This course surveys German cinema from the post-World War II period to the present. We will use the concept of national cinema as a way of investigating the relationship between films and various constructs of "the nation" through specific time periods, including the 1950s period of West German economic reconstruction, the 1960s and 70s rebellion of West German "New Wave" filmmakers against Papa's Kino (Daddy's cinema), the development of film in East Germany during the same period, the impact of German reunification on the film industry, and the cinema of a reunified Germany in relation to transnationalism and globalization. Subject areas include Germany's Nazi past and the Holocaust, capitalism vs. East German communism, art cinema vs. commercial cinema, the relationship to the U.S., feminist and queer cinema, and multiculturalism. Directors include Helmut K'utner, Alexander Kluge, Werner Herzog, R. W. Fassbinder, Ulrike Ottinger, Werner Schroeter, Helke Sander, Helma Sanders-Brahms, Margarete von Trotta, Wolfgang Petersen, Valeska Griesebach, Angela Schanelec, and Christian Petzold.

Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.