German: Fin-de-Siecle Vienna

Thematically organized course focused on twentieth- and twenty-first-century German literature in historical and cultural contexts. May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisites: GERM 2200 or GERM 2202.

Pre-requisite:GERM 2202 PACE students by permission and override

Vienna at the turn of the 19th to 20th century was a vibrant metropolis in the heart of Europe, offering a unique lens through which to explore the rise of modernism. This course offers a comprehensive examination of the socio-cultural landscape of Vienna during a period of intense intellectual and artistic transformation. from the rise of psychoanalysis to the evolution of modernist aesthetics. We will delve into the interconnected realms of literature, philosophy, art, theater, and science, considering how innovations in one domain catalyzed shifts across others. By analyzing key texts, we will explore themes central to the period, including sexuality, the unconscious, rising nationalism, anti-Semitism, and fascination with the exotic. Key figures such as Sigmund Freud, Theodor Herzl, Arthur Schnitzler, Stefan Zweig, and Joseph Roth will be central to our studies, as will the exploration of major debates within the scholarship on the period. This multidisciplinary approach will provide students with a deep understanding of how turn-of-the-century Vienna was a critical site for the birth of modernism and how its dynamic intellectual and cultural scene continues to shape our understanding of the modern world today. Throughout this course you will: • recognize and locate key figures and socio-historical developments of the period and identify and define key terms of the Vienna modernism period. • understand the role of sexuality, nationalism, and racism for the formation of identity • enhance your interpretive skills through reading, discussing, and analyzing a variety of literary genres • learn to use conceptual tools from literary studies in order to engage with texts analytically and critically (beyond basic plot summaries) • expand your language skills (reading, speaking, writing, listening), your grammar knowledge, and develop your presentational skills in German • get enthralled by the great literary works we are reading

Students attend class 3 times per week in-person. Expect instruction and interactions with your peers to be centered on active learning scenarios and meaningful discussions drawn from homework assignments. Students should expect to spend 6-8 hours per week outside of class on homework and class preparation.

Evaluation is based on active participation, one oral presentations, two in-class essays and a variety of writing assignments building up to the final project.