SPECIAL TOPIC COURSE:

EXIL, DIASPORA, MULTI-KULTI-BRD: MINORITÄTEN IN DER BUNDESREPUBLIK

Gesa Zinn

M, Di, Do, F: 14-14:50 Uhr

Eng 118

Bürostunden: Di: 17-18 Uhr; Do: 15-16 Uhr &

nach Vereinbarung

Büro: 459 Hum

Telefon: 726-8990

How do migrant writers and filmmakers present the experience of diaspora, of traumatic dislocation from a 'homeland/? Overview of post-war migration to Germany and reading/viewing of a wide range of important and fascinating texts (novels, short stories, poems, essays, articles, films) that pose essential questions for Germany's development as a multi-ethnic society.

Essays and Literary Texts:

Ayim, May. Blues in Schwarz-Weiss.Orlanda Frauenverlag. Taschenbuch, 2005.**

Dikman, Sinasi. Hurra, ich lebe in Deutschland. München: Piper Verlag, 1995 (excerpts)

Green, Simon. The Politics of Exclusion. Institutions and Immigration Policy in Contemporary Germany. Manchester: Manchester U Press, 2004 (excerpts)

Gündisch, Karen.Cosmin. Von einem der Auszog, das Leben zu lernen.DTV Taschenbuch, 2005.**

Ogyntoye, Katharina and May Opitz and Dagmar Schultz (eds.). Farbe Bekennen. Afro-Deutsche auf den Spuren Ihrer Geschichte. Berlin: Orlanda Frauenverlag, 1991 (excerpts)

Senocak, Zafer. Atlas des Tropischen Deutschland. Berlin: Babel Verlag, 1993 (excerpts)

Senocak, Zafer. Gefährliche Verwandtschaft. Berlin: Babel Verlag, 1998*

Stojka, Ceija. Wir leben im Verborgenen. Wien: Piccus Verlag, 1998 (excerpts)

Tobin Stanley, Maureen and Gesa Zinn. Female Exiles in 20th and 21st Century Europe. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007 (excerpts)

Cinematic Texts (excerpts):

Ceija Stojka (Karin Berger, 1999), Gegen die Wand (Fatih Akin, 2002); Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders, 1984); Reise der Hoffnung (Xavier Koller, 1990); Shirin's Hochzeit (Sander-Brahms, 1976)

*on electronic reserve

** to be ordered at: amazon.de

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES:

1. class will familiarize the student with social, legal, cultural and economic and political exile living in the Federal Republic of Germany

2. Class will raise awareness of contemporary issues regarding social and public policies affecting border-crossing and (in)voluntary immigration and emigration into the European Union and into Germany

3. Students will critically examine 'exile' as a geo-political category and 'exile' in relation to personal and national identity

4. Students will critically examine how narrative structures and cinematic language inform and shape exilic experiences

5. Students will advance their reading, writing, and speaking knowledge of German

CONCEPTUAL OUTLINE/TOPICS:

1. Exile as Experience: various forms of inner and outer exile

2. Exodus and diasporas: where, why, how (refugees and exile in the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany)

3. Identity (questions of "belonging"-nation, state, home): hybrid identities

4. The politics of exile: emigration/immigration (migration policies); legal issues

5. The socio-economics of geographic types of exile living: war, natural catastrophes, diaspora, poverty, education

6. Inner Exile: coping with loss, adjusting to new environments

7. Reading of films, cinematic language; literary textual analysis

8. Afro-Germans in 20th and 21st Century Germany

9. Roma and Sinti (gypsies) during the Holocaust and today

10. The Turkish diaspora in Germany (citizens with "migrant background")

11. Multicultural Germany: Identity and Nationhood

ZENSUREN: Mitarbeit: 20%  Endprojekt (inklusive Zusammenfassung): 20%   Tests: 15%   Fragebögen: 15%   Vortrag: 15%   Hausarbeit (reaction papers): 15%

Participation, Preparation, Attendance. Your active participation in class discussions and group activities is crucial to your progress and to that of your colleagues and is therefore a graded component in the course. In order to participate most effectively, you will have to prepare many activities in advance. Preparation includes, but is not limited to, thoroughly reading assigned texts, preparing worksheets, learning vocabulary. Please note that any written or oral assignment not already indicated in the syllabus will be graded under participation/preparation. It goes without saying that you cannot effectively participate if you do not attend.

The Department is committed to making its courses available to all students who are adequately prepared and willing to participate. If there is any reason why you may have trouble meeting any of the expectations as they are outlined, please contact right away and we will try to work out an accommodation.

If you miss more than six classes, you cannot earn an A in this course. You should have six “free passes” for illness and other unexpected difficulties. If you miss more than 9 classes, you cannot earn a B. If you miss more than 12 classes, you cannot earn a C.

The work you perform in this class and that you hand in should be your own. Any form of plagiarism will be reported to the department and the college. Hand in your work in time as late assignments will be down-graded and not accepted if they are handed in later than 10 days. Assignments may be handed in for a re-write if the first version is not quite acceptable. The grade of the original and the second version will be recorded.

Statement on Student Academic Integrity Policy

“Academic dishonesty tarnishes UMD’s reputation and discredits the accomplishments of students. UMD is committed to providing students every possible opportunity to grow in mind and spirit. This pledge can only be redeemed in an environment of trust, honesty, and fairness. As a result, academic dishonesty is regarded as a serious offense by all members of the academic community. In keeping this idea, this course will adhere to UMD’s Student Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found at www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/integrity. This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders.” Some examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing (misrepresenting as one’s own anything done by another), submitting the same or substantially similar papers (or creative work) for more than one course without prior consent of all instructors concerned, sabotaging another’s work, and unauthorized collaboration on assignments or exams. You are responsible for going to the website listed above and reading the student information on what constitutes academic dishonesty.

Statement on Student Conduct Code

“The instructor will enforce and students are expected to follow the University’s Student Conduct Code (www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/code). Appropriate classroom conduct promotes an environment of academic achievement and integrity. Disruptive classroom behavior that interrupts either the instructor’s ability to teach or student learning is naturally not tolerated. Disruptive behavior also includes inappropriate use of technology in the classroom. Examples include ringing cell phones, text-messaging, watching videos, playing computer games, doing email, or surfing the Internet on your computer.”

FINAL: Donnerstag, d. 20. 12., 16 - 17 Uhr 55