German Courses Fall 2025

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWRF 9:55 – 10:45 am
• Lecture 002: MTWRF 11:00 – 11:50 am
• Lecture 003: MTWRF 12:05 – 12:55 pm
• Lecture 004: MTWRF 1:20 – 2:10 pm
• Lecture 005: MWR 3:30 – 4:50 pm

Course Description: German 101/401 is an introductory course designed for beginners in German who have no previous knowledge of the German language. By the end of the first semester, you should be able to communicate effectively with others in German on a variety of topics, such as personal and public identity, family, education, career goals, and fitness. This class will expose you to authentic texts from a variety of sources in different genres and modes, for you to develop your reading, viewing, and listening skills and engage in critical thinking. Grammar and vocabulary will be introduced in context. Assessments focus on all skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). Throughout the semester, you will learn more about yourself and deepen your linguistic and culture knowledge of the German-speaking world. You will also improve your language-learning strategies. To be successful and achieve course learning outcomes, you will be expected to complete homework on time and participate in class. Attendance is required. This course cannot be audited. The textbook, Augenblicke: German through Film, Media, and Texts (2e), is available at the UW Book Store for around $45 and is used in first-, second-, third-, and fourth-semester German. Contact the course supervisor, Dr. Jeanne Schueller (jmschuel@wisc.edu), with any questions about the course or appropriate placement.

Prerequisites: None

(This course is also offered to graduate students for 3 credits as GERMAN 401.)

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWRF 11:00 – 11:50 am
• Lecture 002: MWR 3:30 – 4:50 pm

Course Description: German 102/402 is a continuation of German 101. Students need to have completed German 101 or achieve an appropriate score on the placement exam to enroll. By the end of the second semester, you should be able to communicate effectively with others in German on a variety of topics, such as soccer, technological innovations, and national identity. This class will expose you to authentic texts from a variety of sources in different genres and modes, for you to develop your reading, viewing, and listening skills and engage in critical thinking. Grammar and vocabulary will be introduced in context. Assessments focus on all skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). Throughout the semester, you will learn more about yourself and deepen your linguistic and culture knowledge of the German-speaking world. You will also improve your language-learning strategies. To be successful and achieve course learning outcomes, you will be expected to complete homework on time and participate in class. Attendance is required. This course cannot be audited. The textbook, Augenblicke: German through Film, Media, and Texts (2e), is available at the UW Book Store for around $45 and is used in first-, second-, third-, and fourth-semester German. Contact the course supervisor, Dr. Jeanne Schueller (jmschuel@wisc.edu), with any questions about the course or appropriate placement.

Prerequisites: GERMAN 101 or appropriate score on the placement exam.

(This course is also offered to graduate students for 3 credits as GERMAN 402.)

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWR 9:55 – 10:45 am

Course Description: One of the advantages of studying at the UW is being able to take courses in Dutch. Although the study of Dutch linguistics and literature has steadily expanded at major American universities in recent years, many universities do not offer this language. Since Dutch is a Germanic language—linguistically related to both German and English—and since the Dutch have always had close ties, Dutch is a logical choice as an additional language for American students from a range of majors or areas of interest.

Prerequisites: None

(This course is also offered to graduate students for 3 credits as GERMAN 311.)

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWR 9:55 – 10:45 am
• Lecture 002: MTWR 11:00 – 11:50 am
• Lecture 003: MTWR 12:05 – 12:55 pm
• Lecture 004: MW 3:30 – 5:10 pm

Course Description: German 203/403 is a continuation of German 102. Students need to have completed German 102 or achieve an appropriate score on the placement exam to enroll. By the end of the third semester, you should be able to communicate effectively with others in German on a variety of topics, such as civic and social engagement, legends and myths, and traditions and celebrations. This class will expose you to authentic texts from a variety of sources in different genres and modes, for you to develop your reading, viewing, and listening skills and engage in critical thinking. Grammar and vocabulary will be introduced in context. Assessments focus on all skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). Throughout the semester, you will learn more about yourself and deepen your linguistic and culture knowledge of the German-speaking world. You will also improve your language-learning strategies. To be successful and achieve course learning outcomes, you will be expected to complete homework on time and participate in class. Attendance is required. This course cannot be audited. The textbook, Augenblicke: German through Film, Media, and Texts (2e), is available at the UW Book Store for around $45 and is used in first-, second-, third-, and fourth-semester German. Contact the course supervisor, Dr. Jeanne Schueller (jmschuel@wisc.edu), with any questions about the course or appropriate placement.

Prerequisites: GERMAN 102 or appropriate score on the placement exam.

(This course is also offered to graduate students for 3 credits as GERMAN 403.)

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWR 11:00 – 11:50 am
• Lecture 002: MW 3:30 – 5:10 pm

Course Description: German 204/404 is a continuation of German 203. Students need to have completed German 203 or achieve an appropriate score on the placement exam to enroll. By the end of the fourth semester, you should be able to communicate effectively with others in German on a variety of topics, such as city and rural life, how film influences cultural perspectives, the concept of home, and migration, immigration, and integration. This class will expose you to authentic texts from a variety of sources in different genres and modes, for you to develop your reading, viewing, and listening skills and engage in critical thinking. Grammar and vocabulary will be introduced in context. Assessments focus on all skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). Throughout the semester, you will learn more about yourself and deepen your linguistic and culture knowledge of the German-speaking world. You will also improve your language-learning strategies. To be successful and achieve course learning outcomes, you will be expected to complete homework on time and participate in class. Attendance is required. This course cannot be audited. The textbook, Augenblicke: German through Film, Media, and Texts (2e), is available at the UW Book Store for around $45 and is used in first-, second-, third-, and fourth-semester German. Contact the course supervisor, Dr. Jeanne Schueller (jmschuel@wisc.edu), with any questions about the course or appropriate placement.

Prerequisites: GERMAN 203 or appropriate score on the placement exam.

(This course is also offered to graduate students for 3 credits as GERMAN 404.)

(4 credits)

• Lecture 003: MTWR 12:05 – 12:55 pm

Course Description: One of the advantages of studying at the UW is being able to take courses in Dutch. Although the study of Dutch linguistics and literature has steadily expanded at major American universities in recent years, many universities do not offer this language. Since Dutch is a Germanic language—linguistically related to both German and English—and since the Dutch have always had close ties, Dutch is a logical choice as an additional language for American students from a range of majors or areas of interest.

Prerequisites: GERMAN 112 or appropriate score on placement exam. Open to First-Year Students.

(This course is also offered for graduate students as GERMAN 313.)

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: MWF 8:50 – 9:40 am
• Lecture 002: MWF 2:25 – 3:15 pm

Course Description: Drawing mainly on contemporary audio and video materials from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, students will explore linguistic and cultural variation of German by learning how native speakers vary their use of sound structures, vocabulary, and grammar according to speech situation.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, the aim is for students to:

• improve their comprehension and production of spoken German via exposure to the language in use in audio and video formats and through use of the International Phonetic Alphabet;
• develop communication strategies to increase oral fluency;
• promote their awareness of how spoken German varies according to speech situation and region mainly in terms of sound structures, vocabulary, and pragmatics of speech;
• enhance their understanding of contemporary German-speaking cultures in Europe and the central role that language plays in shaping these cultures.

Prerequisites: GERMAN 204 or appropriate score on placement exam or consent of the course supervisor. This course can be taken subsequent to, prior to, or concurrent with GERMAN 262, GERMAN 258, and GERMAN 285. Open to first-year students.

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: MW 4:00 – 5:15 pm

Instructor: Zach Ramon Fitzpatrick

Course Description: An English-language introduction to German cinema, one of the most influential national cinemas in the world. Consider important periods and topics such as the Weimar Republic (1918-1933); Nazism (1933-45); post-war popular cinema; socialist East Germany; New German Cinema; and art house and international favorites of the contemporary period. Analyze how the films represent important cultural and social issues such as gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, class, nationality, globalization, and migration.

Prerequisites: None

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: MWF 9:55 – 10:45 am
• Lecture 002: MWF 1:20 – 2:10 pm

Instructor: Jeanne Schueller 

Course Description: This course is designed to acquaint you with German literary, cultural, and historical texts and provide an overview of cultural developments in German-speaking countries. An important goal of this course is to offer explicit instruction on reading strategies to help students improve their comprehension of a range of texts. In German 258, you will recognize different genres (text types) and identify applicable reading strategies; implement critical reading skills for reading and comprehending different genres and written registers; identify, define, and implement vocabulary related to the topics covered in class; situate a text within its cultural and historical contexts in the German-speaking world; demonstrate the ability to read autonomously; and select and interpret a text based on individual academic interests. Two books and a course pack are required and can be purchased at the UW Book Store. All other materials will be available on Canvas. Contact the course coordinator, Dr. Jeanne Schueller (jmschuel@wisc.edu), with any questions about the course or appropriate placement.

Prerequisites: GERMAN 204 or placement into GERMAN 249, 258, or 262. Open to first-year students.

(Fulfills Literature Breadth)

(3 credits)

• Lecture 002: TR 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
• Lecture 004: TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm

Instructors: Mary Hennessy, Julia Goetze

Course Description: Fairytales, murder mysteries, film reviews, and … resumes? Welcome to Intermediate German Writing! In this class, students will expand and enhance their writing skills in German by exploring a variety of different text types and genres reflecting the diversity of the German-speaking world. Daily course participation will involve active in-class discussion as well as collaborative and individual writing activities. Learners will work with authentic texts, music, and film, and they will also engage with synonyms, regional variations, and register to develop the skills to express themselves effectively and creatively in German. Through the composition of a variety of text types, from the practical to the fanciful, course participants will expand their individual comfort zone and improve their own communication skills as well as comprehension of written texts. Materials and in-class discussions will be in German.

Prerequisites: German 204 or appropriate score on placement exam or consent of instructor. This course can be taken subsequent to, prior to, or concurrent with German 249 and German 258.

(Honors Optional)

(3-4 credits)

• Lecture 001 + 002: W 11:00 – 11:50 am
• Lecture 003 + 004: W 12:05 – 12:55 pm
• Discussion 301: F 11:00 – 11:50 am
• Discussion 302: M 11:00 – 11:50
• Discussion 303: F 12:05 – 12:55 pm
• Discussion 304: M 12:05 – 12:55 pm

Course Description: Using the medium of Yiddish song to explore the culture and history of Jews in the diaspora, we will focus on their experience as a minority first in Europe and then in the United States. Facing discrimination, oppression, and marginalization on both sides of the Atlantic, Jews used Yiddish song as a vehicle to express their pain as well as their pride. The goals of this course are to increase students’ capacity to value the unique qualities of Yiddish song as a reflection of the Jewish experience by appreciating the depth of expression conveyed in its sounds and its lyrics, as well as to gain insight into the process of immigration and acculturation in the United States from the perspective of a persecuted group, the challenges it faced in confrontation with new forms of discrimination and marginalization, and the outlet this group found in the performing arts for documenting their struggles and for finding a creative niche in their new surroundings. The experiences of the Jews in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries are then used as a basis for comparison for the experiences of migrants and the state of antisemitism in America today. The format of this course is blended/flipped: students will work through on-line modules and assessments on their own and meet once a week for in-class activities in the multifunctional WisCEL classroom. Those who opt for Comm-B will attend an additional section once a week and receive an additional credit. There is no text required for purchase for this course.

Prerequisites: None

(Disc 301, 302 have Comm-B designation and enroll into Lec 002. Disc 303, 304 have Comm-B designation and enroll into Lec 004.)

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: TR 11:00 am – 12:15 pm

Instructor: Sunny Yudkoff

Course Description: Exploration of European Yiddish fiction, poetry, folklore, and cinema, with a focus on works of the 19th and 20th centuries.

In the American cultural imagination, European Jewish life and the history of Yiddish culture is often represented by the image of Jewish men. What happens to that image when women’s stories and women’s legacies are placed at the center? The following course introduces students to classic and lesser-known works of the Yiddish literature and culture that take as their central concern the gendered experience of modern Jewish life.

Covering material from the seventeenth century until today, we will explore a variety of texts, including memoirs, prayers, short stories, poetry, and visual art produced in Yiddish—a language that has been both praised and derided as mame-loshn, or “mother tongue.” The course texts will also familiarize students with major historical events of European Jewish history, including messianic movements; the Jewish Enlightenment; the rise of Jewish nationalism, socialism, and communism; and the Holocaust. The course also investigates the legacy of these works for contemporary theorists of Jewish culture and gender.

This course presumes no previous knowledge of Yiddish literature or language, or Jewish cultural literacy.

Prerequisites: None

(Fulfills the Literature requirement. Elementary level.)

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm

Instructor: Mary Hennessy

Course Description: Explores the historical connections between capitalism and religion. Considers if and how religious ideas and practices facilitated the rise of capitalism; asks whether religious institutions have supported the reproduction of social inequalities, unjust labor practices, and exploitative economies; and studies the role played by religious actors in the critique of capitalism. Pays attention to the historical specificity of the capitalist system, its conditions of emergence in the Christian West, and the effects of its globalization on non-Christian traditions. Covers topics including classical social theories of religion and capitalism; contemporary examples of religious practice and capital accumulation; and the relationship between religious movements and social-economic justice.

Prerequisites: None

(Honors optional)

(3 credits)

• TR 2:30 – 3:45 pm

Instructor: Sabine Mödersheim

Course Description: “Climate Fiction “ is an emerging genre of literature, graphic novels, and film exploring the consequences of climate change in the age of the “Anthropocene”, the epoch in which human impacts on the planet’s ecological systems reach a dangerous tipping point. The aim of this course is to discuss the human experience of climate change on a global scale through analyses of works by German authors such as Christa Wolf, Yoko Tawada, Ilija Trojanow as well as writers from around the world, including Margaret Atwood, Octavia E. Butler, Amitav Ghosh, and others. We will explore dystopian, and apocalyptic stories but also works that imagine a more just future of resilience and social equality.

All materials will be in English translations or with English subtitles. Lectures and discussions will be in English. Prior knowledge of German welcome but not required.

Prerequisites: Satisfied Communications A requirement.

(Level: Intermediate. Breadth: Literature. L&S credit type: Counts as LAS credit (L&S))

(3 credits)

• MW 4:00 – 5:15 pm

Instructor: Nâlân Erbil 

Course Description: Love Berlin and Istanbul but cannot travel? Here is a course for you! This course is about two great cities: one entirely in Europe and one half in Europe and half in Asia. Berlin and Istanbul are connected by histories of political power, cultural exchange, and in the twentieth century by Turkish migration into Germany. The course starts with post WWII guest worker movement into West Germany and spans what is now the fourth generation of Turkish-Germans making Berlin the third largest Turkish city in the world after Ankara and Istanbul.

We will focus on Turkish-German food such as Döner kebab, Turkish-German rap and hip-hop, films, literature, sports (soccer), and social media influencers from the Turkish-German community. The course will offer students the opportunity to understand how the Turkish presence has influenced and transformed the German-speaking world and more generally how migration from outside Europe shapes the cultures of European cities.

To this end, we will read works both by Turkish German writers such as Fatma Aydemir, Zafer Şenocak, Sevgi Özdamar, Aras Ören, and writers from Turkey including the Nobel Laurate Orhan Pamuk and Menekşe Toprak; we will watch and discuss films like Kebab Connection, artists such as Eko Fresh, film makers such as Fatih Akın, controversial soccer players such as Mesut Özil and many more. Berlin and Istanbul will form the backdrop of our course, and guest speakers will enrich our discussion.

All materials will either be in English translations or with English subtitles. Lectures and discussions will be in English. Prior knowledge of German and Turkish appreciated but not required.

This course may be counted as cognate toward the German major. It counts towards European Studies Certificate and Middle East Studies Certificate. Open to Freshmen; Fulfills Literature and Humanities Breadth Requirements. Meets-with LitTrans 276/German 276.

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm

Instructor: Melissa Sheedy  

Course Description: From wolves to witches, Rumpelstiltskin to Rapunzel, the German fairy-tale tradition is filled with rich imagery, familiar themes, and political and social subversion. Of enduring popularity and as constant subjects of reimagination and revitalization, German tales and their retellings serve as a unique lens through which to view the social, political, and cultural contexts in which they were produced. Through these texts, we will glimpse the underlying perceptions and values regarding family, gender, nation, nature, religion, and society, both in the first half of the 19th century and in the Germany of the last 25 years. With an eye to depictions of gender and gender roles as well as to conceptions of the environment and civilization, we will critically engage with these works and contextualize them within the social and political landscapes that shaped them. Our investigations will center on tales and their retellings in a variety of forms, with a special focus on fairytales by women writers. In recognizing and analyzing the Märchen’s influences in literature, art, music, poetry, and pop culture, we will begin to appreciate the fairy-tale’s enduring legacy and its place within German literary and cultural history. This course counts as a cognate course for the German major.

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing

Fulfills the humanities breadth requirement and literature requirement.

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWR 9:55 – 10:45 am

Instructor: 

Course Description: Description to come!

Prerequisites: None

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: MTWR 12:05 – 12:55 pm

Instructor: 

Course Description: Description to come!

Prerequisites: None

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: MW 4:00 – 5:15 pm

Instructor: Julie Larson-Guenette

Course Description: German 337 is designed to synthesize and advance language skills building on previous German coursework with specific aims to enhance and improve speaking, listening, reading and writing of German. Course content covers a range of topics related to contemporary German society and culture along with grammar review. Texts span a range of topics and genres to include short stories, poetry, news articles, cartoons, music, documentaries, podcasts, contemporary film, and a novel.

Prerequisites: (GERMAN 249, 258, and 262) or (GERMAN 249 and 285)

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: MWF 1:20 – 2:10 pm

Instructor: Mark Louden

Course Description: In this course, which is taught in German, students will learn to analyze how sounds, words, and sentences are formed in German and how these structures vary regionally. The focus in the first half of the course will be mainly on the sounds of German: how they are produced and how we transcribe them. We then consider how these sounds have changed over the history of German as reflected in both the standard language and modern dialects. In the second half of the course we will look at processes involved with forming German words. We will then look at how words are combined to form phrases and sentences in German. The course will conclude by examining topics broadly dealing with contact between the German and English languages, including what is popularly known as “Denglisch” (English-influenced German) and German varieties spoken in the United States.

Requisites: GER 249+258+262 or 249+285, completed before fall 2025

(Level: Advanced; Breadth: Humanities; L&S credit type: LAS)

(4 credits)

• Lecture 001: TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm

Instructor: Sabine Mödersheim

Course Description: In diesem Kurs beschäftigen wir uns mit Texten und Themen der heutigen deutschsprachigen Literatur im Kontext der gegenwärtigen Gesellschaft. Wir beginnen mit einem Überblick über die verschiedenen Gattungen an Beispielen aus der aktuellen deutschsprachigen Literaturszene.

Unter anderen werden wir folgende Themen erforschen:

• Literarische Genres und Formen: Lyrik, Roman, Kurzgeschichte, Drama, Hörspiel
• populäre Literatur: Popliteratur, Comic, spekulative Literatur, Jugendliteratur
• Literatur der (Post-)Migration
• Schwarze deutsche Literatur
• Klimawandel und Ökologie in der Literatur
• Erinnerungsliteratur und Dekolonisierung

Texte und Materialien werden auf Canvas bereitgestellt.

Prerequisites: (GERMAN 249, 258, and 262) or (GERMAN 249 and 274) or (GERMAN 249 and 284) or (GERMAN 249 and 285)

(3 credits)

• MWF 11:00 – 11:50 am

Instructor: Jeanne Schueller

Course Description: This course is designed to broaden your knowledge of German language and culture through the analysis and interpretation of film. We will consider the historical and cultural contexts of each film and read thematically related texts. The course will introduce you to several critically acclaimed German-language films that explore a range of topics and genres. I will provide you with materials to help you better understand the films, but I am also interested in your reactions to them – what you enjoy, how they make you feel, what you discover about the German-speaking world, and what you learn about yourself through the process and the semester. Film-specific terminology and aspects of film analysis will be introduced at the beginning of the semester to facilitate our discussion of the films. Films and readings will be in German. Some films have German or English subtitles, and others are in German with no subtitles. Assessments include two reflective essays, a film review, an in-class presentation of your film review, and active class participation. Regular homework to prepare for class will be assigned. Partner, small-group, and whole-class discussions will be in German. Class materials will be available for download from Canvas. Feature-length films will be viewed outside of class.

Prerequisites: Completion of German 249, 258, and 262; or 249 and 285; or consent of instructor.

(3 credits)

• Seminar 001: R 4:00 – 6:30 pm

Instructor: Zach Ramon Fitzpatrick

Course Description: Have you heard of ARD or ZDF? Have you ever watched Tatort, DRUCK, or Tagesschau? All are part of Germany’s vast public service broadcasting system, the Öffentlich-Rechtliche. Funded by 18-euro monthly contributions from each household in Germany, the Öffentlich-Rechtliche delivers news, culture, education, and entertainment across multiple platforms. Do media function differently when broadcast as a public service? How do audiences respond to the dissonance of German public media programming, which ranges from highly progressive (including empowering and nuanced portrayals of marginalized groups) to deeply conservative? To answer these and other questions, we will explore representations of race/ethnicity, migration, gender, sexuality, class, and disability, as well as pressing issues like climate change and politics, through analyses of a variety of materials (TV films and series, radio programs, YouTube videos, and social media) and genres (reportage, talk shows, reality TV, sitcoms, Krimis, and coming-of-age).

Prerequisites for 372: (GERMAN 249, 258, and 262) or (GERMAN 249 and 285

Prerequisites for 676: Senior standing and GERMAN 337
Students enrolled in GER 676 will have additional requirements to fulfill the senior capstone criteria.

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: TR 9:30 – 10:45 am

Instructor: Julie Larson-Guenette

Course Description: This course is intended for those who wish to develop primarily reading skills in German.  A thorough presentation of German grammar will be coupled, from the start, with regular practice in reading and translation.  Various levels of academic prose will be covered with a twofold goal: (1) participants will develop skills at comprehension in reading expository German in general; and (2) individuals will have the opportunity to begin reading German in their own research areas as well. 

Prerequisites: Senior standing.

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: MWF 12:05 – 12:55 pm

Instructor: Mark Louden

Course Description: In this course, students will be introduced to structural and sociolinguistic aspects of the history of the German language from its Indo-European origins to the present. The first half of the course will trace the development of German through the Middle High period. In the second half, we will examine how standard and regional varieties have evolved in German-speaking Central Europe since approximately 1500. Two important themes throughout the course will be, first, that the “German language” has never been monolithic, and second, that change has been driven mostly by persons of modest social status. Students will deepen their understanding of the basic phonological, morphological, and syntactic structures of German while also becoming familiar with how sociolinguists connect synchronic variation with change over time. This course will be taught in German.

Requisites: Senior standing

 (Level: Advanced; Breadth: Humanities; L&S credit type: LAS)

(3 credits)

• Lecture 001: TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm

Instructor: Julia Goetze

Course Description: Researchers of world language classrooms and language educators alike constantly seek to understand and investigate variables that influence student development, performance, and achievement. One set of variables that has captured their attention for three decades is rooted in the domain of psychology; namely, emotions, affect, cognitions, beliefs, and motivation. Until recently, however, researchers have almost exclusively focused on students’ psychologies, investigating their anxiety, enjoyment, self-efficacy beliefs, grit, and their ideal self-image (among many others) and the role they play in students’ linguistic development within instructed language learning settings.

This course introduces students to psychologically oriented research of the language teacher, a lacuna in SLA research that is only slowly beginning to be addressed. Drawing on Dörnyei’s (2018) claim that the language teacher might be the most important factor in influencing student learning, this course will introduce students to existing paradigms of psychologically oriented research in SLA, cover current theoretical approaches, provide an overview of methodological tools in teacher-focused research of psychological variables, and engage students in the design of a hands-on empirical research study for a variable of their choice.

Prerequisites: Graduate Standing

(3 credits)

• Seminar 001: F 1:20 – 3:15 pm

Instructor: Hannah Vandegrift Eldridge

Course Description:

This course will analyze how authors from three and a half centuries have created, engaged with, and deconstructed the powerful social construction we call “race.” We will investigate authors who challenge white supremacy, colonialism, and imperialism as well as those who uphold them (deliberately or not). Students will learn about theoretical frameworks for examining these structures, including postcolonialism and critical whiteness studies. Finally, we will consider how the structures of race intersect with other power relations such as gender, sexuality, religious affiliation, disability, and citizenship. Students will design final projects that link their disciplines and questions to the topics of the class. Readings and discussion will be in English, so that students from all disciplines can participate.

Potential authors:  Mithu Sanyal, Michael Götting, Olivia Wenzel, Durs Grünbein, Yoko Tawada, Zafer Şenocak, Else Lasker-Schüler, Friedrich Nietzsche, Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Georg Forster, Karoline von Günderrode, Friedrich and August Wilhelm Schlegel, Immanuel Kant, and more.

Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing

Also listed as French 804, History 804, Poli Sci 804, and Soc 804