German Culture Ii
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The course focuses on some general aspects of the cultural life of German-speaking countries between the 19th and 20th centuries. This is a crucial period for the foundation of a modern state and for the positioning of Germany in the global geopolitical situation. The aim of the course is to present the relationship between the fundamental events of material history and their representations in various areas of cultural discourse.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will have to acquire an autonomous and advanced ability to manage some fundamental categories of periodization in the context of the cultural history of German-speaking countries between the 19th and 20th centuries. These categories will have to be substantiated by a differentiated understanding of some important socio-historical dynamics.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
All notices relating to the modalities of the course will be made known through the Ariel platform.
The platform will also be used to make supplementary materials available to students.
The platform will also be used to make supplementary materials available to students.
Course syllabus
There are two units, which will be developed consecutively:
1) Modern and contemporary cultural history in German-speaking countries
Some essential moments in the social, political and economic history of the German-speaking countries between the Napoleonic wars and the contemporary age will be presented. In particular, the forms in which these events are elaborated, critically discussed and represented in various spheres of the philosophical, aesthetic, historiographic production of the reference period will be studied. A conceptual repertoire will be built to clarify the modernization processes that affect German culture between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We will present in particular the practice of the Grand Tour, the construction of the image of the other, the relationship between Ancient and Modern, the crisis of traditional systems of representation in the first half of the 20th century.
2) From the Second World War onwards
The module intends to address broadly the major socio-cultural issues that emerged in the two German states and in general in the German-speaking world up to 1990. Particular attention will be paid to problems related to immigration and reunification. we will discuss the parallel development, in the Bundesrepublik and in the GDR, of two antithetical development models and on the way in which these models have been represented in cultural life. Among others, the concepts of Kahlschlag, Stunde Null, Gruppe 47, Konkrete Poesie will be studied. At the center of this module is the figure and work of Heinrich Böll, whose novels will be briefly examined.
1) Modern and contemporary cultural history in German-speaking countries
Some essential moments in the social, political and economic history of the German-speaking countries between the Napoleonic wars and the contemporary age will be presented. In particular, the forms in which these events are elaborated, critically discussed and represented in various spheres of the philosophical, aesthetic, historiographic production of the reference period will be studied. A conceptual repertoire will be built to clarify the modernization processes that affect German culture between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We will present in particular the practice of the Grand Tour, the construction of the image of the other, the relationship between Ancient and Modern, the crisis of traditional systems of representation in the first half of the 20th century.
2) From the Second World War onwards
The module intends to address broadly the major socio-cultural issues that emerged in the two German states and in general in the German-speaking world up to 1990. Particular attention will be paid to problems related to immigration and reunification. we will discuss the parallel development, in the Bundesrepublik and in the GDR, of two antithetical development models and on the way in which these models have been represented in cultural life. Among others, the concepts of Kahlschlag, Stunde Null, Gruppe 47, Konkrete Poesie will be studied. At the center of this module is the figure and work of Heinrich Böll, whose novels will be briefly examined.
Prerequisites for admission
: An articulated and advanced knowledge of the fundamental processes of European history from the 18th century onwards.
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Teaching Resources
Unit 1:
Gustavo Corni, Storia della Germania. Da Bismarck a Merkel, Il Saggiatore, Milano 2017 (at the beginning of the course, the parts that will be necessary for the preparation of the exam will be specified).
Heinrich Heine, Impressioni di viaggio. Italia, transl. by Bruno Maffi, Rizzoli, Milano 2013.
Friedrich Nietzsche, La nascita della tragedia (any available edition).
Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Lettera di Lord Chandos (any available edition).
Unit 2
As a non-mandatory reference manual Horst-Albert Glaser, Deutsche Literatur zwischen 1945 und 1995. Eine Sozialgeschichte, Haupt, Bern 1997. A reference text in Italian will be specified at the beginning of the module.
Two texts to choose from:
Heinrich Böll, Opinioni di un clown, transl. by Amina Pandolfi, Mondadori, Milano 2016
Heinrich Böll, L'onore perduto di Katharina Blum, transl. by Italo Alighiero Chiusano, Einaudi, Torino 2015
Heinrich Böll, Biliardo alle nove e mezzo, transl. by Marianello Marianelli, Mondadori, Milano 2017
Günter Grass, Il tamburo di latta, transl. by Lia Secci, Feltrinelli, Milano 2004
Non-attending students are also required to know some texts contained in a handout that will be made available in the first weeks of the course on the platform.
Gustavo Corni, Storia della Germania. Da Bismarck a Merkel, Il Saggiatore, Milano 2017 (at the beginning of the course, the parts that will be necessary for the preparation of the exam will be specified).
Heinrich Heine, Impressioni di viaggio. Italia, transl. by Bruno Maffi, Rizzoli, Milano 2013.
Friedrich Nietzsche, La nascita della tragedia (any available edition).
Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Lettera di Lord Chandos (any available edition).
Unit 2
As a non-mandatory reference manual Horst-Albert Glaser, Deutsche Literatur zwischen 1945 und 1995. Eine Sozialgeschichte, Haupt, Bern 1997. A reference text in Italian will be specified at the beginning of the module.
Two texts to choose from:
Heinrich Böll, Opinioni di un clown, transl. by Amina Pandolfi, Mondadori, Milano 2016
Heinrich Böll, L'onore perduto di Katharina Blum, transl. by Italo Alighiero Chiusano, Einaudi, Torino 2015
Heinrich Böll, Biliardo alle nove e mezzo, transl. by Marianello Marianelli, Mondadori, Milano 2017
Günter Grass, Il tamburo di latta, transl. by Lia Secci, Feltrinelli, Milano 2004
Non-attending students are also required to know some texts contained in a handout that will be made available in the first weeks of the course on the platform.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam for attending and non-attending students. Students will be asked to demonstrate the assimilation of the course contents, the understanding of the basic conceptual repertoire and the ability to argue independently on some topics proposed by the teacher. The two units that make up the course will both be subject to assessment. The final grade will be expressed out of thirty. Students who declare themselves not attending will take care to integrate their preparation as indicated in the bibliography attached to the program.
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Di Noi Barbara, Pirro Maurizio
Professor(s)