GER30230 ‘Belonging’ in German, Austrian and Swiss Cinema since 1990

Academic Year 2022/2023

The year 1989 marks a period of change throughout Europe, from the imposed end of Kosovo’s territorial autonomy, which resulted in civic unrest and led to the Bosnian war, the fall of the Berlin wall and German reunification.
This module surveys the film landscape of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland from then up to now, exploring topics of historical and social relevance for each country and touching upon important historical events that have shaped their self-understanding. Films have dealt with the aftermath of the 1989 'Wende' and the Bosnian war while both were still fresh in people’s memory, have engaged with the huge changes to the world of work since then, and looked at the multiple ‘belongings ‘of international families who settled in Germany after the 'Anwerbeabkommen' between Germany and various countries from the 1950s to 1970s.
A framework of ‘being’ and ‘belonging’ elaborated by J. Pfaff-Czarnecka, and the Cultural turns described by D. Bachmann-Medick, will form the theoretical basis for an examination of a selection of films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, mixing drama, comedy, arthouse and commercial film. The framework is particularly suited for engagement with topics such as immigration, disability, class, the formation of political groups and identity, and the role a nation plays in the world. Students will receive a dossier consisting of film reviews, interviews, and other texts to aid their understanding of the films and the historical and social dimension behind their creation. Differences in dialect between the countries form part of this module; subtitles in German shall enable easier understanding.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

- Apply a theoretical framework to a variety of films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
- Write a coherent essay that employs the theoretical framework developed by students throughout the course and that clearly displays critical and informed use of secondary literature.
- Demonstrate in your presentation that you have reflected on your own encounter with the material, including any questions emerging, or problems presented within the films and texts, as well as ideas that have led to your thinking about the themes discussed during the module in a new way.
- Understand and critically analyse issues connected with immigration, gender, prejudices, the entanglement with institutionalised power structures, marginalisation, generational conflicts and spacial (re-)negotiations.
- Analyse the way in which films engage with and negotiate historical and current affairs in the three countries.
- Understand important historical milestones in the three countries and the way they are presented and discussed through the medium of film.
- Gain an insight into country-specific dynamics of film production in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
- Present and communicate complex arguments in a concise manner to a peer group.

Indicative Module Content:

The module will address historical and current affairs in the three countries as portrayed though the medium of film, addressing topic such as:
immigration, disability, class, the formation of political groups and identity, gender, prejudice, institutionalised power structures, marginalisation, generational conflicts and spacial (re-)negotiations, and the role each nation plays in the world.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Seminar (or Webinar)

12
Specified Learning Activities

20
Autonomous Student Learning

66
Total

110
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
There will be a mixture of interactive lectures (to contextualise each film and discusses its impact) and seminars, involving small-group work, task-based activities and discussions, guided by structuring questions provided in advance. Students are expected to view the films before the discussions (at a scheduled viewing or independently) and familiarise themselves with the required reading (a dossier of film reviews, interviews and other texts provided at the start of the module).
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Students should have a good level of oral and written German (ca. B2 of the European Framework of Reference).


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Presentations will be normally be in groups, but, depending on class size, may be individual also. They should show evidence of research and also contain questions to facilitate class discussion. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

30
Essay: 2,500 words. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

70

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students may submit drafts or plans for any assessment prior to submission and receive written and/or verbal feedback and suggestions for improvement of the final version. Students with questions are welcome to come to office hours or schedule a meeting at another time with the module coordinator