Vergangenheitsbewaltigung und Nationale Identitat: Geschichte und Gedachtnis nach dem Holocaust
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| MLAC3083 | Modern Languages and Cultures | 3 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- MLAC3083
- School
- Modern Languages and Cultures
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
This module will examine historical, political and philosophical approaches to the concept of national identity between divided and post-unification Germany concentrating on the changing relationships between conventional patriotism and self-critical reflection on National Socialism. We will read texts ranging from the 1980s “Historikerstreit” to the diverging public and academic responses to Daniel Goldhagen’s Hitler’s Willing Executioners (1996) and will consider other examples of the shifting attitudes, both public and academic, to the memory of the Holocaust and the role it plays in constituting the contemporary German nation.
Target Students
Available for Y4 students of German, also open to Subsidiary, Exchange and Liberal Arts students with a good knowledge of German.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 22 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 22 weeks
The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies operates an attendance policy. The details of this policy can be found in the student handbook on Workspace and in module handbooks. One lecture in German (1 hour, fortnightly), one seminar in German (2 hours, fortnightly).
Assessment
- 40% Coursework 1: Essay 1: 2000-2500 word essay
- 60% Coursework 2: Essay 2: 3000 - 3500 word essay.
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
Educational Aims
To introduce students to the antecedents of contemporary approaches to the National Socialist past by analysing the development of distinct intellectual and political concepts of national identity and to foster critical awareness of the transformation in both left and right wing approaches to this past in post-unification Germany.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Students will develop their analytical skills by reading and evaluating historical, political and philosophical material in the original, their critical understanding of a central theme of post-unification political culture and an awareness of the social and historical context which informs contemporary concepts of social memory and identity politics. (A2)
Intellectual skills: Students will develop their ability to absorb and critically reflect on intellectually challenging material (B1)
Assemble evidence (B3)
Draw independent conclusions from their work with primary sources (B4)
Students will also learn to reflect critically and judge in the light of evidence and argument (B2)
Identify and to describe questions and problems (B4)
They will learn how to apply techniques and concepts appropriate for the analysis of political and historical materials. (B6)
Professional, practical and transferable skills: Students will develop their listening comprehension skills in German (C2)
The ability to read German in different registers as well as their written communication skills in English. (C3, D1)
They will be able to develop their presentation and essay writing skills. (D1, D2)
tudents will be expected to organise and manage working time, schedule tasks and meet deadlines and to write and think productively under pressure (under examination conditions).(D5, D7) Students will need to use IT effectively both as a means of communication and as an aid to learning. (D8)
Students will have the opportunity to work independently and in groups whilst assessing their own progress, strengths and weaknesses. (D3, D4)