Transnational German Cinema
LTGR 270 | Spring 2020
Mondays & Wednesdays 2:00–3:15 pm
Maybank Hall 222
Instructor: Cara Tovey, Ph.D.
Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30–5:00 pm,
Fridays 2:00–3:00 pm, & by appointment
Office: JC Long 425
email: toveyce@cofc.edu
Course Description:
In an age of extreme globalization and interconnectivity through social media, news, and travel, the film industry is following suit with an increase of co-productions between multiple countries, travel and nature documentaries shot all over the globe, and films featuring multiple languages, including a rise in minority languages on film. While this may seem like a phenomenon of our digitally connected age, film has in fact from its beginning transcended national boundaries in its production, content, reception, appealing to audiences around the globe. Despite this historically fluid nature of film, labeling films from particular countries as belonging to that country’s “national cinema” is still widespread practice. This course will seek to undermine the designation of “national cinema” by covering examples of German films spanning early cinema to the present and will look at both obvious transnational aspects, including Turkish-German cinema and refugees on- and off-screen, as well as obscure transnational aspects, such as film on streaming platforms, the film festival, or films not featuring a particular nation or national identity. In our investigations, we will discover how a shift towards a transnational understanding of film opens up a space for a more globally connected and inclusive cinema and world.
Department of German and Russian Studies Mission Statement:
The Department of German and Slavic Studies seeks to provide students with a broad range of courses, degree programs, study abroad opportunities and internships to develop proficiency and cultural literacy in German and Russian. The department’s mission is to prepare all students for success as professionals for life-long critical engagement as global citizens through the study of language, literature and media as an integral part of the liberal arts education.
General Education Student Learning Outcomes: Humanities
Outcome 1: Students analyze how ideas are represented, interpreted or valued in various expressions of human culture.
Outcome 2: Students examine relevant primary source materials as understood by the humanities area under study and interpret the material in writing assignments (or alternatives that require equally coherent and sustained analysis).
The General Education Student Learning Outcomes will be assessed by the Final Analytical Paper.
Course Policies:
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. Do let me know if there is an emergency or if you are missing class due to an illness. If you miss class more than three times without a legitimate excuse, you risk receiving a lower grade. You will be responsible for all the work you have missed.
Grading:
20% Participation (including attendance and general preparation for class)
20% Blog Posts (8/10)
3% Individual Meeting
7% Oral presentation
20% Midterm
10% Video Essay
20% Final Analytical Paper (GenEd assessment tool)
Grading Scale:
93–100 (A); 90–92 (A-); 88–89 (B+); 83–87 (B); 80–82 (B-); 78–79 (C+); 73–77 (C); 70–72
(C-); 68–69 (D+); 66–67 (D); 65 (D-); 0–64 (F)
Readings and Films: All readings will be made available to you through OAKS. All films will either be made available through OAKS or will be accessible via an online streaming platform such as YouTube or Netflix. You are responsible for making sure that you have completed the reading or the viewing and the associated assignments prior to class. If you are having trouble accessing the materials, you need to contact me with enough notice so that we can find a solution.
Assignments:
Readings and Films: You are expected to complete the readings and film viewings for the class period that they are assigned. This means spending a good amount of time with the materials reading, watching, and taking notes.
The rule of thumb regarding assignments outside of class is that for every hour in class, you should expect two hours of work outside of class. Hence, for a three-hour class, expect a minimum of six hours of outside work including watching the film, working with video clips, reading the articles, and writing the assignments.
Blog Posts: Each week you will write a blog post that you will post to the course blog. The blog posts will be based on that week’s film and readings. The blog posts will vary from simple essays to more complex forms that incorporate different media, including stills and short clips from the films. I will give special instructions on how to complete each assignment. The assignments will build off of one another and will progress logically to build your analytical and editing skills to help prepare you for the final video project. The best 8 out of 10 posts will count toward your final grade.
Individual Meeting: You are required to come to meet with me during my office hours once before the mid-point of the semester (February 21st). This will count as 3% of your overall grade for the semester. Office hours are on page 1, or you may contact me to arrange a time to meet.
Presentations: In groups of no more than 3 you will give one oral presentation during the semester on an additional film. The presentations should be more than 7 but no more than 10 minutes long and should include a short clip which you analyze for the class. I strongly encourage your group to come meet with me in my office hours before your presentation.
Midterm: There will be one take-home midterm due at the beginning of week 9. The midterm will consist of a combination of short answer questions, a sequence analysis, and one longer analytical question.
Final Project: Your final project will consist of two parts. The first will be a creative assignment that you will complete with a partner. Together you will create a 5-minute video essay on one of the themes we discussed during the semester. During our second to last class session, we will hold a viewing of the videos.
In addition to the video essay, you will write an individual analytical paper that will also be used as the assessment tool for the General Education requirement in the Humanities. In this paper, you will be expected to identify and interpret key themes and topics related to Transnational Cinema. The topics for the paper will be due April 15th. We will hold a writing workshop on the last day of class where you will have a chance to workshop your paper. You are required to bring a draft of your paper to class that day. The analytical paper will be due Wednesday, April 19th at 12:00pm.
Extra Credit: Students may receive extra credit for attending up to 3 events and emailing the instructor a description of the event and their impressions of it, in German. There are many to choose from this semester (please the additional handout, and others may be added or announced during the semester).
Campus Policies and Resources:
College of Charleston Honor Code and Academic Integrity:
Lying, cheating, attempted cheating, and plagiarism are violations of our Honor Code that, when identified, are investigated. Each incident will be examined to determine the degree of deception involved.
Incidents where the instructor determines the student’s actions are related more to misunderstanding and confusion will be handled by the instructor. The instructor designs an intervention or assigns a grade reduction to help prevent the student from repeating the error. The response is recorded on a form and signed both by the instructor and the student. It is forwarded to the Office of the Dean of Students and placed in the student’s file.
Cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported directly by the instructor and/or others having knowledge of the incident to the Dean of Students. A student found responsible by the Honor Board for academic dishonesty will receive a XXF in the course, indicating failure of the course due to academic dishonesty. This status indicator will appear on the student’s transcript for two years after which the student may petition for the XX to be expunged. The F is permanent.
Students can find the complete Honor Code and all related processes in the Student Handbook at http://studentaffairs.cofc.edu/honor- system/studenthandbook/index.php
SNAP (Students Needing Access Parity):
The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students should apply for services at the Center for Disability Services/SNAP located on the first floor of the Lightsey Center, Suite 104. Students approved for accommodations are responsible for notifying me as soon as possible and for contacting me one week before accommodation is needed.
Statement of religious accommodation:
The College of Charleston community is enriched by students of many faiths that have various religious observances, practices, and beliefs. We value student rights and freedoms, including the right of each student to adhere to individual systems of religion. The College prohibits discrimination against any student because of such student’s religious belief or any absence thereof.
The College acknowledges that religious practices differ from tradition to tradition and that the demands of religious observances in some traditions may cause conflicts with student schedules. In affirming this diversity, like many other colleges and universities, the College supports the concept of “reasonable accommodation for religious observance” in regard to class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and other academic work requirements, unless the accommodation would create an undue hardship on the College. Come talk to me if you would like to request an accommodation for religious reasons.
Inclusion Statement:
You will be encouraged throughout the semester to express your own ideas and opinions. It is expected that you will be courteous and respectful of your fellow classmates as well as the various ideas and themes that we will be discussing this semester. Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes but is not limited to on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran.
I will gladly honor your request to address you by the name and gender pronouns of your choice. Please advise me of this early in the semester via your college-issued email account or during office hours so that I may make the appropriate notation on my class list.
In Case of Inclement Weather:
If the College of Charleston closes and members of the community are evacuated due to inclement weather, students are responsible for taking course materials with them in order to continue with course assignments consistent with instructions provided by faculty. In cases of extended periods of institution-wide closure where students have relocated, instructors may articulate a plan that allows for supplemental academic engagement despite these circumstances.
Center for Student Learning:
The Center for Student Learning’s (CSL) academic support services provide assistance in study strategies, speaking & writing skills, and course content. Services include tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, study skills appointments, and workshops. Students of all abilities have become more successful using these programs throughout their academic career and the services are available to you at no additional cost. For more information regarding these services please visit the CSL website at http://csl.cofc.edu or call (843) 953-5635.
Mental & Physical Wellbeing:
At the college, we take every students’ mental and physical wellbeing seriously. If you find yourself experiencing physical illnesses, please reach out to student health services (843.953.5520). And if you find yourself experiencing any mental health challenges (for example, anxiety, depression, stressful life events, sleep deprivation, and/or loneliness/homesickness) please consider contacting either the Counseling Center (professional counselors at http://counseling.cofc.edu or 843.953.5640) or the Students 4 Support (certified volunteers through texting “4support” to 839863 or visit http://counseling.cofc.edu/cct/index.php). You can also visit both on campus on the 3rd floor of Robert Scott Small. These services are there for you to help you cope with difficulties you may be experiencing and to maintain optimal physical and mental health.
Food & Housing Resources:
Many CofC students report experiencing food and housing insecurity. If you are facing challenges in securing food (such as not being able to afford groceries or get sufficient food to eat every day) and housing (such as lacking a safe and stable place to live), please contact the Dean of Students for support (http://studentaffairs.cofc.edu/about/salt.php). Also, you can go to http://studentaffairs.cofc.edu/student-food-housing-insecurity/index.php to learn about food and housing assistance that is available to you. In addition, there are several resources on and off campus to help. You can visit the Cougar Pantry in the Stern Center (2nd floor), a student-run food pantry that provides dry-goods and hygiene products at no charge to any student in need. Please also consider reaching out to me or another faculty member if you are comfortable in doing so.
Semester Overview:
This schedule is the preliminary plan and is subject to change in the event of special circumstances. The most up-to-date schedule will always be on Oaks.
| Date | In Class | Homework and Assignment (due on the day they are listed) |
| Introduction — Stereotypes | ||
| Week 1 | ||
| Wed. Jan. 8 | Introduction: Danquart, Schwarzfahrer
Austrian Remake |
1) Create an account with Kanopy
2) Read Göktürk, “Transnational Connections” in The German Cinema Book
|
| Silent Film | ||
| Week 2 | ||
| Mon. Jan. 13 | Clips from Ruttmann
Murnau, Nosferatu Discussion of Presentations |
1) Read articles from The Promise of Cinema
2) Watch Nosferatu
|
| Wed. Jan. 15 | Last Day for Add/Drop, request an Audit, and apply for Pass/Fail
Nosferatu cont. Cohen, “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)” |
1) Read Cohen, “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)” (especially theses I, III, IV, and VII)
2) Brainstorm for Presentation |
| WWII: Refugees and Resistance | ||
| Week 3 | ||
| Mon. Jan. 20 | MLK Day: No Class | |
| Wed. Jan. 22 | Library Day | 1) blog post 1 due
2) Catch up on readings
|
| Week 4 | ||
| Mon. Jan. 27 | Lubitsch, To Be or Not to Be
Lubitsch, “In Defense of To Be or Not to Be” |
1) Watch Lubitsch, To Be or Not to Be on Kanopy
3) Read Lubitsch, “In Defense of To Be or Not to Be”
|
| Wed. Jan. 29 | To Be or Not to Be cont.
Elsasser, “Ethnicity, Authenticity, and Exile: A Counterfeit Trade?” Presentation 1 |
1) Read Elsasser, “Ethnicity, Authenticity, and Exile: A Counterfeit Trade?”
|
| Week 5 | ||
| Mon. Feb. 3 | Petzold, Transit
|
1) blog post 2 due
2) Watch Petzold, Transit 3) Read Arendt, “We Refugees”
|
| Wed. Feb. 5 | 4th German-American Business Summit 11:30am–5:30pm Gaillard Conference Center
95 Calhoun Street No regular class but your attendance at the Business Summit is required |
|
| Week 6 | ||
| Mon. Feb. 10 | Transit cont.
Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds
|
1) blog post 3 due
2) Watch Tarantino, Inglorious Bastards on Netflix, Prime, YouTube,
|
| Wed. Feb. 12 | Inglorious Basterds cont.
Presentation 2 |
1) Read Assmann, “Collective Memory and Cultural Identity”
|
| Guest Workers | ||
| Week 7 | ||
| Mon. Feb. 17 | Şamdereli, Almanya: Welcome to Germany | 1) blog post 4 due
2) Watch Almanya: Welcome to Germany
|
| Wed. Feb. 19 | Almanya: Welcome to Germany cont.
Presentation 3 |
1) Read Kaes, Gramling, Göktürk, “Working Guests” (Introduction to the chapter as well as articles 4,7, and 8)
|
| Fri. Feb. 21 | Last Day to Complete the Individual Meeting with Me | |
| Week 8 | ||
| Mon. Feb. 24 | Fassbinder, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
Take-Home Midterm Assigned |
1) blog post 5 due
2) Watch Fassbinder, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
|
| Wed. Feb. 26 | Ali: Fear Eats the Soul cont.
Brecht, “A Short Organum for the Theatre” Presentation 4 |
1) Read Brecht, “A Short Organum for the Theatre”
|
| Week 9 | ||
| Mon. Mar. 2 | Akin, The Edge of Heaven
Midterm due |
1) Submit Midterm on OAKS
2) Watch, Akin, The Edge of Heaven
|
| Wed. Mar. 4 | The Edge of Heaven cont.
Göktürk, “World Cinema Goes Digital” Presentation 5 |
1) Read Göktürk, “World Cinema Goes Digital”
|
| Nationless? Documentary | ||
| Week 10 | ||
| Mon. Mar. 9 | Herzog, Encounters at the End of the World
Minnesota Declaration
|
1) blog post 6 due
2) Watch Herzog, Encounters at the End of the World 3) Read Herzog, “Minnesota Declaration” |
| Wed. Mar. 11 | Encounters at the End of the World cont.
Herzog, “Addendum to the Minnesota Declaration” Renov, “Toward a Poetics of Documentary” Presentation 6
|
1) Read Renov, “Toward a Poetics of Documentary”
2) Read Herzog, “Addendum to the Minnesota Declaration”
|
| Fri. Mar. 13 | Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” | |
| Spring Break: March 15-21 | ||
| Film Festivals | ||
| Week 11 | ||
| Mon. Mar. 23 | Rosi, Fire at Sea
|
1) blog post 7 due
2) Watch Rosi, Fire at Sea 3) Explore the Berlinale Website
|
| Wed. Mar. 25 | Fire at Sea cont.
Presentation 7 |
1) Read, de Valck, “Berlin and the Spatial Reconfiguration of Festivals from European Showcases to International Film Festival Circuit”
|
| Precarious Bodies | ||
| Week 12 | ||
| Mon. Mar. 30 | Mortezai, Joy
Discussion of the Final Paper and Video Project |
1) blog post 8 due
2) Watch Mortezai, Joy (Trigger Warning*** Sexual assault is both graphically depicted and insinuated in this film. Feel free to fast forward through parts that may make you uncomfortable.)
|
| Wed. Apr. 1 | Presentation 8
Joy cont. Hill, “Precarity in the Era of #BlackLivesMatter”
|
1) Read, Hill, “Precarity in the Era of #BlackLivesMatter”
|
| Nationalism and Terrorism | ||
| Week 13 | ||
| Mon. Apr. 6 | Akin, In the Fade
|
1) blog post 9 due
2) Watch Akin, In the Fade
|
| Wed. Apr. 8 | In the Fade cont.
Presentation 9 |
1) Read Malpas, “RETRIEVING TRUTH: Modernism, Post-modernism and The Problem of Truth”
|
| Streaming — Cinema on Demand | ||
| Week 14 | ||
| Mon. Apr. 13 | Tykwer, Babylon Berlin | 1) blog post 10 due
2) Watch episodes one and two of Tykwer, Babylon Berlin
|
| Wed. Apr. 15 | Babylon Berlin cont.
Jenkins, “What Happened Before YouTube” Presentation 10 Final Paper topics due |
1) Read Jenkins, “What Happened Before YouTube”
2) Submit for final paper topics on OAKS
|
| Week 15 | ||
| Mon. Apr. 20 | Presentation of videos | 1) Upload your videos by 12pm |
| Wed. Apr. 22 | Writing workshop | 1) Bring a draft of your paper to class. Either print out your paper or bring your laptop. If you bring your laptop, make sure it is charged or that you have your power cord with you.
2) Bring a smartphone, laptop, or tablet to complete the course evaluations in class.
|
| Reading Day: Thursday, April 23 | ||
| Final Paper Due: Wednesday, April 19th at 12:00pm. | ||