GERM 201
Of Saviors and Scoundrels: German-American Relations and Imaginaries Fall 2016
Division I
This is not the current course catalog

In this seminar we will explore German views of the United States through the lens of a wide range of German media. In addition to studying current political and cultural ties between the two countries, we will also trace how these relations developed throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Which events had a major impact on the attitudes of Germans towards U.S. politics and culture? To what extent is the Unites States an “Other” within the German imaginary that is involved in Germany’s search for its own national identity? Students will make use of course materials and build on class discussions to draw comparisons between Germany and the United States, thereby strengthening cultural awareness, critical thinking skills, and media literacy. This course further develops the communicative skills acquired at the intermediate level via intensive work with a wide range of media from Germany, including online news platforms, TV and radio broadcasts, literary texts, and feature films. In addition to written assignments, various multi-media projects provide students with the opportunity to further reflect on the course material.