C. Course description:
A historical, cultural, and critical examination of the German-
speaking world from its early beginnings to the present day.
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland share many common cultural
traditions, but central to the course is the question of what
constitutes being a German. The Germans' long search for identity
would end in disaster in 1945, the Year Zero in German history.
Although Germany has recovered economically since then, it continues
to be haunted by its past, and Germans for generations to come will
be faced with overcoming Hitler's legacy. Negative stereotypes
predominate and Germans receive too little credit for their great
cultural and scientific contributions. We will critically examine
these stereotypes and try to determine to what extent they
have any validity. Other topics that may be covered by a variety of
media, such as films, class lectures, texts, and websites, include the
following: history of the German language and its importance for
the development of English; German-Jewish relations; present day
social issues such as immigration and asylum; philosophy and
education; attitudes and customs; German art and music; the role
of the European Union; geography, economy and trade; the political
landscape, and Germany's electoral system. Additionally, we will
discuss the differences between the German and American ways of life
and see how Germans and Americans have viewed each other over the years."