This course explores the pivotal role of Berlin in German culture and memory of the 20th and 21st centuries. Few places have seen as much upheaval as the German metropolis in this period, from the final years of the Wilhelminine monarchy, the heady “dancing on the volcano” of the Weimar Republic, and the horrors of National Socialism and its aftermath, to the walled division of the city during the Cold War, reunification in 1990, and the cultural flourishing of the “Berlin Republic” in the 21st century. Through literature, film, and popular culture, discussion will focus on representations and transformations of Berlin’s urban spaces, including as sites of protest, nostalgia, Heimat (home), trauma, and memory. This will include stories by writers and artists from Berlin as well as from further afield, such as narratives of Jewish-German, immigrant, and subcultural life. Students who have completed this course will demonstrate advanced levels of spoken and written expression that accord to the conventions of academic German, in addition to substantial discipline-based research skills.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- analyse, critique, and undertake research on literary representations in German from the 20th and 21st centuries;
- assess, critique, and conduct research on visual images of Berlin, and the city’s place within German culture;
- demonstrate advanced reading comprehension skills in German through engagement with a wide range of literary, visual, scholarly, and popular culture materials;
- display an advanced level of spoken German, including skills in formal class presentations; and
- demonstrate an advanced level of written German, including in German academic writing and analysis.
Indicative Assessment
- Close analysis in German (800-1000 words) (20) [LO 1,2,5]
- Essay in German (1500-1800 words) due during the exam period (50) [LO 1,2,3,5]
- Oral Presentation in German (15 minutes) (20) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Class participation, including online activities (Wattle) and readings to be completed outside of class (10) [LO 1,2,3]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:a) 44 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 2 hours of class per week and 20 hours of in-class film viewing (2 hours per week across 10 weeks), and
b) 86 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Course readings will be listed on the course Wattle site. Additionally, there will be a reading brick for this course.Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $3180 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $4890 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.