To offer students of German as well as students not studying the German language an in-depth understanding of the cultural-political the German Democratic Republic;

To develop students skills in studying German and English primary and secondary sources about the German Democratic Republic and in critically discussing these materials in the seminar sessions;

To actively support students in developing independent research skills and the ability to construct complex arguments in relation the often contradictory political role of culture in the German Democratic Republic.

(LO1) By the end of the module, students will have a good understanding of the history and cultural politics of the GDR, its official ideologies, and the memory of the GDR since 1990, as well as of a range of specific examples of official and non-official culture.

(LO2) Students will be able to engage in a critical discussion about a wide range of primary and secondary materials and deploy the concepts and terms used by academics to describe the cultural politics and artistic practice of the GDR.

(LO3) Students will be able to present a critical and nuanced discussion about specific topics/themes in written and oral form and will be able reflect explicitly on their learning.

(S1) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Oral presentation skills

(S2) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S3) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: The framework for the module and its approach to analysing the cultural politics of the two regimes will be provided in a block of four introductory lectures. Additional lectures will introduce each new topic and provide the context for the specific examples of cultural practice analysed in the module.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Seminar
Description: Discussion and close analysis in seminar sessions will be structured around specific questions and tasks circulated in advance by the course tutor. These sessions will also provide space for students to give formative class presentations on selected topics. Texts are provided both in German and in English translation, as appropriate.
Attendance Recorded: No

This module is open BOTH to candidates studying German as part of their degree programme and to students without any knowledge of the German language.

Skill / other attribute 1:
Communica tion (oral, written and visual) - academic writing (inc. referencing skills).
How this is developed:
Seminars.

Skill / other attribute 2:
Critical thinking and problem solving - critical analysis.
How this is developed:
Preparation of texts / films for seminars; seminar session.

Skill / other attribute 3:
Communication (oral, written and visual) - oral presentation skills.
How this is developed:
Lectures; seminars.

Topics covered during the module may include:

The origins of the GDR;

GDR ‘Antifascism’;

The world of work;

Gender and youth;

Cultural policy;

GDR memory.