SFT20310 German: Literature and Culture Studies (Autumn 2016)

The course is connected to the following study programs

The course is optional and included in the German as a Foreign Language Extension Course, which can be studied as part of the Bachelor in Society, Language, and Culture.

Lecture Semester

German as a Foreign Language Extension Course: 1^st semester (autumn)
Bachelor in Society, Language, and Culture: 3^rd or 5^th semester (autumn)

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge

The student

• has acquired knowledge of important aspects of Berlin's recent history including literary texts and films dealing with Berlin as a subject  
• is familiar with the interaction between society, culture and literature and how the artistic medium (literature and film) influences the presentation of the topic
• in particular, understands how the metropolis influences the literary presentation and expression

Skills

The student has

• enhanced analytical and interpretative skills
• improved skills in using literary terminology and methodology

General competence

The student 

• has enhanced understanding of the culture of the German area and of literary methodology
• is able to present their knowledge at a fairly high level of proficiency

Content

The course includes literature and culture. It introduces German literature and history with a focus on Berlin from 1945 untill today. Thus, the interaction between literature, culture and society plays a central role. Central is the problematising of and reflection on the individual work of art as well as the wider aspects.
In addition to background material and literary texts the course will discuss other artistic expressions.

Forms of teaching and learning

All instruction is in German. The course is webbased with the possibility of receiving supervision on campus in Halden. The instruction is organised partly as online seminars and partly as seminars on campus. The instruction is not compulsory, but students are advised to follow the activities regularly and actively. The learning is student-active rather than teacher-based.

Workload

Approx. 420 hours.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

The students are to submit two written assignments in the course of the semester. Each assignment should consist of approx. 4 pages or text, illustrations (the use of illustrations is preferable) not included.

The coursework must be approved before a student can take the final exam.

Examination

Individual oral examination with student presentation, a total of 30 minutes

Presentation:

The candidate gives a presentation of approx. 10 minutes on a topic from the aspects dealt with in the course, chosen by the candidate himself/herself in cooperation with the instructor. The presentation tests the candidate's ability to present a topic in a free and independent manner.

Oral examination:

The questions in the 20 minutes' oral examination are from the syllabus and deal with the topic Berlin.

Assessment takes into account content, ability of reflection and problematisation, communicative ability, presentation technique, and language use.

As a rule the oral examination takes place on the webbased learning platform. Another possibility is an on-campus oral exam.

No aids permitted.

One final mark is given on the grading scale A-F.

Course evaluation

The course is evaluated by the students twice each semester and the result is processed by the faculty committee for study quality.

Literature

If there are adjustments to the list, the students will be notified no later than the start of the semester.

ANONYMA: Eine Frau in Berlin (btb).
BACHMANN, Ingeborg: Ein Ort für Zufälle (handed out by the instructor).
BRUSSIG, Thomas: Am kürzeren Ende der Sonnenallee (Fischer).
KAMINER, Wladimir: Russendisko (Goldmann; two self-chosen texts).
KORDON, Klaus/SCHIMMEL, Peter: Die Lisa. Eine deutsche Geschichte (Beltz).
KORDON, Klaus: Die Flaschenpost (Beltz).
NOLTE, Mathias: Louise im blauweiß gestreiften Leibchen (Deuticke)
RUTTMANN, Irene: Das Ultimatum (dtv).
SCHNEIDER, Peter: Der Mauerspringer (Rowohlt).

A guidebook on Berlin of the students' own choice (either in German or Norwegian, a recent or older edition but not published before1950)

The students choose 3 of the following films (other Berlin films than the ones on this list may be chosen if approved by the course instructor):

• Anonyma - eine Frau in Berlin (Max Färberböck),
• Berlin Alexanderplatz (Rainer Werner Fassbinder),
• Das Leben der Anderen (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck),
• Das Leben eine Baustelle (Wolfgang Becker),
• Der Himmel über Berlin (Wim Wenders),
• Der Zimmerspringbrunnen (Peter Timm),
• Emil und die Detektive (Franziska Buch or earlier issue),
• Helden wie wir (Sebastian Peterson),
• Herr Lehmann (Leander Haußmann),
• Goodbye Lenin! (Wolfgang Becker),
• Lola rennt (Tom Tykwer),
• Sonnenallee (Leander Haußmann)
• Weissensee. Eine Berliner Liebesgeschichte (tv serial, Friedemann Fromm) or
• Wie Feuer und Flamme (Connie Walter)