German literature: historiography of german literature (seminar)

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An introductory knowledge of German literature and a good proficiency in German (advanced level, B2 + in terms of the Common European reference framework).

In-depth analysis of German-speaking literary works and themes from the 20th and 21st centuries, particularly as far as the historical and the socio-cultural contexts are concerned. The themes regularly vary according to the literary and scientific news, as well as according to the centers of interest of the teacher; (for instance current forms of "Realism" in German literature, contemporary novels written by women, etc.)

By the end of the course, the students will be able to:

- analyse German-speaking literary works in their historical and/or socio-cultural contexts, also taking aesthetic processes, which constitute the specificity of literary texts, into consideration;
- integrate such processes into the framework of the mechanisms of the historiography of literature, also establishing connections between a diachronic approach and contemporary texts;
- deepen their literary culture on the basis of German-speaking texts and show their ability to interpret those critically in their historical and civilisational contexts;
- read and produce scientific texts in this field of study and in the target-language, on the basis of the method of literary studies; in this respect, this approach is a continuation of the courses on history of literature and civilisation of the bachelor programme, and makes use of previously acquired insights into literary theory. It aims to increase the students' literary knowledge and to develop a critical attitude towards the interpretation of literary texts in their adequate context. This approach also aims to teach the students how to write a critical essay in the studied field.

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

Oral exam based on a preliminary written report.

Preparation of the analysis in small groups with the teacher.

This year the seminar will focus on the aesthetics/poetics of Magical Realism in German-speaking literatures. The idea of Magischer Realismus dates back to the 1920ies in Germany, where it appeared as an alternative to literature of the fantastic. In its enlarged contemporary form though, which we shall examine, it is largely inspired from Latin American Magical Realism and its postcolonial counterpart in English-speaking literatures. We shall raise the issue of the function of magic-realist episodes, essentially in novels inspired by history and illustrating narrative techniques of the so-called traumatic imagination characteristic of postwar or of exile situations. Besides Magical Realism as a narrative tool enables to tackle political situations based on domination ' like in the past of African societies colonized by European powers ' in a subversive way.

Primary sources: Paper back editions of Ilse Aichinger, Die größere Hoffnung (1948/1960); Sabrina Janesch, Katzenberge (2010); Uwe Timm, Morenga (1978), W.G. Sebald, Austerlitz (2001) ; Urs Widmer, Im Kongo (1996).

Critical sources: see the issue Magical Realism as Narrative Strategy in the Recovery of Historical Traumata; éd. par Eugene Arva & Hubert Roland; n°14 de la revue Interférences littéraires. A Multilingual e-Journal for Literary Studies (http://www.interferenceslitteraires.be/nr14).

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