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| Unit name |
Reconstructing The Stasi |
| Unit code |
GERM32062 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Jones |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department |
Department of German |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
In 1992, the Federal Republic opened the archives of the former Ministry for State Security of the GDR. The 180 km of archive material gathered over the course of 40 years of East German history revealed the extent of the infiltration of citizens' private sphere by the secret police. This module offers an overview of this process of dealing with the legacy of the Stasi in the united Germany from both a cultural and political perspective. It analyses the socio-political debates regarding the opening of the Stasi files and considers the impact of different memories of the Stasi on the political and historical conceptualisation of the GDR. Through examination of various different media (newspapers, files, museums, literature and film) the unit aims to identify important tensions in different portrayals of the Stasi.
Aims:
- To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to final year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.
- To facilitate students' engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.
- To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level I.
- To equip students with the skills to undertake postgraduate study in a relevant field.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Successful students will:
- be knowledgable about a significant cultural, historical or linguistic subject related to the language they are studying;
- will have advanced skills in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;
- be able to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, usually in a foreign language, at an advanced level;
- be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an advanced level of complexity;
- be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including postgraduate study.
Teaching Information
One 2-hour session per week combining lectures and student-led seminars.
Assessment Information
One of the following:
a) A written assignment of 3000 words and a two hour exam (50% each)
b) A written assignment of 3000 words (25%) and a three hour exam (75%)
c) One written assignment of 6000 words (or equivalent)
d) Two written assignments of 3000 words (50% each)
e) One oral presentation (25%) plus one written assignment of 1500 words (25%) plus one written assignment of 3000 words (50%)
Reading and References
- Thomas Brussig, Helden wie wir (Berlin: Volk & Welt, 1996)
- Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (dir.), Das Leben der Anderen (2006)
+ various articles and extracts provided by the lecturer.
