THEATRE IN GERMAN LANGUAGE

The course of Theatre in German Language is a core educational activity of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in "Languages, Civilisation and Science of Language" (Literary-Cultural curriculum and Political-International curriculum) and provides a a specific knowledge of German Culture, Literature and Language according to the aims of the Bachelor's Degree Programme.

The course aims to 1) analyze and discuss salient moments of nineteenth- and twentieth-century German theater (beginning with the Vormärz, through the fin de siècle and modernism, expressionism up to the Neue Sachlichkeit; for a list of the texts see the "contents" and "reference texts" headings); 2) foster an understanding of theatrical phenomena and the ability for their historical-critical contextualization within the framework of the society that produced them; 3) provide some critical and methodological tools aimed at students' acquisition of text comprehension and analysis skills that promote autonomy of judgment; 4) consolidate comprehension and communication skills in appropriate language through timely reading of texts against the background of historical-cultural reference contexts.

There are no prerequisites; knowledge of the contents of the German literature courses established for the previous years by the respective curricula is useful for good learning.

The course will analyse and discuss some of the major revolution dramas (Revolutionsdramen) in 19th and 20th century German theatre: Georg Büchner's 'Dantons Tod' (1835), Arthur Schnitzler's 'Der grüne Kakadu' (1898), 'Masse Mensch' (1919) and 'Hoppla, wir leben! "(1927) by Ernst Toller, Bertolt Brecht's 'Trommeln in der Nacht' (1919) and 'Die Maßnahme' (1930). We will reflect on the ways and styles in which these works focus on the historical phenomenon of 'revolution' from different points of view and within the framework of different literary currents and dramatugical theories (such as realism, modernism, avant-garde theatre, epic theatre), using a complex play of roles to question its moral legitimation and the mechanisms of power and violence on which it is based.

1.

Bertolt Brecht, Trommeln in der Nacht;
Bertolt Brecht: Die Legende vom toten Soldaten
Bertolt Brecht, Die Maßnahme;
Georg Büchner, Dantons Tod;
Arthur Schnitzler, Der grüne Kakadu;
Ernst Toller, Masse Mensch. Ein Stück aus der sozialen Revolution des 20. Jahrhunderts;
Ernst Toller, Hoppla, wir leben!


All editions all fine.
Important: Students are advised to procure "Dantons Tod" before the beginning of the first class.

2.

La letteratura tedesca. epoche, generi, intersezioni. vol. 1 e 2, a cura di Chiara Buglioni, Marco Castellari, Alessandra Goggio e Moira Paleari, Mondadori, Milano 2019:
- vol. 1 (part 3: panoramica storica and chapter 8, 11 and 12);
- vol. 2 (part 4: panoramica storica, chapter 14).

Luigi Reitani: "Zwei Länder, eine Bühne? Italien und Deutschland: ein Vergleich ihrer Theaterinstitutionen unter Berücksichtigung ihrer literarischen Dramentraditionen", in: Olaf Müller / Elena Polledri (ed.): Theateradaptionen. Interkulturelle Transformationen moderner Bühnentexte, Heidelberg 2021, p. 19-25.

Students who cannot read the handbook and the critical literature in Italian are kindly asked to contact the lecturer.

The examination will consist of an interview (ca. 30 minutes) thought to test:
- the ability to read and understand the texts in the syllabus;
- the work done on the topics covered during the course and on the texts in the bibliography.

IIn order to pass the examination, it is necessary to obtain a sufficient mark in each of the two parts indicated, which will be assessed with points from 0 to 15 each. Sufficiency will be obtained with elementary competence and in the absence of serious errors and gaps, additional points will be obtained according to the breadth of knowledge and the quality of argumentation and exposition. Honours will be awarded where there is an excellent level of knowledge and understanding with reference to the syllabus, judgement and communication skills.

Lectures, seminar discussions.
A dedicated moodle platform will be available, where materials will be uploaded, and used for communication with students.

Italian

An introduction to scientific writing in preparation for the bachelor's thesis will be part of this course.
The programme includes an in-depth lecture by a lecturer from the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin as part of the Erasmus exchange with the same university (25th October 2024, Prof. Dr. Mark-Georg Dehrmann).

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development