A history of the German Cinema, 1945-1980s

The language of film

Presentation topics

Department of German homepage

lecture course explores the developments that have taken place in German cinema from the late 1960s to the present day. To what extent can recent German cinema, with its emphasis on relationship comedies, social drama and the ‘battle of the sexes’, and its abandonment of art-house techniques, be distinguished from Hollywood? Is there still any trace of the social critique that characterised the New German Cinema of the 1960s and 1970s? In the FIRST SEMESTER we will be looking at German film in the 1970s and 1980s. In the SECOND SEMESTER we will be looking at German film in the 1990s within the context of the ‘normalisation debate’ that has been taking place since unification in 1990.

Form of Teaching

Lectures will alternate with seminars

Form and Timing of Assessment

Semester 1 1 x 2 hour written examination at the end of the semester (50% of the total mark)

Semester 2 1 x 3000 word essay to be submitted in semester 2 (50% of the total mark)

Exam Questions

Mock essay questions

Essay and Exam Guidance

                The rules: Departmental guidelines on assessed work

                How essays are assessed: Essay Assessment grid

                Some hints on writing essays (in exams and otherwise)