Course syllabus

UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND

SCHOOL OF CULTURES, LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS

 

GERM 250/350:The Holocaust and WWII in German Literature and Film

                                                                                                                       

Instructor: Dr. Nicole Perry       Office: Arts 2 Level 4, 413            

Office hours:  M 15-16.00                                                                                                                            

Extension: 87671                         E-mail: nicole.perry@auckland.ac.nz                                              

Location: Mondays: 114-G14 (Arts Commerce, G 14) 

250 TutorialG20 (Science Centre)      

350 Tutorial105-029 (Clock Tower)                                                                                                                                                                                      

COURSE OUTLINE

 

Objective:      With a focus on German texts and films pertaining to World War II and the Holocaust, the course charts the development of the ideas and the language of genocide, and the representation of the Holocaust in literature and films. Students will gain an understanding of the cultural background and emotions underlying ethnocentrism and anti-Semitism, and consider artistic responses to the experience of persecution and mass-murder.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course the student should be able to:

                        - read and interpret a literary/film

                        -conduct critical research on a literary topic (find and interpret relevant sources, assess their reliability, and extract necessary information)

                        -summarise and effectively present research findings and analysis (this is achieved through the group presentation)

                        -discuss the literary texts meaningfully and in an academically sound manner

Prerequisite:  250: 30 points passed in BA courses. 350: 30 points passed in German

Method:         Seminar style with in-class presentations: 1x 2hr LEC + 1x1 TUT

 When not scheduled, films are to be viewed outside of class, and is the responsibility of the student to view them.

Books & Film:

“About the Jews and Their Lies,” Martin Luther – public domain excerpts

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Bertolt Brecht (Bloomsbury Methuen) [Der aufhaltsame Aufstieg des Arturo Ui, 1941]-- play

The Man Outside, Wolfgang Borchert (New Directions) [Draußen vor der Tür, 1949]-play

“Death Fugue,” Paul Celan [“Todesfuge”] -- poem

The Excursion of the Dead Girls, Anna Seghers [Ausflug der toten Mädchen, 1946] --short story

Andorra, Max Frisch, 1961 (Bloomsbury Methuen).-- play

Bronstein's Children, Jurek Becker (University of Chicago Press )

[Bronsteins Kinder, 1986]-novel

“Jud Süß,” dir. Veit Harlan. [“Jud Süß, 1940]--film

“Jacob the Liar,” dir. Frank Beyer. [“Jakob der Lügner”, 1976] --film

 “The Nasty Girl,” dir. Michael Verhoeven. [“Das schreckliche Mädchen”, 1991] --film                                             

Method of Evaluation

                                           250:

                                          

                                           10x multiple choice questions @ 2%                                                        20%

                                           In class presentation, inc. handout                                                           20%

                                           Take home exam                                                                                     30%

                                           Final Essay (2,000 words)                                                                       30%

                                           350:

                                            5 response papers @ 4%                                                                           20%

                                           In class presentation, inc. handout                                                            20%

                                           Take home Exam                                                                                    30%

                                           Final Essay (3,000 words)                                                                        30%

 

 

 

*The success of this course depends on you! That means, you MUST prepare for the seminars, i.e., have read the texts, seen the films, and be ready and able to contribute to discussions.

250 Quizzes: 

to be completed at home and the answers sent to me via email by Friday 5:00PM the week of the class discussion. IE. "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" by Friday, August 11.  

350 Response papers:

In approximately 500 words give a plot outline and express your opinions on the text. Submissions on a rolling basis (not all 5 at the end of semester!!) and written about 5 texts/films of your choice.

 

Presentations:

presentations are to be done in groups of two and should be 15-20 min. in length. You are to present on a topic from one of the readings or films and address how it relates to, engages with, critiques, comments upon, etc., aspects of the Holocaust. For example, if you were to present on Martin Luther's "The Jews and Their Lies", you could address the role of Anti-Semitism in the text to challenge Luther's late blooming racism and address the power of a voice like his has in the public eye. Or in "Jud Süß", the use of propaganda in film.

   

Course Calendar

 

Week No / Starting	Monday	Thursday	Notes
WEEK 1 24 July	Introduction “About the Jews and Their Lies”	“About the Jews and Their Lies”	Presentation slots selected
WEEK 2   31 July	Guest Lecture: Professor Gordon Morell, Nipissing University, Canada	Tutorials cancelled, question sheet to be filled out and submitted on the film "Jud Süß"
WEEK 3     7 August	The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui	The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui	Presentation
WEEK 4     14 August	The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui/The Man Outside	The Man Outside	Presentation
WEEK 5     21 August	The Man Outside/ “The Death Fugue”	The Man Outside; “The Death Fugue”	Presentation
WEEK 6    28 August	“Jacob the Liar” film	“Jacob the Liar” film	Presentation Take home midterm distributed Thursday
mid term break
WEEK 7    18 September	The Excursion of the Dead Girls	The Excursion of the Dead Girls	Presentation Take home due Thursday
WEEK 8    25 September	Visitor: Bob Narev	discussion on visit/ Excursion of the Dead Girls	Presentation
WEEK 9  2 October	Andorra	Andorra	Presentation
WEEK 10  9 October	Andorra	Andorra	Presentation
WEEK 11   16 October	“The Nasty Girl”, film, in class	Tutorials cancelled
WEEK 12 23 October	“The Nasty Girl” discussion	Conclusion	Presentation Final Essay due October 30 @ midnight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*The schedule is tentative and may be subject to minor changes or variations.