The course is aimed at the acquisition, through a cultural overview and a historical retrospective on Germany, of the fundamental knowledge of German culture of the last two centuries, above all - where possible - in a contrasting and intercultural way and then dedicating oneself to the most recent developments, also on the basis of the recent thirty years of German reunification which recurred 2020 and the 75th anniversary of the German Constitution, which occurred in 2024.

Cultural and historical aspects of Germany will initially be examined on the basis of the text by W. Lepenies, to then move on to sociological aspects on the basis of the text by N. Elias. Some aspects of the situation in today's Germany will subsequently be critically analyzed through the essays contained in the volume La nuova Germania, from political and institutional issues to the European and international context, with extensive contributions ranging from the geopolitical context, the constitutional tradition, the political and cultural institutions, the economic and market, European integration.

Basic knowledge of historical and cultural events in Europe and concerning Germany and of historical and cultural contexts, through the reading of newspapers, the web or other methods.

- Ability to understand and critically analyze historical-cultural aspects and events, placing them within an overall cultural framework of historical, sociological development and social reflections.

- Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student has the cultural and literary skills for the description and analysis of German culture.

- Autonomy of judgment: the student possesses, through a wide range of readings and references, critical skills that enable him to analyze and evaluate literary and cultural texts and can express autonomous opinions on socio-cultural issues concerning various historical periods.

- Communication skills: ability to understand and convey different realities and eras and to use a sectoral language.

- Ability to acquire the methodological tools and bibliographic-critical skills necessary to further develop one's own field of knowledge also for subsequent levels of studies.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Online handouts and databases prepared by the teacher.

Teaching

Lectures and seminars

Innovative teaching methods

In addition for attending students:

group work and drafting of written papers
oral presentations
participatory lessons in which the works presented will be discussed

Attendance

There are no obligations, if not the observance of the vademecum program

Course books

W. Lepenies, La seduzione della cultura nella storia tedesca. Il Mulino, Bologna, 2009 (sections)

L. Renzi e U. Villani Lubelli (ed.), La nuova Germania. La Repubblica Federale 30 anni dopo la Riunificazione, ETS, Pisa, 2020 (coll. InterCultura/2)

N. Elias, I tedeschi: lotte di potere ed evoluzione dei costumi nei secoli 19. e 20. Il Mulino, Bologna,1991 (parts)

Special issue N. 20 / 2024 weekly "DIE ZEIT"

Assessment

Oral or written exam. Small thesis

Attending students can make use of an essay, to be carried out individually during the course and to be delivered at the end of it, according to the criteria described by the teacher. It will be evaluated by the teacher with a mark of thirty and will integrate the mark of the oral exam at 50%. Those who declare themselves attending must ensure attendance of at least two thirds of the lessons.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Non-attending students are required to observe the program of the vademecum and to verify the historical and cultural contexts through the network or other methods. They are also required to visit the page on Blended Learning Uniurb for more study materials.

Attendance

There are no obligations, if not the observance of the vademecum program

Course books

Same as those attending

Assessment

Oral exam

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

It should be remembered that a CFU approximates the measurement of the hours of commitment dedicated by the student to the training activity equal to 25 hours (lessons, seminars, practice, work at home). This course is equivalent to 8 CFU, that is to 200 hours of total activity: if the hours of attendance in class are not included within this amount, it will be integrated with autonomous activities of the same additional duration.

Part of the course will be taught in German. The students can request to sit the final exam in German with an alternative bibliography.

Teil des Kurses wird auf Deutsch gehalten werden. Die StudentInnen können auf Nachfrage die Prüfung in deutscher Sprache mit einer Alternativbibliographie halten.