Course description:
In this course we will examine the diverse and dynamic cultures of the German-speaking world with a focus on popular culture that comes to terms with World War II and the Holocaust, Germany during the Cold War, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. We will then move to more contemporary topics, such as the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe and environmental activism. We will focus on how individuals have made a positive difference throughout the 20th and 21st centuries through civic engagement, and we will explore our own level of engagement in our communities and world. Reading materials will include the graphic novel Freiheit: The White Rose Graphic Novel (2021), the graphic novel Belonging by Nora Krug (2018), and the road trip adventure novel Why We Took the Car (2010). Austrian and German films with English subtitles, such as Good-bye, Berlin, Good-bye, Lenin, and Blood Glacier will supplement our discussions.
- Teacher: Kirsten Krick-Aigner