Central Europe belongs to those unique historical amalgams whose composition defies disciplinary boundaries. The course traces this region’s complex history, culture, and its current spirit. Central European literature, theater, film, and visual art will be examined against the background of the tumultuous and often tragic events which left marks on the culture of Austrians, Czechs, and Germans during the 20th century. Symbiosis of these ethnic groups and their linguistic diversity will be discussed. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of Jewish culture in Central Europe. Jewish emancipation, disappearance of ghettoes, but also antisemitism and the Holocaust are among the topics. Another topic is the resistance against the Communist order and its eventual disintegration in 1989 as documented by works inspired by the fall of the Berlin wall. Authors to be read include Prague’s Jewish legends, Hašek’s Švejk, Kafka’s Trial, Kundera’s Joke, J. Roth’s Bust of the Emperor; films include Wegener’s Golem, Hippler’s Eternal Jew, Forman’s Firemen’s Ball, and Becker’s Goodbye, Lenin.

Class Format:

Format: In person. Weekly class meetings will require synchronous participation.

Grading & Assessment: Testing for this course will be asynchronous and will consist of short answer and essay questions that will be submitted via Canvas during a designated time frame.