FLG 318

New German Cinema

Spring 2008

Dr. Lutz Kube
Office: 304 Withers
Office hours: M/WF 8.05- 9.05 and by appointment
Phone: 515-9304
E-Mail: lkube@ncsu.edu (preferred)
Website: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~lkube/

Class meets M/W/F 11:20-12:10 in Caldwell OG 109

Course Description

In this course we will explore the New German Cinema by studying a number of its “auteurs” (filmmakers) and a selection of their films, as well as 2 films from East Germany made during the same time period, in the context of German history and culture from the seventies to the nineties.

Course Objectives

Successful students will be able to do the following, in German:

• speak and write about: the history and the defining characteristics of the New German Cinema; its directors; the details of some of its individual films
• analyze the filmic means and techniques used by a director
• interpret the aesthetic means and qualities of a film
• situate a film in its historical and cultural context
• evaluate and critique a film

Course Materials

Handouts from instructor

Materials on Course Reserve at D.H. Hill Library (http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/reserves/)

Course Requirements and Evaluation

Class Work (Whole class and group discussion) 10%
Film analysis sheets (See below for details) 15%
Papers 15%
Presentation (see below for details) 10%

Tests 30%
Final Exam 20%

Evaluation of Class Work

For your participation in class, your grade will be determined using the following criteria:
A = you are well prepared and participate actively; you are attentive, respond when called upon and volunteer often with pertinent questions and comments.
B = you are usually prepared and always respond when called on; you volunteer on occasion.
C= you show evidence of being unprepared; you have some trouble when called on and do not volunteer often.
D = you are unprepared and/or inattentive; you never volunteer; you come to class late and/or leave early.
F= you exhibit a lack of concern for the class; your behavior may have a negative effect on the class.

Group Work

There will be group activities. The above evaluation criteria also apply to group work. Be a good team member in partner work or small group activities. Turn your chair to create an easy setting for interaction with your partner(s). Volunteer information, keep the work moving along, but don’t dominate. Help your partners; if they are having a more difficult time (helping others is an excellent way to learn for yourself!). Each member of a group should take notes about the ideas generated in the group and be prepared to give a report to the class.

Film Analysis Sheets (Filmanalyseblätter)

You will hand in ten 2-page film analysis sheets throughout the semester. There are 11 opportunities, so you can miss one. They will be due on the day we start discussing a particular film. The purpose of these film analysis sheets is to give you an opportunity to engage yourself more closely with a certain film and to formulate your thoughts about it in writing, in preparation for class discussions. This will also be excellent practice for writing the longer papers and as a basis for reviewing for the exams.

Presentation

You will introduce to your classmates other works of the directors that we have discussed in class or directors of the New German Cinema (Syberberg, Kluge, etc.) that we did not talk about. Your presentation should be about 8-10 minutes long.

Papers

Your papers should be about 2-3 pages in length. Use 1” margins on all sides, 12 pt. font, double-spaced, with page numbers. I am most interested in your own original ideas. Pay attention to good organization and logical transitions between paragraphs. Base your arguments on close readings of the films or sections of the films; give concrete examples; and avoid vague impressions. Do not use excessively long quotations to fill up the pages, unless you are doing a close analysis of a passage. An excellent source of help on how to write a good paper on film is Timothy Corrigan, A Short Guide to Writing about Film.
If you use ideas or quotes from critical literature (books, articles, internet, etc.), you need to document your sources and give proper credit to someone else’s ideas (whether you quote directly or rephrase their ideas)—otherwise you violate academic integrity and commit plagiarism (see below for policy). For the format of footnotes and bibliography, if you have them, refer to the MLA Style Manual (available in bookstore or library). Paper topics will be given out later in the semester.

Tests

They will consist of: Film history: explain the beginnings, characteristics, and development of the New German Cinema and its auteurs. Individual films: explain the cultural context of the film; its characters; its theme, motifs, symbols; its technical means and how they are used to achieve certain effects; its message, etc. The best way to prepare for these exams is attentive viewing of the films, regular preparation (filling out the film analysis sheets), active class participation, and note-taking. The exams will be based on what has been covered in class and on the readings.

Class Attendance Policy

Regular attendance is a university requirement. For every unexcused absence in excess of one class, your semester grade could be reduced by 1 point. If you have to miss a class, please inform your instructor about it beforehand or as soon as possible after the absence. You will still be expected to be prepared for the next class; contact your instructor or a class mate for information on the missed material and any assignments. For the policy on excused and unexcused absences, you may wish to consult the NC State website:

http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/academic_policies/attend/reg.htm

Policy on Late Homework

Homework that is 2 calendar days late will be accepted. If the homework is 4 calendar days late, the highest possible grade is C. Homework that is more than 4 calendar days late will not be accepted.

Students with Disabilities

Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. At NC State, please register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. For more information see

http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/offices/affirm_action/dss/

For the NC State policy see:

http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/provost/info/hat/current/appendix/appen_k.html

Academic Integrity

Human interaction and effective communication function on the basis of trust. An atmosphere of trust, honesty and respect for each other fosters educational progress and success. Please do not give us any reason to be suspicious of your honesty. You are to do your own work on all class assignments, papers, and exams, unless it is a designated pair or group assignment. For papers that also means not incorporating others’ ideas and selling them as your own—this is called plagiarism. Whether you take ideas (verbatim or just as an idea) from books, the internet, or other sources does not matter: you need to acknowledge their source if they are not your own. If you are caught giving or receiving unauthorized help on assignments or in exams, you will be prosecuted according to the guidelines described in NC State’s policy on academic integrity. You are expected to work within the letter and spirit of the NC State University Code of Student Conduct, please see

http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/ncsulegal/41.03-codeof.htm

Semester Schedule

DATE	IN CLASS
Jan 9	Introduction
Jan 11	History of German Film
Jan 14	How to read a film
Jan 16	Fassbinder
Jan. 18	Ehe der Maria Braun
Jan 21	MLK Day
Jan 23	Ehe der Maria Braun
Jan 25	Wolfgang Petersen
Jan 28	Das Boot
Jan 30	Das Boot
Feb. 1	1. Test
Feb. 4	Werner Herzog
Feb. 6	Stroszek
Feb. 8	Stroszek
Feb. 11	Nosferatu
Feb. 13	Nosferatu
Feb. 15	Wim Wenders
Feb. 18	Alice in the Cities
Feb. 20	Alice in the Cities
Feb. 22	Wings of Desire
Feb. 25	Wings of Desire
Feb. 27	Wings of Desire
Feb. 29	2. Test
Mar 3-7	Spring Break
Mar 10	East German Film
Mar 12	Solo Sunny
Mar. 14	Solo Sunny
Mar. 17	Legend of Paul and Paula
Mar. 19	Legend of Paul and Paula
Mar. 21	Spring Holiday
Mar. 24	Margarete von Trotta
Mar. 26	Marianne und Juliane
Mar. 28	Marianne und Juliane
Mar. 31	Volker Schlöndorff
April 2	The Tin Drum
April 4	The Tin Drum
April 7	Unification in Film
April 9	The Promise
April 11	The Promise
April 14	3. Test
April 16	German Film Today
April 18	Group Presentations
April 21	Group Presentations; Second Paper Due
April 23	Group Presentations
April 25	Group Presentations

Film Showings

Date/Time	Film	Place	Language	Additional info
TH Jan 17, 7:00 pm	Die Ehe der Maria Braun (The Marriage of Maria Braun)	Mini-Theatre	German w/ English subtitles	1978, 120 minutes. Maria Braun (Hanna Schygylla) uses her beauty and ambition to prosper during Germany’s “economic miracle”.
TH Jan 24th, 6:30 pm	Das Boot	Mini-Theatre	German w/ English subtitles	1981, 209 min. Wolfgang Petersen’s saga of the sailors aboard a German U-Boat during WWII.
T Feb 2, 7:00 pm	Stroszek	Mini-Theatre	German, w/ English subtitles	1977, 108 min. Bruno S. and his oddball entourage leave Berlin for the golden opportunities of America, and end up in the despair of Railroad Flats, Wisconsin.
TH Febr. 7 7:00pm	Nosferatu	Mini-Theatre	German w/ English subtitles	1979, 107 min. Werner Herzog’s remake of Murnaus’s 1922 silent horror classic.
TH Febr. 14 7:00 pm	Alice in den Städten (Alice in the Cities)	Mini-Theatre	German, w/ English subtitles	1974, 110 min. Wim Wenders’ road movie. A photo journalist, accompanied by a 9 year old girl, goes from New York to Wuppertal and beyond.
TH Febr 21th 7:00 pm	Der Himmel über Berlin (Wings of Desire)	E.-C. Theatre	German w/ English subtitles	1987, 128 min. Wenders’tale of an angel who wants to become mortal.
T, March 11 7:00 pm	Solo Sunny	E.-C. Theatre	German, w/ English subtitles	1980, 100 min. A singer in East Germany tries to preserve her artistic and personal independence.
TH, March 13, 7:00 pm	Die Legende von Paul und Paula (The Legend of Paul and Paula)	E.-C. Theater	German w/ English subtitles	1973, 105 min. Story of a working class woman in East Germany who insists on her claim for personal happiness.
T, March 25th 7.00 pm	Die bleierne Zeit (Marianne and Juliane)	E.-C. Theatre	German, w/ English subtitles	1979, 95 min. 2 sisters rebel in different ways in West Germany of the 70s.
TH March 27 7.00 pm	Die Blechtrommel (The Tin Drum)	E.-C. Theatre	German w/ English subtitles	1979, 142 min. Oskar Matzerath refuses to grow up into the crazy world in Danzig at the eve of WWII.
T April 8 7:00 pm	Das Versprechen (The Promise)	Mini-Theatre	German w/ English subtitles	1996, 115 min. A film by Margarethe von Trotta, about an East/West love story across the Wall.

You can also find screening times and locations at: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/calendar/