VIENNESE MODERNISM: 1880–1914

German 372 (AL)

Spring 2009: Professor Susan Cocalis

Tu Th 11.15—12.30.  Hasbrouck Lab 138

Website: courses.umass.edu/germ372

Course Description:

This course is intended as an interdisciplinary exploration of different facets of Viennese culture during the period 1880–1914.  We will be looking at the discourses of modernity in literary texts but also in the visual arts, architecture, and music.  I would like to focus on how these discourses of modernity are gendered: i.e., how they relate to the particular construction of masculinity that evolved in the virtual absence of dominant bourgeois cultural values until relatively late in the 19th century.  Thus we will not only be “reading” and analyzing texts but also musical scores, architectural design, and graphic art within this discursive framework.  In addition to the more academic component of the course, I would like to explore a more “hands-on” approach to Viennese material culture: i.e., tracing the history of the croissant, Viennese bread, learning how to dance the Viennese waltz, etc. as marked in the syllabus. Finally, I will ask you to view several films, which I will make available through our web- site and u-drive.

Office Hours:

I am usually available in Herter 525 before and after class, Wednesdays 11-1pm, and by arrangement.  My e-mail address is: “cocalis@german.umass.edu” and my telephone extension is 545-6673.  To leave a message with the main office, call 545 2350.

Course Website/u-drive:

We have both an “courses” website: “courses.umass.edu/germ372” and a u-drive/germ372 sites. The syllabus, course schedule, contact information, and announcements are currently available on the “courses.umass” website.

To access our u-drive files, go to http://udrive.oit.umass.edu (also linked to OIT homepage) and log in to your personal account. Once in your account, you will see a section on the left called "Bookmarks." Click the black arrow so that it points down. Now click the blue icon on the left menu, to the right of the word Bookmarks. This is where you will manage your bookmarks. Click the "Add Bookmark" icon on the top. You can name this bookmark anything you like.  (Vienna, Ger372, etc.) then in the “folder field,” enter “/germ372/” Press OK. You should now see a bookmark with the name you gave it in the bookmark area on the left. Click on it, and you are in the German 372 u-drive. You can return to your own u-drive space by clicking on your account name in the same area. I will create a class group giving you permission to access the site by the second week of classes.

Course Materials:

Assigned Readings:

All of the assigned readings will be available on-line. To access them go to the courses.umass.edu/germ372 site and type in: “/materials/readings”. A pop-up menu will appear asking for a password: enter user: “student” and password: “klimt”. An index linked to pdf files of the assigned texts will appear.

Assigned Music: There will be listening assignments. The music files are on the u-drive/germ372 and on the main website. To access them go to the courses.umass.edu/germ372 site and type in: “/materials/music”. A pop-up menu will appear asking for a password: enter user: “student” and password: “klimt”. An index linked to music files will appear.

Film Viewing:

There are two films (Szabo’s Colonel Redl & Ophuls La Ronde), as well as film versions of the Fledermaus and Der Rosenkavalier. These are available on the course website and the u-drive. To access them go to the courses.umass.edu/germ372 site and type in: “/materials/films”. A pop-up menu will appear asking for a password: enter user: “student” and password: “klimt”. An index linked to the videos will appear.

Art, Applied Design, & Architecture: Art files have been stored on the course u-drive.

Course Expectations & Requirements:

Class Preparation: 

I expect you to complete the assigned readings/viewings/listening before the designated class.  In the case of very long reading assignments, there will be some flexibility. In the second half of the semester, there will be listening and art assignments that might necessitate listening or consulting art books. I expect you to become familiar enough with the material to be able to recognize the particular style of an artist or composer. Regular in-class writing assignments will be based on the day’s reading, listening, or viewing material.

Attendance/In-Class Writing Assignments:

Short written assignments will be collected and graded in most classes.  After the first two class sessions, the in-class writing assignments will be related to the assignment for that day:

• you will receive full credit (√) if I see you have done the reading assignment;
• you may obtain partial credit (√–) if the answer is too short or vague but I have a sense you have read the assignment, but no credit (–) except for attendance if the answer is too short, too vague, or not based on the assignment;
• you can receive extra credit (√+) if I find an answer especially good;
• you will receive no credit (o) if you have not read the assignment or have completely misunderstood it.
• you will receive a “present” but unprepared (/o)if you are in class but unprepared.

I expect you to take the questions seriously and to try to answer them to the best of your ability. One-word answers or nothing at all are graded as insufficient.  I will read through all of these in-class assignments, grade them, report back to the class on them, and return them to you at regular intervals. Attendance & writing assignments count 60 points toward your grade (2.5 points per class).

Reading Assignment & Make-Ups: 

You are responsible for reading the assigned texts for the designated class period. They are arranged sequentially in the reader. Most of the in-class writing assignments are based on the readings. If you come to class regularly and occasionally are absent or if you cannot read an assignment for the designated day but ask permission to make it up, you can submit a short written text showing me that you have done the assignment and I will give you partial credit. Instructor will not accept make-up assignments for chronic unexcused absence.

Extra-Credit Options: There is a list of extra-credit films and books posted on our website (courses/germ372). If you write a 2-page, typed response paper to one or more of these works (relating them to the course readings and lectures or analyzing them in a comparative context), you can earn up to 3 extra-credit points per film/book. These responses should go beyond plot summaries—you can assume that I know the plot—and should relate what you have viewed to the material we have been discussing in class.

Examinations:  There will be an in-class mid-term and a final examination in this course:

•     mid-term examination (Tuesday, March 10; make-up Tuesday, March 24, room TBA):  this will cover the material from the first half of the course including the historical background, the evolution of the Ringstraße, the significance of Freud’s work/psychoanalysis, and the literary texts. There will be identifications and short essay questions (see review sheet) that you will be provided with in advance. [100 points]

•     final examination (finals period): this will include musical, visual and conceptual identifications and an essay of an interdisciplinary nature. A review sheet with more specific information will be distributed at the end of the semester [100 points]

Make-up Exam Policy:  If you are aware of a conflict with an examination date in advance, or if something unexpected comes up and you have to miss an exam, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor or the secretary at the German Department (Mary or Roseann:  545-2350) before the test.  If there is an acceptable excuse (i.e., meeting University standards), you can make suitable arrangements with the instructor.

Academic Honesty:  In fairness to those students who put in an honest effort, cheaters will be harshly treated.  Any form of cheating whatsoever will result in a grade of zero (0) on that assignment, paper, or examination.  Cheating includes but is not limited to bringing notes or written materials into an exam and using them during an exam, copying off another person’s assignment or exam, allowing someone to copy off of your assignment or exam, plagiarizing a paper, and having someone take an exam for you.  Students choosing the paper option will be held to the standards of the University Writing Program (provided with paper guidelines).  Cheating on papers includes using sentences directly or in a slightly modified form from books without naming the source.

Grading:

Each student can accumulate a maximum of 260 points during this course.  The two exams are each worth 100 points and the in-class writing assignments/ attendance are worth 60 points. Final grades can be computed using the following scale:

If you wish to dispute any grade, please contact the instructor before or after class.  If you wish to discuss/dispute your final grade, please contact me  before September 15, 2009.  Any incompletes must also be resolved by that date.