I. ASCRC General Education Form Group V. Literary and Artistic Studies, IX. American and European Perspectives Dept/Program MCLL Course # GERM 361, LS 282, MCLG 222 Course Title History of German Cinema Prerequisite None Credits 3 II. Endorsement/Approvals Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office Please type / print name Signature Date Instructor Marton Marko Phone / Email x5418 marton.marko @mso.umt.edu Program Chair Robert Acker Dean Gerald Fetz III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory and foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course content to students future lives: See Preamble: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/gepreamble_final.htm This course provides an overview of German film history from its beginnings in the late 19 th century to the present. Main topics covered include: Expressionism, New Objectivity, National Socialist film, German and Austrian contribution to American cinema, East German film, the New German Cinema, and recent developments since German reunification. Films will represent these particular periods and movements. Each will be presented in light of social and historical developments in Central Europe as well as internationally, with emphasis on Europe and the U.S. Films will also be discussed in terms of stylistic aspects related to German aesthetic movements, as well as general film history and cinema studies. Added emphasis will be placed on connecting the history of German cinema to the overall history of film and development of media and the place of media and film in global contemporary culture. IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ascrcx/adocuments/ge_criteria5-1-08.htm Students analyze films using a wide range of technical and thematic approaches and place specific films within the wider discourse of German cultural, social, aesthetic movements, as well as within global perspective. Instruction is offered regarding stylistic aspects evident in films related to these movements as well as formalistic and structural dimensions of the films themselves.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ascrcx/adocuments/ge_criteria5-1-08.htm Students identify key aspects regarding themes, styles, and structures evident in films we analyze. Students further situate the significance of these aspects within the framework of larger aesthetic and social movements in Central European as well as global contexts. Students become acquainted with and employ terms and concepts central to each the identification, description, and critical analysis of works in film-specific scope as well as cultural historical context. VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. The syllabus should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html MCLG 222/ LS 282/ GERM 361 HISTORY OF GERMAN CINEMA SYLLABUS Jan. 22 Introduction to Course (reading assignment.:hake, pp. 1 26) Jan. 24 The Student of Prague (Rye, 1913) Jan. 29 Dr. Caligari (Wiene, 1919) (reading: Hake, pp.27-63) Jan. 31 Nosferatu (Murnau, 1921) Feb. 5 Metropolis (Lang, 1926) Feb. 7 Lecture, film excerpts Feb. 12 Joyless Street (Pabst, 1925) Feb. 14 Three Shorts: Symphonie Diagonale (Eggeling, 1921-24) Ghosts Before Breakfast (Richter, 1926) Überfall (Metzner, 1929) Berlin, Symphony of a City (Ruttmann, 1929) Feb. 19 The Blue Angel (von Sternberg, 1930) (reading: Hake, pp. 64 91)
Feb. 21 Feb. 26 Germany Awake Overview of Nazi Films Lecture, film excerpts Feb. 28 Jew Süss (Harlan, 1940) Mar. 4 Münchhausen (von Baky, 1942) Mar. 6 Midterm (reading: Hake, pp. 92 152) Mar. 11 Mar. 13 The Murderers are Among Us (Staudte, 1946, East Germany) Naked Among Wolves (Beyer, 1964, East Germany) Mar. 18 Sissi (Marischka, 1955) Mar. 20 Lecture, film excerpts (reading: Hake, pp. 153 189) Apr. 1 Kaspar Hauser (Herzog, 1975) Apr. 3 The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum (Schlöndorff, 1975) Apr. 8 The American Friend (Wenders, 1977) Apr. 10 Marriage of Maria Braun (Fassbinder, 1979) Apr. 15 Marianne and Juliane (von Trotta, 1981) Apr. 17 Lecture Apr. 22 Men (Dörrie, 1986) Apr. 24 Bear Ye One Another s Burdens (Warneke, 1988, East Germany) (reading: 190-223) Essay Due Apr. 29 Winter Sleepers (Tykwer, 1997) May. 1 Head-On (Akin, 2004) Wed., May. 7 Final Exam 1:10 3:10 Objectives and Goals: We will attempt to gain an overview of German film history from its beginnings in the late 19 th century to the present. Main topics to be covered will be: Expressionism, New Objectivity, Nazi film, film in East Germany after WWII, the New German Cinema and recent developments such as postmodernism. Films will be selected to
illustrate these major movements. Lectures will alternate with film screenings and discussions. Expectations: Two Requests: Students are expected to attend class regularly, to be prepared for class by completing their assignments on time, to participate actively in the discussions, to take notes on the material presented, to study their notes and the texts conscientiously and to complete their paper on time. 1.) If at all possible, please do not arrive late or leave early at film screenings. 2.) Please do not talk during film screenings. Thank you! Grading will be based on two tests (midterm and final) and on one essay, as well as participation in discussions. The grading breakdown will be the following: Essay: 30 % Midterm Exam: 30 % Final Exam: 30 % Class Participation / Discussion: 10 % I. The essay is to be 4-5 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, with margins of approx. 1 on either side and 1 ½ at the top and bottom. (Papers not typed will not be accepted.) The paper is to be based on a film seen outside of class (see list below) and should include the following items: a short plot summary, any comments you might have on striking cinematic features, your reaction to the film (positive or negative with reasons), meaning or significance of the film, your overall impressions, and perhaps comparisons or contrasts with other films you have seen in class. The purpose of the paper is to help you to view films critically and express yourself cogently about them. Do not copy ideas or sentences from books or texts or the Internet. This is plagiarism and you will receive and F. I am interested in your reactions and what you have to say about the film. The paper will be graded on content and style of presentation. Thee paper will be due Apr. 24. Any late papers will automatically be reduced one letter grade. You must do the paper in order to receive credit for the course. II. The first exam will be based on the first half of the course and the second on the second half. Exams will consist primarily of essay questions plus a few identifications. They
will be based on the films, the film notes, the lectures, the discussions and the text. III. IV. Those taking the course under German 361 are required to write a 9-10 page paper. Please follow the same guidelines as above. Students taking the course on a Credit/No Credit basis will be expected to do all the work including the paper. Students taking the course as a Gen Ed requirement must sign up for a traditional letter grade. V. Text: Hake, Sabine. German National Cinema, 2 nd edition. New York: Routledge, 2002. VI. You must choose one of the following videos for your paper. They are available for check out at the main desk in the Mansfield Library: Girls in Uniform (1218) Blue Light (1069) Diary of a Lost Girl (1067) The Congress Dances (1285) The Captain of Köpenick (4571) The Golem (4234) Sugarbaby (1297) I was Nineteen (10549) Rotation (10550) Young Törless (10547) Rosa Luxemburg (10669) The Bridge (10216) Harmonists (10054)