DESCRIPTION:

This course explores the way the theme of fascism has been treated in German literature and popular media over the past seventy years.  Excerpts from documents and films and a novel produced under National Socialism will be contrasted with subsequent revisions of the claims and features that characterize early pro-fascist work.  The subsequent changing image and iconography of fascism in novels and films will be compared.  The DEFA depictions of fascism as an idyll of clean living and benign idealism in the 1930s (Hitlerjunge Quex, Triumph des Willens) contrast with immediate postwar depictions of demonic masterminds (Des Teufels General), the later images of self-delusional, mechanistic fascism in the 1959 novel and later film, Die Blechtrommel, the horror of its impact on children from the postwar perspective of the 1970s (Die Brücke), the reluctant fascism of German brothers in arms as a persistant trope throughout the postwar period (Das Boot).  Students will check their impressions against excerpts from documentary tapes from the National Socialist period, novel and dramatic excerpts of the cinematic realizations we view, and read contemporaneous WEB sites, newspapers and magazines addressing this topic.  Use the language of both spoken and written texts to express their ideas is emphasized.  Initial identification of 6-8 phrases in each text that convey its messages will be followed by journal entries on related topics.  Journals will be collected periodically and the instructor will respond to the textual observations of randomly selected entries.  Students are encouraged to correspond with the instructor in German on her email address: jswaffar@mail.utexas.edu

TEXTS:

Films and videos available from Batts 3, copies to view in Batts 232
Xerox copies of assigned readings available in GBS, 4th floor.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Time on task, execution, and progress rather than entry level ability counts here.  Thus, whether students enter with superior German skills or not, they confront a level playing field with regard to grades.  Focus is on legibility, clarity of expression, and willingness to improve in grammatical areas targeted by the instructor in consultation with the student during the second week of the semester.  In addition to reading and video viewing, this course asks for five kinds of writing and speaking assignments.  Each student is asked to write 1) at least 20 journal entries (1 page in length) on assigned video materials and readings; 2) 8 short quizzes (unannounced) summarizing material read with 6-8 underlined phrases from that reading; 3) at least 3 oral reports in class (approximately 5 minutes each) that summarize a WEB or newspaper treatment of an aspect of fascism; 4) group work involving role play and discussions of topics; 5) Notetaking in class (assessed periodically).  Students will meet with professor at beginning and close of semester to assess progress in oral expression and reading comprehension.  Final grades will be assessed based on journal entries submitted both periodically during and at the close of the semester as well as quizzes, WEB reports, group work, attendance (3 unexcused absences = 1 letter grade), progress on entry and post semester writing and individual testing.

GRADING:

oral presentations--10%	quizzes--20%
notetaking and group work--10%	entry- and post semester performance--30%
journal entries--30%

 Course Syllabus (auf deutsch)

 Web Information Page