Module description
The Weimar Republic, Germany's first democracy, spanned just fifteen years from the collapse of the German Empire in 1918 to the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. It was a period marked by political crises, economic instability, rapid modernisation and social change. Yet it was also a period of prolific cultural activity, which saw the development of exciting new modes of artistic expression.
This module aims to introduce you to the history of the Weimar Republic through an exploration of its literature, film, art, performance and music. How is Weimar culture shaped by political and economic influences? How does it respond to periods of crisis and uncertainty? And what sort of space does it provide for articulating new, alternative visions of society? In addressing questions such as these, we will consider the ways in which competing ideas about modern Germany and its place in the world are reflected in and shaped by the culture of the period.
The module is organised around key topics such as: the legacy of World War I; the radicalisation of politics; sexuality and changing gender roles; Black and minority ethnic experiences; the artistic avant-garde and its opponents; new preoccupations such as 'city-culture' and cabaret; and the appeal of mass-media. Classes are highly interactive and are designed to prompt creative responses to the material. By the end of the module, students will not only understand the main features of Weimar Germany, but will also be able to comment on a range of cultural artefacts by drawing on relevant contextual knowledge of the history, politics and aesthetics of the time.
Assessment details
2500-word essay (70%) and one 10-minute narrated PowerPoint presentation (30%)
Educational aims & objectives
The module will:
- examine the cultural and political history of the Weimar Republic.
- consider a wide range of cultural artefacts drawn from the domains of literature, art, performance, music and film.
- give students insight into key cultural and intellectual movements from the period.
- enable students' analytical engagement with primary sources and promote their critical evaluation of works of secondary literature.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate analytical, intellectual and transferable skills appropriate to a Level 5 module. In particular, they will have:
- a detailed knowledge of the cultural artefacts (texts, films, artworks etc.) studied on the module.
- thorough understanding of key events in the history of the Weimar Republic.
- good understanding of key intellectual debates that shaped Weimar Germany.
- an ability to engage critically and creatively with primary and secondary literature.
- an ability to compare and contrast a wide range of cultural artefacts across different media.
Teaching pattern
Two hours per week
Suggested reading list
Books:
- Irmgard Keun, Das kunstseidene Mädchen (Berlin: Ullstein, 2001). ISBN 978-3548600857.
- English translation: Irmgard Keun, The Artificial Silk Girl, trans. by Kathie von Ankum (London: Penguin, 2019). ISBN 978-0241382967.
- Georg Simmel, ‘Die Großstädte und das Geistesleben’ [‘On the Metropolis and Mental Life’, 1903]. This text will be made available to students online.
- Ernst Toller, Hoppla, wir leben!: ein Vorspiel und fünf Akte [1927] (Stuttgart: Reclam, 1980). ISBN: 978-3150099636.
- English translation: Ernst Toller, ‘Hoppla, We’re Alive’ [1927], in Toller, Plays One, trans. by Alan Raphael Pearlman (London: Oberon Books, 2000). ISBN: 978-1840021950.
Students are expected to obtain their own copies, either in German or English translation, of the novel by Irmgard Keun and the play by Ernst Toller.
Films:
- G. W. Pabst (dir.), Die Büchse der Pandora [Pandora’s Box] (Criterion Collection, 1929).
- Walter Ruttmann (dir.), Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Großstadt [Berlin: Symphony of a Great City] (Fox Europa, 1927).
- Clips of performances by Josephine Baker and Louis Brody (available online).