The course intends to provide a thorough introduction to Viennese culture, an
important field in the study of German-language culture and literature.  A
familiarity with the literary, cultural and artistic accomplishments of Viennese
culture is very important to any undergraduate majoring in German.  The course is
entirely taught in German. Students will also significantly improve their language
skills through the study of vocabulary lists, handed out for each text, as well as
the review of problematic areas in grammar. Students will be evaluated on the basis
of in-class discussions and oral presentations, written assignments, such as a
reading journal, a midterm paper and a final research paper.

Introduction to Austria: geography, population, the Austrian language, major historical
periods and achievements
Franz Joseph I: readings by Joseph Roth
The imperial culture: the Viennese Waltz and the Radetzy-
Marsch Arthur Schnitzler: fin-de-siecle writer (Liebelei)
Hugo von Hofmannsthal: selected poems and short prose
Kaffeehaus literature: Peter Altenberg and Polgar
Viennese Impressionism: Leopold Andrian
The rise of psychoanalysis: Sigmund Freud
Viennese music culture: 
1.Viennese classical music (Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, the Strauss dynasty)
2. the second Viennese School under Schoenberg
The rise and fall of the Austrian empire (1918)
Schnitzler, Leutnant Gustl
Anti-Semitism and the founding of Zionism: Theodor Herzl
Expressionist Literature: the poetry of Georg Trakl
Aphorisms and the work of Karl Kraus
Stefan Zweig and the rise of National Socialism