Revelle in Berlin

Courses

• HUM 4GS: Revelle Humanities 4: Enlightenment, Romanticism, Revolution
• LTWL 180GS: Film Studies and Literature
  Course descriptions (PDF)

Why you should go

Today’s Berlin is the political capital of Germany, the most populous country in Western Europe, home to the world’s third-largest GDP (after the United States and China), and a hub of transnational cultural exchanges. Beneath its surface—bound together by an ecologically friendly network of public transportation—lie layers of history. The Berlin Wall divided the city for decades and became a potent symbol of Cold War tensions between the communist East and the capitalist West. Berlin was the capital of Nazi Germany and the site of the 1936 Olympics, where Jesse Owens made a mockery of Hitler’s belief in “Aryan” supremacy. In the late nineteenth century, Berlin became a booming metropolis during Germany’s rapid rise to industrial and imperial power. Still earlier, Berlin was a center of the European Enlightenment under the rule of Frederick “the Great,” king of Prussia.

This Global Seminar will take full advantage of Berlin’s cultural wealth and historical depth, combining classroom instruction with frequent excursions to major museums and monuments. It consists of two interrelated courses that together will offer an overview of German development in European and global context from the eighteenth century to the present. The first class, Revelle Humanities 4, focuses on Enlightenment thought, Romantic art, and revolutionary politics around 1800. The second, LTWL 180: Film Studies and Literature, will explore key moments in modern German history through the lens of literature and film.

Who should go

The course is open to all students with an interest in German culture in European context. Students of Revelle College at UC San Diego can fulfill Humanities 4 and 5 during this seminar, checking off a GE requirement in a matter of weeks that would normally require the better part of an academic year. The classes can also be counted toward interdisciplinary majors and minors in the School of Arts and the Humanities, including Film Studies, European Studies, and German Studies, the Literature Department’s World Literature and Culture program, and the Humanities minor. It should be noted that minors are relatively easy to complete, add breadth to your undergraduate studies, and look good on your resume. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have further questions about how this seminar might contribute to your graduation requirements.

Dates

Flight Information

• You will be responsible for purchasing your own airplane tickets, and your program coordinator will provide guidelines and resources during the pre-departure process to help you find an appropriate flight.
• Do not purchase plane tickets until the program is confirmed. All approved applicants will be notified by e-mail when the program has reached minimum enrollment.