German 1111 PageGerman Cinema at McDaniel College German Courses
A Study of 20th Century German Culture and History Through Film
Course Information

Course Description: Films can provide a far more intense experience of a country's culture and society than textbooks full of facts and data. Films can give an overview of important events in the history of any people. They can help students better comprehend and appreciate many aspects of a distant foreign culture. In this class we will explore 20th-century German identity, culture, history, and politics through film analysis and readings. We will view and discuss 16 German films that were made between 1919 and 2000. This course will be taught in English. All readings are in English. All films are either in English or in German with English subtitles. This course fulfills a HUMANITIES requirement.

Required Texts and Reading Materials:        Click here for a detailed bibliography on German films.

Honor Code: The WMC honor code will be strictly enforced. Students must sign the honor pledge on all assignments and tests, and write it on all essays. The honor pledge is posted in every classroom.

Attendance: Regular attendance is essential for academic achievement. Therefore, attendance is mandatory. Two unexcused absence will lower the final grade by 3%, three by 6%, four by 9%, and so on. Excused absences are at the discretion of the instructor.  Absences caused by college related activities are excused only if the instructor is made aware of them in advance.
 
How time flies!
Time management is very crucial for every college student. Plan your week ahead of time. Learn to say NO! to people and the temptations of college life when you have assignments due the next day.

Prioritize!

Grading
Essays    20%
Film evaluations    20%.
Two group presentations   20%
Class participation and homework   20%
Term paper or final exam    20%
TOTAL 100%

Requirements

Essays: Each student will write four (4) essays, 3 pages each. Each essay must be typed (double-spaced). In each essay you should analyze certain aspects of one of the films and develop a coherent argumentation. Present your opinion about the film and back it up with an argument. You should not only give a summary of the content. All essays should include:

  • Filmographic information: title [both in German and in English translation], country, director, year, running time, etc.);
  • Introduction: Statement of thesis;
  • Body: Evidence and examples that support the thesis;
  • Conclusion: Restatement of thesis and discussion of its broader implications.
    •  Here are some general ideas about the topics for the essays. These are not written in stone. Please, choose your own specific topic if you wish so.
    Film evaluations: Each student will evaluate all films. You have to fill out an evaluation form for each film. Evaluations are due on Friday following the screening of the film. Some of the evaluations will be done in class and handed in the same day.
    Group presentations: The class will be divided up into groups of two students. Each group will do two oral presentations. In the first presentation, each group will set the stage for one of the films that will be shown in that week. Each group will introduce the other students to the period of time in which the film was made, or with which the film deals, or of the general topic depicted in the film. In the second presentation at the end of semester, the students will choose a film not shown in class and give a presentation on that film. A list of films and possible topics will be handed out at a later time. Students should use library resources (see bibliography for articles and books on German film and history) and not always rely solely on the WWW. Please prepare handouts for the students so that they will be able to understand and follow what you want to say. I also encourage using PowerPoint as an illustration tool.


    Class participation: Active participation in class discussions and weekly preparation are absolutely vital to academic growth. You must have read the assigned pages or articles listed on the schedule.

    Final exam: The final exam will cover films and material studied in the semester.

    Extra credit: To substitute for a bad grade or to improve your grade, I would encourage creative ideas, i.e.

    Plagiarism: Plagiarism is using another person’s words or ideas in a direct or indirect way without proper acknowledgment. Whenever using two or more important words, they must be placed in quotation marks. You should consult the 4th edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or the college’s own booklet Writing Standards: A Guide for McDaniel College when you prepare your essays.

    Field trips: Students will be offered the opportunity to participate in field trips to the German Embassy or the Goethe Institute in Washington DC which frequently show recent German films that are yet not available for rental or purchase. We will also meet at my house, watch a film and have dinner together.

    Important: Do not ignore problems, ask questions. Do not fall behind. Complete all required readings on time. Be active in your group. Send me an e-mail message or call me for an extra appointment.
     

    Check the following very good web site on German Cinema:
    http://www.german-cinema.de/
    http://castle.uvic.ca/german/439/
    http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/greal/Filmbib.html

     For General information on movies (title, director, cast, plot line, etc.) check:
    http://www.sapphireswan.com/webguide/wg/movies.htm
     http://www.allmovie.com (All Movie Guide)
    http://us.imdb.com/search (Internet Movie Database)

    If you are looking for any recent information on Germany today try the following URL:
    http://www.germany-info.org

    This web page was designed by: Dr. Mohamed Esa, mesa@mcdaniel.edu Last updated: August 2002