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FUBiS Term II: Representing the Nation: Art and Architecture of Berlin
(Course # 2.16)
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Type: |
B Track |
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Instructor(s): |
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Language: |
English |
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Contact hours: |
72 (6 contact hours per day) |
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Credit Points: |
6 |
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Capacity: |
18 |
Resources
Course description
This course is an interdisciplinary investigation of the architecture and visual culture of Berlin from the Romantic period to the present. More than almost any other city, the German metropolis bears the actual marks of divergent conceptions of nationalism. After exploring the
theoretical underpinnings of this phenomenon, our approach will be both chronological and thematic. While we concentrate on specific periods, we will focus on a series of case studies. Morning meetings will be devoted to introductory lectures and in-depth discussions of critical texts by authors including Renan, Fichte, Goethe, and Huyssen. Afternoon excursions will complement each morning’s study. These will include a tour of Schinkel’s Romantic Berlin, the Soviet War Memorial in Treptow, the Reichstag, and the Jewish Museum. Additional visits may include the Nationalgalerie and the Gemäldegalerie. This course will give students the opportunity to explore the complex interplay among memory, history, and national myth, issues of fundamental importance for our own times.
Student profile
This course is designed for students who are interested in learning about the history and culture of Berlin through a careful investigation of the city's architecture and visual culture. Because of our multidisciplinary approach, students from a wide range of interests, including anthropology, art, art history, cultural studies, history, political science, and sociology are welcome.
Prerequisites
None.
Course requirements
Regular attendance and active participation are essential to succeed in the course. In addition to two 3-page critical essays in which students will demonstrate their understanding of the readings and synthesize ideas from the class discussions, they will also complete a series of brief in-class written responses. Finally, they will complete two 5-page take-home essays for their midterm and final examinations.
Grading
Attendance and Participation 30%
Written Assignments: 20%
- Two 3-page Critical Essays
- Written Responses to Readings
First Written Examination 25%
Final Written Examination 25%
Reading
A course reader containing all the required texts including a wide range of primary and secondary writings by authors including Benedict Anderson, J.G. Fichte, J.W. von Goethe, Andreas Huyssen, Ernest Renan, Susan Sontag, and Michael Wise will be provided at the orientation meeting.Recommended Course combinations
- Mass Media and Popular Culture in Berlin
- Music in Berlin: Three Centuries of Tradition and Innovation
- Semi-intensive German Language Courses (Track A)
