Literature in the Age of Globalization and Interculturalism.

Teacher(s)

Büssgen Antje;

Language

Deutsch

Prerequisites

Introduction to German literature and good knowledge of German (advanced level B2+ as defined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Main themes

The problems stemming from European colonialism and the post-colonial debates and also the more recent problem of climate change and human responsibility for it are related to the processes mentioned above.
Reading contemporary literary texts based on themes of globalization and interculturality thereby requiring a brief theoretical introduction to these processes (globalization, intercultural dialog, climatic change, etc.) and in particular to their ethical and esthetical sides and to the role of the intellectual in society. The literary texts studied in this course (novels, plays, etc.) are therefore accompanied by theoretical and scientific texts (essays, studies) related to the respective subjects.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Participants who complete this course successfully will be able to read contemporary literary works which are based on the processes which mark our time in its economic, social, and cultural dimensions and which treat the challenges of our present and future: the globalization and creation of alliances of countries which co-operate economically and politically (Europe and the European Union, for example) and the interaction of different cultures within societies which are more and more subject to migration (intercultural dialog or clash?); realize the importance of literary texts as the basis for the public discussion about these questions and of the self-image  of the author as an intellectual in modern society. The theme of the course is linked to the issues covered by the course of the BAC on the  civilizations of German speaking countries.

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”.

Content

The reading list evolves over time. It will be announced at the beginning of each course cycle.

Teaching methods

Practical work: Literary analyses carried out by small groups in collaboration with the professor.

Evaluation methods

Continuous evaluation of the work accomplished during the course (oral contributions, discussions).
Written final exam (individual) on the basis of a personalized reading assignment.

Bibliography

Zygmunt Bauman: Flüchtige Zeiten. Leben in der Ungewissheit. Aus dem Englischen von Richard Barth. Hamburger Edition 2008.
Rüdiger Safranski: Wieviel Globalisierung verträgt der Mensch? München; Wien: Hanser 2003.
Une bibliographie détaillée sera diffusée au seminaire.

Faculty or entity

LMOD