Queerness and Collectivity in German Cinema

How has cinema engaged critically with sexuality across German history? Through the analysis of German queer film, students will develop skills in close reading and critical thinking and gain a grounding in the German queer movement. We will watch works by von Praunheim, Fassbinder, Carow, Petzold, read queer theory, and learn about the history of the various queer movements in East, West and Unified Germany. These films interrogate how power operates in society, both through sexuality’s regulation and through normative, oppressive attitudes towards sexuality. To develop our skills in analysis, we will read scholarly works from classical film theory, and film theory drawing from queer and affect studies. (taught in English)