Exploring the German Archive: Ideology and state in newspaper cuttings and family papers
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| MLAC2202 | Modern Languages and Cultures | 2 | 10 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- MLAC2202
- School
- Modern Languages and Cultures
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module gives students the unique opportunity to gain insights into German history covering the Nazi regime (1933-1945), the post-war period, and the time of the GDR and FRG between (1946-1989) by working with previously unexplored German newspaper material and manuscripts from the university’s Manuscripts and Special Collections. In addition, students will gain valuable and sought-after work experience by being introduced by our expert librarian and archivist into key skills in archives, libraries and museums which are transferable to the heritage, tourism and leisure sectors.
Samples of material for this module are (these might be added to or altered): content from two archival collections of personal papers of two German-speaking Jewish expellees from Austria, Dr Bernard Steinitz and Albert Tugendhat, as well as the following special collections of publications: the Newspaper Cuttings Archive of the British Military Government in Berlin, the German School Books Collection, the Magdeburg Public Library Collection, and periodicals such as the women’s magazine Für Dich. For their assessed work, students will work closely with material of their choice, closely analysing its language, form, historical background and situatedness in the political context of the time. Expert guidance in working with the authentic predominantly German material will be given by staff from the Manuscripts and Special Collection and academics from the Department of German Studies. Theoretical texts on German history and politics, autobiographical writing, school education and the role of archives will provide further context for this module.
The module also offers a foundation for further academic engagement and career options, e.g. by providing topics and material for students’ final year dissertation in German, or by increase the employability of students for the year abroad or as graduates in the UK.
Target Students
Level 2 German inc. post-beginners. Also available to Exchange and subsid students with a good knowledge of German.
Co-requisites
Modules you must take in the same academic year, or have taken in a previous year, to enrol in this module:
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 11 weeks
Assessment
- 20% Presentation: Recorded (e.g. PPT with voice over), in English or German (optional), approx. 8 mins
- 80% Coursework: 1,500 words essay in English
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
This module will teach students how to research the German-language primary resources from the University of Nottingham’s Manuscripts and Special Collections (MSC) in the wider context of German Studies. They will learn about the role of primary sources as the bedrock of historiographic, literary, and retrospective life writings. Focusing on ideology in the 20th century (1933-1989), students will learn how to analyse records such as personal letters, newsprint, schoolbooks, lifestyle magazines and mass-market leisure-reading books. Students will learn to work with personal letters to trace the impact of ideology on individuals’ lives, and proceed to learning how to examine a range of publications intended, at different points in time, to shape society conforming to an ideology.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
Insight into German-language archives and special collections unique to the University
Experience in working with primary resources to research and produce an academic essay
Intellectual skills
Undertake close textual analysis of a variety of types of literary and other texts.
Make critical use of primary and secondary source material, both written and audio-visual.
Develop an understanding of complex ideas in their socio-historical context.
Engage in independent study and research.
Engage in critical and analytic reflection.
Express ideas clearly and effectively in the context of a well constructed argument.
Engage in exchanges of ideas with others, giving due weight to their opinions.
Read the target languages in different registers (and recognise the differences)
Ability to detect in private letters not intended for a readership references to political upheaval impacting on individual lives
Writing succinct summaries of letters (referencing historic events, mapping relationships between correspondents, indexing names) in order to prepare letters for cataloguing.
The ability to think critically by recognising expressions of ideology in different registers in print media
The ability to infer and distinguish between GDR and FRG journalistic language from newsprint samples
Professional, practical and transferrable skills
Definition of problems and construction of strategies for their solution.
Organising time and work programmes effectively and meeting deadlines.
Effective use of IT as a means of communication, presentation and learning.
Ability to reflect on his/her own performance and recognise strengths and weaknesses.
Present work in conformity with academic conventions.
Effective communication of information and ideas in appropriate registers of both oral and written English.
Practical skills in information management: subject re-indexing and enhancing the existing subject index of the BMGB newscuttings archive.
Palaeography skills: deciphering historical writing in longhand manuscript letters written by people schooled in the 19th and 20th centuries
Care and handling practice for archival documents in a session delivered by the Conservator of MSC
Experience in requesting archives and special collections materials to the reading room following departmental procedure in MSC