2012-2013 Calendar Proof

2012-2013 Calendar Proof

GER

GERMAN

GER 1001 / Introductory German I / 3 ch (3C)
Closed to students with any knowledge of German. Enables students to understand, speak, read and write simple, idiomatic German by introducing them to the sounds, word forms, sentence structures and basic vocabulary of German. Sections of German 1001 may use different texts and approaches. No prerequisite.
GER 1002 / Introductory German II / 3 ch (3C)
Continuation of GER 1001 .
GER 1033 / Reading German for Beginners I / 3 ch (3C)
Closed to students with any knowledge of German. Designed to enable students to read German texts in their respective fields of interest. Based on contrastive grammar, it requires no previous knowledge of German. Students soon learn to understand German texts in their disciplines. No prerequisite. Students who are taking or have previously taken GER 2001 / 2002 or equivalent (e.g., GER 2013 and GER 2023 ) cannot take this course.
GER 1043 / Reading German for Beginners II / 3 ch (3C)
Continuation of GER 1033 (Reading German for Beginners I). Designed to enable students to read more sophisticated German texts than the ones they dealt with in GER 1033 . Prerequisite: Only students who have passed GER 1033 with grades of B- and above should consider taking GER 1043. Students who have passed GER 1043 with a grade of B or above may take second year language courses.
GER 2001 / Intermediate German I / 3 ch (3C)
Starting with a review of the fundamentals of GER 1001 and 1002 , this course develops a larger vocabulary and deals with more complex sentence structures. It enables the student to read and write German with greater ease and to understand and speak the language more competently. Prerequisite: 6 ch of first year German or departmental approval.
GER 2002 / Intermediate German II / 3 ch (3C)
Continuation of GER 2001 .
GER 2003 Applied German Studies I 1.5 ch (LE)
This course provides students with the opportunity to explore German culture and language in the community through learning activities outside of the classroom. The objective is to apply knowledge and to develop skills in projects such as organizing cultural events (e.g. Oktoberfest, German Day) and in authentic situations (e.g., meeting native speakers, interacting with the German Society, reviewing films, etc.). Students will complete a variety of writing assignments for a portfolio and/or publication in suitable venues as well as opportunities for public presentations. Students register following a meeting with the director of the German program or the first-year German co-ordinator. All the coursework will be approved by the program director or the first-year German co-ordinator. Limited enrolment. Open to students of all years. Prerequisite: GER 1001 and 1002, or equivalent.
GER 2004 Applied German Studies II1.5 ch (LE)
This course is the continuation of GER 2003. It deepens the experience of independent study and learning activities outside the classroom. The organization of and participation in a German immersion weekend and a Language Awareness Day are two core activities which provide opportunity for employing professional skills: designing, marketing, running and documenting an event. Students will complete a variety of writing assignments for a portfolio and/or publication in suitable venues as well as opportunities for public presentations. Students register following a meeting with the director of the German program or the first-year German co-ordinator. All the coursework will be approved by the program director or first-year German co-ordinator. Limited enrolment. Open to students of all years. Prerequisite: GER 1001 and 1002, or equivalent.
GER 3011 / Modern German Usage I / 3 ch (3C)
By discussing contemporary topics, both in the classroom and assignments, the students' competence in German is improved and their skills in idiomatic and written usage are developed. Prerequisite: GER 2001 / 2002 or equivalent.
GER 3022 / Modern German Usage II / 3 ch (3C)
Continuation of GER 3011 . Prerequisite: GER 3011 or equivalent.
GER 3021 The New Berlin: Memory and Reinvention (O) (Cross Listed: WLCS 3021) 3ch (3C) [W]
This course explores the role of memory and cultural policy in the process of renewal which encompassed Berlin with an extraordinary surge of creativity and reconstruction after Germany’s reunification. Students will study Berlin’s cultural topography, examine the physical face of the city as well as the living environment of its population, and investigate how places and spaces embody and narrate a story of national pasts and future. What does it mean to be German? How is history remembered or forgotten? What role do literature, film, images, media, and objects play in the practice and politics of cultural memory and cultural creation and branding? We will focus on manifestations of culture including subcultures, in literature, film, architecture, memorials, museums, city design, and neighbourhoods. Topics may include: Walter Benjamin, Franz Kafka, Christa Wolf, Walther Ruttmann, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Wim Wenders; the Brandenburg Gate, the memorialisation of the Holocaust, remnants of the GDR, Europe and Berlin, immigration and multiculturalism, Kreuzberg, Jewish culture, gay culture, music culture, youth culture. Students will be introduced to theories and methodologies of memory culture research and will carry out case studies. They can expect to obtain an understanding of the transhistorical and transcultural significance of Berlin.
GER 3025 From Castles to Graffiti: Berlin’s Art, Culture and Communities (O) 3ch [W](Cross-Listed: WLCS 3025)
This course aims to explore Berlin’s cultural identity through a study of its architecture, artistic treasures and the encounter with its inhabitants and institutions. Using the city as a workshop, participants will investigate selected buildings representing architectural styles such as baroque, neo-classical, modernism and postmodernism, as well as public art and street art. The goal is to interpret buildings and places aesthetically and in view of their social and cultural purpose. While in Berlin, we will also visit museums focusing on the contribution of modernism in art and architecture to the characteristic modern feel of Berlin. In addition to this, we will visit entertainment venues, theatres and intellectual centres, explore neighbourhoods and parks, and meet with Berliners. Students will gain an understanding of the role of cultural policy, diversity of communities, and counter culture. They will improve intercultural and cultural literacy and learn appreciating the contrasts and complexity of the city as an organism. Fieldtrips may include walking tours, the visits of architectural sites, museum and galleries, the Academy of Arts, a performance at an opera and/or theatre, daytrips to Potsdam, Leipzig or Dessau. Travel costs not included in tuition.
GER 3023 / Berlin to Broadway: Musical Theatre Across the Oceans (Cross Listed: WLCS 3023) / 3ch (3C) [W]
An examination of the life and work of Kurt Weill focusing on his contribution to the theatre culture of Berlin in the twenties and to Broadway in the forties. We will read selected stage works by Weill and his renowned literary collaborators such as B. Brecht and W. Anderson and I.Gershwin, discuss their social relevance, theatrical power, and reception and explore the interplay between the various media: text, music and stage. Emphasis will be placed on the urban cultural context of Berlin, and the history of the genres musical theatre and Broadway musical, including current trends. The goal of the course is to provide students with the opportunity to study theatre composer in depth, to foster a critical appreciation of Weill's unique place in music theatre, and to enrich their understanding of material, cultural and performative aspects of musical theatre.Stage works by Weill may include The Threepenny Opera, Happy End, The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, Lady in the Dark, Street Scene, Lost In the Stars. Other musicals to be discussed Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, Sweeney Todd, In the Woods . The course and all readings are in English. Open to students who have completed at least 30ch of university courses or by permission of the instructor. Students with credit in WLCS 4033 may not take this course for credit.
GER 3043 / Prayers, Damsels, and Monks on the Prowl: The Early Years of German Literature(Cross Listed: WLCS 3043) / 3 ch (3C) [W]
Examines a representative selection of German literary masterpieces from various periods and literary genres. Prerequisite: GER 2001 / 2002 or equivalent.
GER 3045 / Decadence, Nazis, and the War:Twentieth-Century German Literature before WW II (Cross Listed: WLCS 3045) / 3 ch (3C)
Introduces students to some of the major figures and trends in twentieth-century German literature to the end of World War II. Examines different types of prose narratives, drama, and poetry in the context of the main intellectual, social, and political forces and concerns of the period. Conducted in English. Texts are read in English translation. Open to students who have completed at least 30 ch of university courses or by permission of the instructor.
GER 3053 / Introduction to German Literature II (From the Reformation to the Present) (Cross Listed: WLCS 3053) / 3 ch (3C) [W]
Examines a representative selection of German literary masterpieces from various periods and literary genres. Prerequisite: GER 2001 / 2002 or equivalent.
GER 3054 / Crimes and Misdemeanours:Modern German Literature (Cross Listed: WLCS 3054) / 3 ch
An investigation of the themes of crime, murder, and justice in selected literary texts ranging from the late 18th to the 20th century. Prior and parallel to the emergence of the genre of crime fiction, authors have concerned themselves with the portrayal of crime, guilt, redemption, and forgiveness as expression of the ambivalence between man, woman and our world, the frailty of fortune and security, as well as the power of obsession and evil. We will closely read texts, discuss the ensuing moral, ethical, and philosophical questions, and explore how authors use crime fiction to either assert or question moral value systems. Emphasis will be placed on textual analysis and situating the texts in their literary historical context. Includes texts from various genres including film, and literary periods. Authors studied may include: Goethe, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Droste Hülshoff, Büchner, Kaiser, Brecht, Süskind, Arjouni, and Dürrenmatt. Conducted in English. Texts are read in English translation. Open to students who have completed at least 30 ch of university courses or by permission of the instructor.
GER 3055 / Rubble, Revolt, Reunification:Twentieth-Century German Literature after WW II (Cross Listed: WLCS 3055) / 3 ch (3C) [W]
Introduces students to some of the major figures and trends in twentieth-century German literature, covering the period from the end of World War II to Germany's reunification. Different types of prose narratives, drama, and poetry are examined and discussed in the context of the main intellectual, social, and political forces and concerns of the period. Conducted in English. Texts are read in English translation. Open to students who have completed at least 30 ch of university courses or by permission of the instructor.
GER 3061 / From Peoples to a Nation: German Culture before 1900 (Cross Listed: WLCS 1061) / 3 ch (3C) [W]
A survey of German civilization from the time of early European tribal migrations to the rise of nationalism in the nineteenth century. Taking a sociohistorical perspective, students will be acquainted with a selection of key developments within the German-speaking cultures, including aspects of history, literature, music, architecture, and painting. Assigned readings, lectures, and slide shows aim at raising an awareness of the interrelationship between cultural heritage, historical and political developments, and artistic expression. Conducted in English. Open to students of all years. No prerequisites. Restriction:Credit may not be obtained for both GER 1061 and GER 3061
GER 3063 / Literature of the Holocaust (Cross Listed: WLCS 3063) / 3 ch (3C)
Addresses questions on a selection of literary and film responses to the Holocaust in various cultures and genres. Includes the perspectives of Jewish and non-Jewish survivors, children of survivors and others more removed. Particular attention is paid to the ethical and aesthetic challenges the Holocaust poses. Topics include: victims and oppressors, and the role of stereotypes in their depictions; the possibilities and limitations of language to express unimaginable horrors; and the role and appropriateness of literature as medium to respond to the historical, cultural, and psychological complexities of the Holocaust. Texts are read in English translation. No prerequisites.
GER 3066 / Trauma and Seduction: Early German Cinema (A)(Cross Listed: WLCS 3066) / 3 ch (3C) [W]
Beginning with the earliest silent movies and concluding with National Socialist propaganda films, this course offers an introduction to a prolific and important era in German film history: the Weimar Republic and pre-WWII period, 1918-1939. Our discussions will situate the films within larger political and cultural discourses. Emphasis will be placed on such topics as the cinematic response to the trauma of WWI; German national identity; expressionism and modernity; the politics of gender and sexuality; the impact of sound on film aesthetics; the relationship between cinema and other media; the ethics of film production. Films to be studied include features by directors such as Lang, Lubitsch, Murnau, Pabst, Riefenstahl, Sagan, von Sternberg and Wiene. In English.
GER 3071 / German Today: German Culture from 1900 to the Present (Cross Listed: WLCS 1071) / 3 ch (3C) [W]
Significant aspects of German culture from the beginning of the industrial revolution to the end of the 20th century. Topics will vary, but may include: German Impressionism and Expressionism, Early German Film, the Women's Movement, Early German Homosexual Rights Movement, Weimar Culture, Nazi Art, Literature after 1945, Divided and Re-unified Germany, New German Film, and others. Conducted in English. Open to students of all years. No prerequisites. Restriction: Credit may not be obtained for both WLCS 1071 and WLCS 3071 .
GER 3072 / (Re)constructing National Identity: Contemporary German Cinema (A) (Cross Listed: WLCS 3072) / 3 ch (3C) [W]
Studies the major accomplishments of East and West German cinema of the postwar period, as well as cinematic trends since German unification. We will consider questions of narrative, genre, and authorship, examine film's relationship to other media, and focus on the dynamic interaction between film history and social history. Films to be studied include features by prominent directors such as Wolf, Fassbinder, Wenders, von Trotta, Carow, Dörrie, and Tykwer.
GER 3083 / Seminar I: Genre (Cross Listed: WLCS 3083) / 3 ch (3C) [W]
The development of a particular genre in German literature and an examination of various works in that area. Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
GER 4013 / Advanced German Usage I / 3 ch (3C)
Development of advanced skills in oral and written expression. Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
GER 4023 / Advanced German Usage II / 3 ch (3C)
Prerequisite: GER 4013 or departmental approval.
GER 4033 / Seminar II: Author (Cross Listed: WLCS 4033) / 3 ch (3C) [W]
An intensive study of the life and work of a particular author or a number of authors. Prerequisites: Departmental approval.
GER 4073 / Literary Texts / 3 ch (3C) [W]
Reading and discussion of a selection of German literary texts. Prerequisite: GER 3011 may be taken in conjunction with GER 3022 .
GER 4093 / Nobel Laureates — German Literature (Cross Listed: WLCS 4093) / 3 ch (3C) [W]
A course designed to explore the nature of contemporary fiction of extraordinary merit as well as the cultural politics and economics of prize-winning itself. Among German-speaking recipients on the world literature stage are Elfriede Jelinek (2004), Günter Grass (1999), Heinrich Böll (1972), Hermann Hesse (1946), Thomas Mann (1929), and Gerhard Hauptmann (1912). A selection of their major works will be analyzed as an artistic reflection of their socio-critical thoughts on German culture, history, and identity. Special attention will be paid on the way the Nobel prize has been awarded in specific historical situations, recognizing a particular kind of voice at a given moment in history. Conducted in English. Texts are read in English translation. Open to students who have completed at least 30 ch of university courses or by permission of the instructor.