Contemporary German Literature
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course is aimed at students of all the CdS of Humanistic Studies and aims to deepen the skills in the field of German literature, in particular the modern and postmodern, in the historical-political context. This course focuses on the representation, in the German language literature of the period of National Socialism, of the Second World War and of the post-war period, taking into consideration some significant works of the last decades.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Guidance on the history, sources, methods and tools of literary studies and on the analytical practices of textual hermeneutics. Knowledge of various significant authors of the German-speaking literature after 1945 and of their works dealing with the representation of the period of National Socialism and the Second World War. Understanding of the theoretical-methodological and historical-cultural problems inherent in the study of contemporary German literature, with particular attention to the narrative genre. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to analyze and interpret the literary text in its historical-cultural context; ability to connect the chosen texts with the literary tradition of the twentieth century; ability to express the acquired skills with methodological rigor.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
In view of the limitations imposed on teaching by the anti-covid measures, teaching will take place synchronously online, on the TEAMS platform, at the scheduled times. The lessons will be recorded and can therefore also be used asynchronously. During the lesson, which will be held in German, texts will be read, interpreted and commented on, at least in part shared on the screen. However, students must obtain the literary and critical texts of the program from the library or purchase them.
Course syllabus
The course is entitled "Narrating the History of the 20th Century. The novel 'Jahrestage' by Uwe Johnson" and consists of the following three teaching units, which will be dealt with in sequence:
A: The novel 'Jahrestage. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl", volumes 1 and 2, by Uwe Johnson
B: The novel "Jahrestage. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl", volumes 3 and 4, by Uwe Johnson
C: The film "Jahrestage" by Margarethe von Trotta, based on the novel by Uwe Johnson.
Students who intend to acquire 6 credits will adhere to the program of units A and B; students who intend to acquire 9 credits will follow the full program (units A, B and C).
The course is dedicated to the great novel "Jahrestage. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl", published by Uwe Johnson in four volumes in the years 1970-1983, and its cinematographic transposition by the director Margarethe von Trotta in 2000. The novel tells the story of German history and the history of the Cresspahl family, the years of the Weimar Republic, National Socialism and the division of Germany until 1968. This monumental work (1700 pages) is divided into two temporal planes, the past in Germany and the present in the USA, where the protagonist lives.
Unit A deals, after a brief introduction to German history in the years 1918-1989, with the first two volumes of Uwe Johnson's novel, which narrate historical and private events in the Germany of the Weimar Republic and National Socialism, as well as in New York in 1967.
Unit B is dedicated to volumes 3 and 4 of the novel "Jahrestage", which are set in National Socialist Germany, the GDR and New York in 1968, where the protagonist lives in the meantime.
Unit C deals with the cinematographic transposition of the novel "Jahrestage" by Uwe Johnson in the homonymous film by German director Margarethe von Trotta (2000), which will be screened online.
The course programme is valid until February 2022. From the summer session 2022 it will be possible to appear exclusively on the programme of A.A. 2021-22.
A: The novel 'Jahrestage. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl", volumes 1 and 2, by Uwe Johnson
B: The novel "Jahrestage. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl", volumes 3 and 4, by Uwe Johnson
C: The film "Jahrestage" by Margarethe von Trotta, based on the novel by Uwe Johnson.
Students who intend to acquire 6 credits will adhere to the program of units A and B; students who intend to acquire 9 credits will follow the full program (units A, B and C).
The course is dedicated to the great novel "Jahrestage. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl", published by Uwe Johnson in four volumes in the years 1970-1983, and its cinematographic transposition by the director Margarethe von Trotta in 2000. The novel tells the story of German history and the history of the Cresspahl family, the years of the Weimar Republic, National Socialism and the division of Germany until 1968. This monumental work (1700 pages) is divided into two temporal planes, the past in Germany and the present in the USA, where the protagonist lives.
Unit A deals, after a brief introduction to German history in the years 1918-1989, with the first two volumes of Uwe Johnson's novel, which narrate historical and private events in the Germany of the Weimar Republic and National Socialism, as well as in New York in 1967.
Unit B is dedicated to volumes 3 and 4 of the novel "Jahrestage", which are set in National Socialist Germany, the GDR and New York in 1968, where the protagonist lives in the meantime.
Unit C deals with the cinematographic transposition of the novel "Jahrestage" by Uwe Johnson in the homonymous film by German director Margarethe von Trotta (2000), which will be screened online.
The course programme is valid until February 2022. From the summer session 2022 it will be possible to appear exclusively on the programme of A.A. 2021-22.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held entirely in German. The materials and the examination bibliography presuppose solid linguistic skills. Students of Degree Courses other than Languages who do not know German or are beginners will not always be able to rely on Italian translations; therefore, if interested in the course, they will have to contact the teacher in advance to assess any adaptations to the program. Erasmus students or other forms of mobility are admitted as long as they possess solid German language skills.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures; reading and commenting on excerpts from the works on the program; viewing, listening and commenting on audio and video material found online.
Teaching Resources
The course has the online platform Ariel (https://fhaasltc.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/) to which you can refer for educational materials to download in PDF format. For each teaching unit, specific critical essays on the novel "Jahrestage" and on the author Uwe Johnson, or on general issues, will be made available on the website.
Below are indicated the critical and narrative works of mandatory reading for the various teaching units and the reference editions.
Didactic Unit A
Gustavo Corni, Storia della Germania. Da Bismarck a Merkel, Il Saggiatore, Milan 2017 (from chapter 5, "La Repubblica di Weimar", to the end).
Katja Leuchtenberger, Uwe Johnson, (Suhrkamp Basisbiographie), Suhrkamp, Berlin 2010.
Uwe Johnson, Jahrestage. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl, Volume 1 (ISBN 978-3-518-46451-9) and Volume 2 (ISBN 978-3-518-46452-6), Suhrkamp, Berlin 2017.
Teaching Unit B
C.M. Buglioni, M. Castellari, A. Goggio, M. Paleari, Letteratura tedesca. Epoche, generi, intersezioni, Vol. 2: Dal primo dopoguerra al nuovo millennio. Mondadori, Milan 2019.
Uwe Johnson, Jahrestage. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl, volume 3 (ISBN 978-3-518-46453-3) and volume 4 (ISBN 978-3-518-46454-0), Suhrkamp, Berlin 2017.
Teaching Unit C
Margarethe von Trotta, Jahrestage - Nach dem Roman von Uwe Johnson, 2 DVDs, 360 minutes, Filmedition Suhrkamp, Berlin 2010.
Martin Wiebel (curator), Mutmassungen über Gesine: Uwe Johnsons "Jahrestage" in der Verfilmung von Margarethe von Trotta, Suhrkamp, Frankfurt 2000, pp. 205-213, 227-237, 249-261.
Directions for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Naturally, given the greater difficulties deriving from a preparation conducted independently, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to the study and elaboration of the contents foreseen by the program and to integrate the bibliography with further materials available online or in the library.
Below are indicated the critical and narrative works of mandatory reading for the various teaching units and the reference editions.
Didactic Unit A
Gustavo Corni, Storia della Germania. Da Bismarck a Merkel, Il Saggiatore, Milan 2017 (from chapter 5, "La Repubblica di Weimar", to the end).
Katja Leuchtenberger, Uwe Johnson, (Suhrkamp Basisbiographie), Suhrkamp, Berlin 2010.
Uwe Johnson, Jahrestage. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl, Volume 1 (ISBN 978-3-518-46451-9) and Volume 2 (ISBN 978-3-518-46452-6), Suhrkamp, Berlin 2017.
Teaching Unit B
C.M. Buglioni, M. Castellari, A. Goggio, M. Paleari, Letteratura tedesca. Epoche, generi, intersezioni, Vol. 2: Dal primo dopoguerra al nuovo millennio. Mondadori, Milan 2019.
Uwe Johnson, Jahrestage. Aus dem Leben von Gesine Cresspahl, volume 3 (ISBN 978-3-518-46453-3) and volume 4 (ISBN 978-3-518-46454-0), Suhrkamp, Berlin 2017.
Teaching Unit C
Margarethe von Trotta, Jahrestage - Nach dem Roman von Uwe Johnson, 2 DVDs, 360 minutes, Filmedition Suhrkamp, Berlin 2010.
Martin Wiebel (curator), Mutmassungen über Gesine: Uwe Johnsons "Jahrestage" in der Verfilmung von Margarethe von Trotta, Suhrkamp, Frankfurt 2000, pp. 205-213, 227-237, 249-261.
Directions for non-attending students
The program for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Naturally, given the greater difficulties deriving from a preparation conducted independently, it is recommended that non-attending students devote an appropriate amount of time to the study and elaboration of the contents foreseen by the program and to integrate the bibliography with further materials available online or in the library.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher, interactions between the teacher and the student, and the analysis and commentary of one or more excerpts from the works in the program. The interview has a variable duration depending on the teaching units on which the student is presented, and takes place (at the student's choice) in German or Italian. The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts read, the ability to contextualize authors and works, the ability in the exposition, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the capacity for critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in this case it will be verbalized as "withdrawn").
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/13 - GERMAN LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 15:00-18:00 (For other times: agree via email)
Office Prof. Barbara Berti, Anglistics, 4th floor, Sant'Alessandro and on Microsoft Teams