GER 331 WHERE DO WE BELONG? HEIMAT, IDENTITY, AND SPACE
For centuries, Germans have defined identity in terms of geographic space. This is the notion of Heimat. Heimat has always been contested: the national socialists appropriated the term, and Heimat may be redefined as the number immigrants continues to grow. Nonetheless, Heimat resonates deeply on the local, regional, and national levels and continues to play a role in Germans’ sense of self. In this course, we’ll use literary works, film, essays, public speeches, and visual art to examine the importance of Heimat in Germans’ self-definition and to understand German identity on a personal and intercultural level. We’ll also look at whether a similar identity-shaping process takes place in the communities (in the USA or elsewhere) to which we belong.
Offered
Offered fall every three years, in rotation with GER 321 and GER 323.