Ger 306 German Short Stories
Laura Kagel
TTh 3.30-4.45
214 Daniel

Ger 369 Spcial Topics German Literature: "Theater vom Mittelalter bis heute"
Johannes Schmidt
TTh 12.30-1.45
218 Daniel

Ger 417 Sprcial Topics German for International Trade
Lee Ferrell
MW 2.30-3.45
407 Daniel

Ger 455 German Film: "115 Years of German Film"
Sam Frederick
MW 4.00-5.15, Lab M 7.00-9.30
206 Daniel

Hon H221-01 Studies in Literature: "Chaos/ Anti-Epic"
Johannes Schmidt
TTh 3.30-4.45
204 Daniel

Hon H221-02 Studies in Literature/ Comparative Novel
Jeff Love
MW 4.00-5.15
310 Daniel

For a complete listing, including Ger 100 and 200-level classes go to: <http://soc.clemson.edu/GER.SPRG.htm>.

Ger 299 German Play
Instructor: Lee Ferrell
Phone: 656-1348
Email: FERRELL

 

Ger 306 Reading Intensive Transition Course: German Short Stories
Instructor: Laura Kagel
Phone: 656-4367
Email: LKAGEL

German 306 introduces students to German short fiction since World War II in order to explore the German language in its cultural context. Readings will take students from the postwar period of bombed out German cities and cold war divisions, through the economic rebirth of Germany in the Wirtschaftswunder, student unrest in the 1960s and '70s, and the reunification of Germany twenty years ago, up until the present. Students will gradually become accustomed to reading longer texts and will learn useful expressions for discussing literature and the course's themes. Although the focus will be on reading and discussing, a systematic review of grammar will help firm up student's ability to express themselves in German.

 

Ger 369 Special Topics German Literature: "Deutsches Theater vom Mittelalter bis heute"
Instructor: Johannes Schmidt
Phone: 656-4299
Email: SCHMIDJ

This course intents to trace the development of German Theater within a social-political context from the Middle Ages to today. More specifically the development from exclusively sacred plays of Hildegard von Bingen and Hrotsvit von Gandersheim to the secular-critical plays of the 19th and 20th century. During this time the language of the theater in Germany shifted from Latin to local dialects to French and Italian and finally to high German. Over this course of more than 800 years Germany advanced as a cultural, political and social nation (from the patchwork of over 360 states to two unifications). Over the same period of time Germany became a more secularized state (Catholicism–Protestantism–NS–Democracy). How is the development of the theater connected to these political-historical changes? Class participation, readings, two papers and final.

Ger 417 Special Topics German for International Trade
Instructor: Lee Ferrell
Phone: 656-1348
Email: FERRELL

Germany as a member the greatest experiment in European history – the European Union – is not only geographically central to this new country, but is also the financial and political heart. This position is not without its challenges though.
In the two decades since the end of communist control of Eastern Europe, Germany has undergone not only a reunification, but has seen itself redefined and restructured. Though at the top worldwide in technological advances, an aging population and a shortage of qualified young talent has lead German companies to lure qualified professionals from throughout the world to its borders. In addition, an infusion of cheap labor from the newly free Eastern members of the EU, and the freedom of German companies to transfer their production into the new EU lands has led to discontentment among German workers. The reach outward has led the nation to pursue a policy of “multiculturalism” for the last decade, whereas recently even at the national level voices such as Chancellor Angela Merkel are demanding that foreign residents assimilate into German society.
Germany, with prodding from the rest of the world, Germany walks a fine line between participating in military operations in other parts of the world such as Africa and Afghanistan while confronting its militaristic past.

This course will examine these issues in today’s headlines and broadcasts as well as studies by Hans-Werner Sinn, Frank Schirrmacher, T.R. Reid and Thomas Friedman.
Texts will be read in German, though some English language sources will be used. Instruction will be done in German.

 

Ger 455 German Film
I nstructor: Samuel Frederick
Phone: 656-3541
Email: SFREDER

This course is an introduction to film language, technology, genre, and innovation via the history of German cinema and its cultural contexts. We will survey the entire 115 year history of German film, touching on each of the important eras (as defined by politics and/or innovation)—Wilhelmine; Weimar; Third Reich; Post-war; GDR; the New German Cinema of West Germany; post-Unification; and contemporary—and many of the most important genres, including horror, documentary, experimental, comedy, period drama, propaganda film, among others. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to masterworks of German cinema, and to teach them how to “read” the visual language of film. We will spend much of the semester analyzing important scenes, discussing film technique, and placing each film in its cultural context. Short readings in both English and German will supplement the film viewings. Requirements include active participation; one presentation; one mid-semester paper; one in-class writing assignment; and a longer final paper.

 

Hon H221 Studies in Literature: "Chaos/ Anti-Epic"
Instructor: Johannes Schmidt
Phone: 656-4299
Email: SCHMIDJ

This course investigates the phenomenon of chaos as depicted in 6 great works hat arguably are best described as “anti-epics”. What is the role of chaos in the world and its relationship to order and authority? We will discuss both the destructive as well as the creative forces of chaos in cultural but also artistic contexts. Texts: Lucan's Pharsalia, Camoes’s The Lusiads, Tasso's Gerusalemme liberata (The Liberation of Jerusalem), Milton's Paradise Lost, Döblin's Berlin Alexanderplatz: The Story of Franz Biberkopf, Marquez's 100 Years of Solitude. I might add a film and an opera as well as additional artistic rendering of chaos to the material of the course.
Class participation, readings, two papers and final.

 

 

 

Hon H221 Studies in Literature: "Comparative Novel"
Instructor: Jeff Love
Phone: 656-3411
Email: GJLOVE

This course examines six of the most important European novels representing most of the major languages and a broad selection of novel types, some comic, some realistic, some wildly fantastic and experimental. There will be particular emphasis on the philosophical dimension of the novels, their cultural context and various theories concerning what pertains to the novel as a distinctively modern literary genre. Readings to include: Don Quijote, Tristram Shandy, Madame Bovary, Notes from Underground, The Castle and The Unnamable.