Berlin since 1945: History and Culture (Level 5)

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: Dr Eckard Michels
• Tutors: Dr Eckard Michels, Professor Joanne Leal
• Assessment: a 2500-word essay (100%)

In this module we introduce you to the history of the city of Berlin during the 45 years of division and the decades since reunification in 1990, as well as exploring cultural responses to the changing shape of the city in film and literature. The module will be taught in English and all course material will be available in English.

Indicative syllabus

• Surviving in a destroyed city
• Roberto Rossellini, Deutschland im Jahre Null (Germany Year Zero)
• Berlin as a hot spot of the Cold War (1948-1961)
• West Berlin as an allied protectorate
• Peter Schneider, Der Mauerspringer (The Wall Jumper), 1982  
• Wim Wenders, Der Himmel über Berlin (Wings of Desire), 1987
• East Berlin - capital of the GDR
• Konrad Wolf, Solo Sunny, 1980
• The challenges of unification: Berlin since 1990
• Hannes Stöhr, Berlin is in Germany, 2001

By the end of this module, you will:

• be aware of the issues arising from the historical development of Berlin since 1945
• have knowledge of important literary texts and films set in Berlin since 1945
• be able to critically engage with historical sources, literary texts and films.