Fall 2002 Course Guide

GRMN 101

Elementary German I. Introduction to the basic elements of spoken and written German, with a particular emphasis placed on the acquisition of communication skills. Readings and discussion focus on cultural differences.

680

MW 6:30-8:45

Staff

GRMN 102

Elementary German II. A continuation of GRMN 101. The student’s expression and comprehension are enhanced through the study of literature and social themes.

001

MTWRF 11-12

Staff

002

MTWRF 12-1

Staff

GRMN 103

Intermediate German I. Modern German texts of moderate difficulty, an integrated grammar view, targeted study of vocabulary, and wide-ranging activities and projects to advance the student’s command of the language with regard to reading, writing, and speaking skills.

001

MTRF 11-12

Staff

002

MTRF 12-1

Staff

003

MTRF 1-2

Staff

680**

MW 6:30-8:45

Staff

GRMN 104

Intermediate German II. Literary and non-literary texts of moderate difficulty.  Continued practice in active communication.  This course is designed to further develop and refine integrative skills of reading, writing, and speaking in German, as well as to prepare students for the Proficiency Examination in German and for advanced-level German courses.

001

MTRF 11-12

Staff

002

MTRF 12-1

Staff

GRMN 106

Accelerated Elementary German. An intensive two credit course in which two semesters of elementary German are completed in one. See descriptions of GRMN 101 and GRMN 102.

001

MWF 10-11

TR 10:30-12

Staff

GRMN 108

German in Residence. This is a 1/2 credit course for students living in the Modern Language House.

GRMN 212

Reading Strategies. Prereq. 104 or equiv. This course seeks to develop the student's reading ability in German; emphasis on reading and comprehension of German expository prose, including readings from history, sociology, contemporary affairs, science, and literature.

301

MWF 10-11

Staff

GRMN 219

German Business World I. This course, the first of two classes leading to the Zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf, is designed to introduce the student to the basic concepts of the German business world: economic geography, the European Union, transportation, tourism, elements of business correspondence, and forms of adequate comportment and manners while in Germany. Significant emphasis is placed on correct usage of appropriate business vocabulary and German grammar. Prerequisites: proficiency exams as required by the German Department at the University of Pennsylvania and completion of at least one third-year course in the department (i.e., German 211, 212, 215,216,221, or an approved equivalent).
Distribution I: Society, FLAC

001

MWF 1-2

J. Kurland

GRMN 225

Business German through Films & Documents. This course is functionally designed to facilitate the acquisition of an extensive business and everyday vocabulary. A series of films dealing with a variety of business transactions as well as selected articles focusing on the most recent economic and political developments in eastern Germany provide the basis for an emphasis on practical applications. This course seeks to reveal cultural and behavioral differences between Germans and Americans, in addition to vocabulary building. As a result, students should acquire a rich basis of factual and cultural knowledge beneficial to anyone contemplating a visit to or a work sojourn in Germany.
Prerequisites: proficiency exams as required by the German Department at the University of Pennsylvania and completion of at least one third-year course in the department (ie. German 211, 212, 215, 216, 221, or an approved equivalent).

680

M 4:30-6:45

F. Brévart

GRMN 269

Introduction to German Culture. In this course, we examine and explore the culture of German-speaking countries from the Middle Ages to the present. We will discuss what has given the German-speaking peoples in their changing boundaries their special place on the map of European politics, arts, cultures, and life styles. We will pay attention both to mainstream tendencies and oppositional movements. Special emphasis will be on the last two hundred years of philosophy, music, literature, and art, from Kant, Goethe, and Beethoven to the creative forces of modernism in the 20th century. The contributions to the ascent of science, technology, modern design and architecture (Bauhaus) will receive due attention. As most of the reading and discussion will be in German, the course will help build both vocabulary and fluency in German.
FLAC, Distribution III: Arts & Letters

001

TR 12-1:30

F. Trommler

GRMN 361

Dissonance and Discontent. Nietzsche, the death of God, Lulu's seduction, alienation, repression, expressionism, fin de siecle decadence, Freud's Vienna, Kafka's Prague, the Weimar Republic, Hitler as a Chicago gangster, Brecht's epic theater, Tucholsky's laughter, Marlene Dietrich, and the femme fatale phiosophy of Lou Andreas Salome... The era 1870-1945 represents a crucial period in the history of German culture and German literature provides an important sensual and analytical forum in which one can explore this decisive moment. Drawing on the writings of Nietzsche, Wedekind, Schnitzler, Freud, Salome, Mann, Kafka, Hesse, Tucholsky, Toller, and Brecht as well as films of the Weimar Republic, GRMN 361 explores the dissonance and discontent which arises in the 19th and early 20th century as a reaction to the expanding modern world. Through close readings, critical dilogues, and intensive writing practice, the course seeks to introduce students to not only an important phase of German literature and culture, but also to an engagement with the modern world which still resonates in our contemporary, postmodern time. All readings, discussion, and writing are in German.

001 

TR 1:30-3

N. Roessler

GRMN 377 

Germany and the European Union. As of January 1999, a single monetary system unites Germany, a core nation, with 10 other European states, thus making their union stronger than ever before. This course provicdes an overview of the political and economic developments as they relate to the integration of postwar Europe, focusing on Germany's role in these developments. Studying content-rich reading materials, the course explores historical-political, social, economic, and cultural issues that are imperative to Germany's success in these developments as well as the European community. Accompanying exercises will help students improve the level of complexity of their language skills.

001

MWF 11-12

S. Shields

GRMN 531

German Literature to the 18th Century.This course affords a historical overview of authors and their works, genres, and epochs. Special emphasis is placed on social, historical, cultural and religious backgrounds. Readings constitute selected works or passages, or both.

301

WF 10-11

H. Daemmrich

GRMN 244

Metropolis: Culture of the City. An exploration of modern discourses on and of the city. Topics include: the city as site of avant-garde experimentation; technology and culture; the city as embodiment of social order and disorder; traffic and speed; ways of seeing the city; the crowd; city figures such as the detective, the criminal, the flaneur, the dandy; film as the new medium of the city. Special emphasis on Berlin. Readings by, among others, Dickens, Poe, Baudelaire, Rilke, Döblin, Marx, Engels, Benjamin, Kracauer. Films include Fritz Lang's Metropolis and Tom Tykwer's Run Lola Run. General Requirement I: Society
WATU credit optional

401

TR 10:30-12

C. MacLeod

GRMN 263

Jewish American Literature This course introduces novels, short fiction, and poetry written in America by Jews. Issues of Jewish identity and ethnicity in an American context inform our discussions. We will consider how literary form and language develop as Jewish writers "immigrated" from Yiddish, Hebrew, and other languages to American English. Using the new Jewish American Literature: A Norton Anthology and other texts, we will read authors who wrote between 1800 and 2000. These writers include: Isaac Mayer Wise, Emma Lazarus, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Celia Dropkin, Abraham Cahan, Anzia Yezierska, Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, Cynthia Ozick, Allegra Goodman.
Distribution III: Arts & Letters

401

TR 10:30-12

K. Hellerstein

GRMN  265

401

TR 3-4:30

K. Hellerstein

GRMN 511

Stylistics for Scholars. Textual analysis based on communication theory. Texts selected from literature and other disciplines. Emphasis placed on the development of the student's own compositional and stylistic skills.

301

M 9-11

F. Brevart

GRMN 516

Teaching Methods. This course examines major foreign language methodologies, introduces resources available to foreign language teachers, and addresses current issues and concerns of foreign language teaching and learning such as second language acquisition theory and application of technology.

301

TR 9-10:30

C. Frei

GRMN 531

German Literature to the 18th Century. This course affords a historical overview of authors and their works, genres, and epochs. Special emphasis is placed on social, historical, cultural and religious backgrounds. Readings constitute selected works or passages, or both.

301

WF 10-11

H. Daemmrich

GRMN 551 

Kant's First Critique. A study of Kant's epistemology, criticism of metaphysics, and theory of science. A close reading of the Critique of Pure Reason and associated texts.

401

TR 1:30-3

P. Guyer

GRMN 641

Kleist to Wagner: Drama of the 19th Century. Drama and theater are central to the understanding of modern German culture. Reflecting on the dramatic heritage of classical authors (Goethe, Schiller, Lessing), this course will analyze and discuss the modern elements in nineteenth-century authors, especially Kleist, Büchner, and Grabbe. The overview of the dramatic techniques will include theoretical contributions (Hegel, Freitag, Szondi) and move from Grillparzer and Hebbel to Richard Wagner's concept of the musical drama, seen through Nietzsche's Gebürt der Tragödie aus dem Geiste der Musik. Readings will also include the Viennese Volkstheater (Nestroy) and a naturalist play by Gerhard Hauptmann.

301

T 2-4

F. Trommler

GRMN 678

Realism: Literature and Theory. What is "realism"? What does it mean to depict the world as a "realist" writer or artist? This seminar will consider these questions and concentrate on German literature and art of the second half of the nineteenth century. It will focus on writers such as Stifter, Storm, Raabe, and Fontane; visual artists will include Menzel, and contemporary proponents of historical painting.

301

W 3-5

L. Weissberg

GRMN 101

Elementary German I. Introduction to the basic elements of spoken and written German, with a particular emphasis placed on the acquisition of communication skills. Readings and discussion focus on cultural differences.

680

MW 6:30-8:45 

A. Taylor

GRMN 103

Intermediate German I. Modern German texts of moderate difficulty, an integrated grammar view, targeted study of vocabulary, and wide-ranging activities and projects to advance the student’s command of the language with regard to reading, writing, and speaking skills.

680

MW 6:30-8:45 

B. Ozel

GRMN 225

Business German through Films & Documents. This course is functionally designed to facilitate the acquisition of an extensive business and everyday vocabulary. A series of films dealing with a variety of business transactions as well as selected articles focusing on the most recent economic and political developments in eastern Germany provide the basis for an emphasis on practical applications. This course seeks to reveal cultural and behavioral differences between Germans and Americans, in addition to vocabulary building. As a result, students should acquire a rich basis of factual and cultural knowledge beneficial to anyone contemplating a visit to or a work sojourn in Germany.
Prerequisites: proficiency exams as required by the German Department at the University of Pennsylvania and completion of at least one third-year course in the department (ie. German 211, 212, 215, 216, 221, or an approved equivalent).

680

M 4:30-6:45

F. Brévart

GRMN 401

Beginning Yiddish I. The goal of this course is to help beginning students develop skills in Yiddish conversation, reading and writing. Yiddish is the medium of a millennium of Jewish life. We will frequently have reason to refer to the history and culture of Ashkenazie Jewry in studying the language.

401

TR 10:30-12 

 A. Botwinik

GRMN 265/565 

Yiddish Literature and Culture in Eastern Europe. This course presents the major trends in Yiddish literature and culture in Eastern Europe from the mid-19th century through World War II. Divided into four sections-"The Shtetl," "Religious vs. Secular Jews," "Language and Culture," and "Confronting Destruction"-this course will examine how Jews expressed the central aspects of their experience in Eastern Europe through history, literature (fiction, poetry, drama, memoir), film, and song. All readings and lectures in English.

401

TR 3-4:30

  K. Hellerstein

DTCH 101

Elementary Dutch I. A first semester Dutch language course covering the core Dutch grammar and vocabulary with the goal of providing the corner stone for developing overall linguistic proficiency in Dutch.

401

MWF 12-1

 R. Naborn

DTCH 103

Intermediate Dutch I. A third semester Dutch language course. The emphasis lies on vocabulary expansion through the use of audio-taped materials and readings. Grammar is expanded beyond the basics and focuses on compound sentences, features of text coherence and idiomatic language usage.

401

MWF 11-12

  R. Naborn

DTCH 501

Elementary Dutch I. A first semester Dutch language course covering the core Dutch grammar and vocabulary with the goal of providing the corner stone for developing overall linguistic proficiency in Dutch.

401

MWF 12-1

  R. Naborn

DTCH 503

Intermediate Dutch I. A third semester Dutch language course. The emphasis lies on vocabulary expansion through the use of audio-taped materials and readings. Grammar is expanded beyond the basics and focuses on compound sentences, features of text coherence and idiomatic language usage.

401

MWF 11-12

  R. Naborn

DTCH 507

Dutch for Reading Knowledge. This course is designed for undergraduates and graduate students who want to be able to read Dutch. Of particular interest to historians and art historians, people interested in international business and law, religious studies, social policy, and literature. Emphasis on reading skills; structures of grammar and pronounciation are taught as needed. Text selection can be tailored to individual student needs. Students need not necessarily possess any knowledge of Dutch

601

M 6-8:40

 R. Naborn

DTCH 399

Independent study. 

000

 TBA

 R. Naborn

DTCH 999

Independent study 

000

TBA 

Staff

SCND 103

Intermediate Swedish I.

401

MWF 11-12

KE Williams

SCND 399

Independent Study

000

TBA

Staff

SCND 503

Intermediate Swedish I.

401

MWF 11-12

KE Williams

SCND 999

Independent Study

000

TBA

Staff

DTCH 008

Amsterdam: Venice of the North, or a Modern Sodom and Gomorrah?.
This seminar will take you on a virtual canal boat trip through Amsterdam, guided by a Dutch native. Stops along the way include: a peek into the Cum Laude Coffee shop near the Red Light District, looking into how Dutch society tries to cope with drugs and prostitution; the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, witnesses to Holland's art history; the Nederlandsche Bank, the Dutch central bank, also providing insight into European central banking; and the Universiteit van Amsterdam, evidencing the differences between the American and the Dutch educational systems. In-class discussions will include Dutch policies on finance, education, art, health and crime. Through slides, film, texts and the internet you will gather information to engage in these discussions, which will culminate in an essay answering the question in the course title.
Distribution I: Society

301

MWF 10-11

R. Naborn

Lords of the Ring. "One Ring to rule them all; One Ring to find them; One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them; In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie." (J.R.R. Tolkien) So begins your journey into legends and traditional lore. You will read stories of unrequited love, betrayal, magical powers, and the deeds of dragon slayers. This course traces the power of the tales of the ring from J.R.R. Tolkien to Richard Wagner, from the Middle High German epic the Nibelungenlied to the Norse poetry of The Saga of the Volsungs, and back to the twentieth century with Thomas Mann's The Blood of the Walsungs.
Distribution III: Arts & Letters

GRMN 008

301

MWF 11-12

F. Brevart

HIST 430

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.
The meteoric rise of Hitler's NSDAP in Germany, the nature of Nazi rule, and the final collapse of the Third Reich. The first half of the semester analyzes the appeal of the NSDAP- who joined the party, who voted for it, and why. Nazi mobilization tactics, campaign strategy, and grass-roots techniques, the content of the party's social appeals. The second half of the course concentrates on the Nazis in power, their use of terror and propaganda, their ideological objective, everyday life in the Third Reich, the possibilities of resistance to the regime. Special attention will be devoted to Nazi Jewish policy and the step that led to the "Final Solution" and the Holocaust.

001

Lecture MW 11-12**

**Registration in a recitation section is also required.

T. Childers