German literature: historiography of german literature (seminar)

Teacher(s)

Roland Hubert;

Language

Deutsch

Prerequisites

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

Main themes

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.)

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	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.

Content

This year the course/ seminar will focus on the so-called interkulturelle Literatur, which, in German-speaking countries has known important developments since the 1980ies so that it has become today a phenomenon and subdomain of German literature in this beginning 21th century. This literary production in German language ' at the beginning a phenomenon at the margin, circumscribed by the denominations Migrantenliteratur or even Ausländerliteratur, referring to the social malaise of Gastarbeiter ' covers today all expressions of literature dealing with those multiple identities characterizing the current German society, which has become 'plurinational': German-speaking literature of Turkish origin, from the Arabic or Persian countries but also from Eastern Europe or even Black Africa (among others from the countries which were historically colonized by Germany). At the theoretical level we shall pay interest to the questions of exile and migration, as well as to the question of alterity (Der/Das Fremde), particularly because 'the other' has also become 'part of ourselves' over the generations.

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Preparation of the analysis in small groups with the teacher.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Oral exam based on a preliminary written report.

Bibliography

Littérature primaire: Une sélection des 'uvres suivantes à convenir avec les étudiant.e.s: Shida Bazyar, Nachts ist es leise in Teheran (2016), Sabrina Janesch, Katzenberge (2010); Terézia Mora, Alle Tage (2004); Emine Sevgi Özdamar, Mutterzunge (1990); May Ayim, Grenzenlos und unverschämt (2002); Uwe Timm, Morenga (1978), Urs Widmer, Im Kongo (1996).
Littérature secondaire: Chiellino, Carmine (Hrsg.), Interkulturelle Literatur in Deutschland. Ein Handbuch, Weimar, Metzler, 2007; Müller-Funk, Wolfgang, Theorien des Fremden, Tübingen, Francke Verlag, 2016.

Faculty or entity

ELAL