GERM-331 From Luther to Freud

Faculty:

Byrnes, Heidi

This one-semester survey of German Civilization spans the period from approximately 1500 AD, the Reformation, to about 1900. Its aim is to familiarize students with general trends and some unique characteristics of German culture through the writings of major cultural actors, male and female, who can be taken to represent their era. German cultural activity is seen within its political, economic, religious, and social context and is related to developments in European culture/Western Civilization. Pervasive developments which, in many cases, span the centuries and have contemporary echoes will be explored.

The course is conducted like a seminar. Each of its six units begins with an overview lecture that highlights the major cultural issues that will be addressed in the unit. In preparation, students read background historical material. For the remaining classes of a unit, students read primary source material which provides the basis for the “discovery approach” to cultural phenomena taken in this course. Pairs and groups of students lead the discussion of these primary sources (i.e., printed texts, films, slides, music).

Proposed periods:

I. Martin Luther and Albrecht Dürer
II. Andreas Gryphius and Mutter Courage
III. Friedrich der Große and Kaiserin Maria Theresia
IV. Heinrich Heine and Clara Schumann
V. Karl Marx (Wilhelm Busch) and Effi Briest
VI. Sigmund Freud and Lou Andreas-Salome
The course is conducted in German.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Other academic years
There is information about this course number in other academic years:

• 2004-2005 Fall and Spring
• 2005-2006 Fall and Spring
• 2008-2009 Fall and Spring
• 2009-2010 Fall and Spring
• 2010-2011 Fall and Spring
• 2011-2012 Fall and Spring
• 2012-2013 Fall and Spring

More information
Look for this course in the schedule of classes.

The academic department web site for this program may provide other details about this course.