GERM 307 - Global Cities: Berlin and Vienna

The two great metropolises of the German-speaking world, Berlin and Vienna, have for centuries shaped major events, intellectual movements, economic and technological developments, and the political stucture of Europe. As the center of one of the largest empires in world history, the Habsburg Empire, Vienna ruled over vast territories for six centuries, and in the last two centuries has contributed enormously to science, philosophy and the arts while maintaining its political importance, most recently as one of the four United Nations World Cities. Once the capitol of the ecomomic and military powerhouse of Prussia in the 19th century, the relatively modern city of Berlin has gone through swift and radical change in the last century. As capitol of the first German democracy in the 1920s, Berlin became the center of the European avant-garde and a beacon of social experimentation. In the 1930s it was re-functioned by the Nazis into the center of fascist oppression, and in the aftermath of World War II was famously torn apart by the post-war division of Germany and its despised symbol, the Berlin Wall. As capitol of the United Germany, Berlin continues to transform itself, yet maintains its status as a charismatic and historically important Weltmetropol. This course is an interdisciplinary investigation into major epochs in the history of these two great cities, emphasizing in particular the cultural production during these epochs, such as literature, thought, cinema, and material culture. Students will find this a helpful bridge course to upper-level courses in German Studies, and as excellent preparation for the German study abroad program in Berlin and Vienna. Conducted in German. Fall semester. Prerequisite(s): GERM 305, a placement test, or permission of instructor (4 Credits)