creative writing assignments of different formats and lengths, as well as student presentations on course topics and readings.