Course Description
German film comedy during the 20th and 21st centuries, accompanied by an introduction to the genre of comedy and theories of laughter and humor. No background knowledge required. All readings and discussions are in English and all films are in English or have English subtitles.
Athena Title
GERM FILM COMEDY
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course will introduce students to the formal and aesthetic parameters of the comedy genre and its history while also familiarizing them with major political, social, and aesthetic movements and events that shaped German film history: Weimar cinema, the Third Reich, post-war and post-wall German film, German cinema in the new millennium. Students will learn about directors who mark this national cinema and study the cultural, political and historical discourses crucial to the understanding of their work. Students will be evaluated on the basis of written assignments, exams, and their active participation in class discussions based on thorough preparation of regular reading assignments.
Topical Outline
The following is a representative outline of topics and films. The actual choice and sequencing of materials may vary. Introduction: Early Comedy until Weimar Film: Die Austernprinzessin (The Oyster Princess, 1919), Dir. Ernst Lubitsch Film: Die Drei von der Tankstelle (Three Good Friends, 1930) Dir. Wilhelm Thiele Laughter and the Hangman: Comedy and Dictatorship I. Film: Capriccio (1938), Dir. Karl Ritter Comedy and Dictatorship II. Film: To Be or Not To Be (1942), Dir. Ernst Lubitsch The Globalization of Humor: Comedy in Germany and the USA Film 1: Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach/The Virgin on the Roof (1953), Dir. Otto Preminger Film 2: The Moon Is Blue (1953), Dir. Otto Preminger Cold War Politics and Comedy Film: One Two Three (1963), Dir. Billy Wilder Zeitgeist Comedies Film: Manner/Men (1985), Dir. Doris Darrie Comedy - the Lowest Common Denominator? Film: Abgeschminkt (Making Up, 1993), Dir. Katja von Garnier Comedy and the Other Film: Der bewegte Mann (Maybe, Maybe Not, 1994), Dir. Soenke Wortmann The Psychology of Laughter Film: Keiner liebt mich (Nobody Loves Me, 1994), Doris Darrie Ostalgie -The GDR in Post-Wall Comedies Film: Good Bye Lenin (2003), Dir. Wolfgang Becker New Ethnic German Cinema Film: Im Juli (In July, 2003), Dir. Fatih Akin Normalization? German-Jewish Life Today Film: Alles auf Zucker (Go for Zucker, 2004), Dir. Dany Levi New German Realism Film: Sommer vorm Balkon (Summer in Berlin, 2005), Dir. Andreas Dresen
General Education Core
CORE IV: World Languages and Global CultureSyllabus