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
Phone / Email
Marton Marko
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 19th
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
Germany Awake—Overview of Nazi Films
Feb. 26
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
The Murderers are Among Us (Staudte, 1946, East Germany)
Mar. 13
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 19th 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:
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.
Two Requests:
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.
Those taking the course under German 361 are required to write a 9-10 page paper.
Please follow the same guidelines as above.
IV.
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, 2nd 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)