Berlin and Beyond

Students in this subject will learn about German history, language and society in the modern era by visiting the capital, Berlin, and two locations in different German states. Students will gain insights into the richly regional nature of German history, identity and language. Key themes of the subject that will be explored through on-site visits and cultural experiences are: 1. German identity and the “idea” of Germany since the nineteenth century; 2. Life in the German Democratic Republic; 3. Migration in twentieth-century Germany. Students will engage with the complexities of German national history and identity from numerous perspectives via literature, film and music. While the heart of the visit is an extended stay in Berlin, which sits at the heart of so much of this complex history, students will come to understand that Germany is much more than its capital and that Germany itself is an idea always in the making.