Caligari to Lola

German Culture and Civilization

through Cinema

Dr. Scott G. Williams | GERM 40023 | Fall 2005

From a somnambulist murderer to a woman running to save the life of her boyfriend, German cinema has been in constant motion for a good century now. Silent films to talkies, black and white to color. Experimental to pop. Serious to light-hearted.

We will use German film as we investigate German culture and history from the early 20^th century to the present day. Monarchy to early democratic movements to fascism to democracy and communism. Just unified nation to invading nation to split nation to unified nation.

We will learn to "read" films as we watch them. Linguistically, the films offer the audience examples of different German dialects over a hundred years. Also, every second week, there will be a brief interlude in order to review and reinforce basic survival German. It will be a fun challenge to recognize these phrases and situations in the films, too.