G564: 2002/II (Spring 2003)				
Professor William Rasch


Metropolis: Berlin als Weltstadt

Paris, Walter Benjamin wrote, was the capital of the 19th
century.  Berlin most certainly was not.  However, for a brief
period between the two world wars, Berlin could claim to be, if not
the capital of the 20th century, then at least an important cultural
and political Weltstadt—which is to say that by studying the Berlin
of the Weimar Republic, one can study many facets of 20th-century
modernity in its more general as well as its more specifically
German aspects.  This, then, is what we will try to do.

	The course will most likely tackle such themes as city life,
money (capitalism), media, the arts, gender, and
politics/revolution.  We will read general, theoretical texts as
well as texts that address specific problems as they manifest
themselves in a Berlin setting.  The works read will be diverse,
including social and political theory, critical essays, and
literature (prose, poetry, and drama.)  In addition, one evening of
the week will be reserved for film showings.

	Texts will include theoretical and essayistic works by, for
instance, Arendt,  Benjamin, Brecht, Kracauer, Lukács, Schmitt, and
Simmel, as well as literature by, for instance, Brecht, Döblin,
Keun, Fleisser, and others.  Films to be shown will include
Metropolis, Berlin: Symphonie einer Großstadt, and Kuhle Wampe,
among others.
Students will be responsible for writing two 12-page conference
papers.

Book Order:

von Ankum, Katharina: Women in the Metropolis		California
	0520204654

Benjamin, Walter: Charles Baudelaire			Suhrkamp
	3518276476

Benjamin, Walter: Das Kunstwerk…			
	Suhrkamp	3518100289

Berman, Marshall: All that is Solid Melts into Air	Penguin
	0140109625

Brecht, Bertolt: Die heilige Johanna der Schlachthöfe	Suhrkamp
	3518101137

Brecht, Bertolt: Der Ozeanflug…				Suhrkamp
	3518102222

Döblin, Alfred: Berlin Alexanderplatz			dtv	
	3423002956

Keun, Irmgard: Das kunstseidene Mädchen			Klett	
	3123511405

Kracauer, Siegfried: Das Ornament der Masse		Suhrkamp
	3518368710

Schmitt, Carl: Die geistesgeschichtliche Lage des heutigen
Parlamentarismus		       Duncker & Humblot 3428088395

Wolf, Friedrich: Cyankali §218				Klett	
	3123515400

(German books can be ordered from IBIS: 1-800-277-4247).