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Outside In: An Introduction to Outcasts and Outsiders in German-language Literature and Film

Module description

This module introduces you to 20^th- and 21^st-century German-speaking society. The best way to understand a society is to understand who is excluded from it. Outcasts and outsiders are those individuals who don’t seem to fit in, who are excluded, ostracised or left behind. In this module, you will meet talking apes, car-thieving misfits, and the only human left alive on Earth. Together, these characters will help you explore what it means to be on the outside – and what this implies about the ‘inside’ of German-speaking society in the 20^th and 21^st century. All texts and films will be studied in translation. In addition to this, the module will aim to build your subject-specific vocabulary in German.

Module aims - intentions of the module

In this module we will be examining how the figure of the outsider or outcast allows a unique insight into German-speaking society. We will examine selected examples from 20^th- and 21^st-century literature and film in order to understand how outsiders and outcasts have been presented – and have presented themselves – both visually and in writing.

In lectures and seminars, this module will introduce you to the skills of literary and visual analysis. You will develop the necessary skills, individually and as part of a team, in both written and oral contributions.

In this module, you will:

• Discuss the figure of the outsider or outcast as well as themes of isolation, exclusion, and inclusion in a historically specific context in German-language literature and film.
• Familiarise yourself with a selection of works, authors and film makers, some of whom are well-known and others are themselves ‘outsiders’ of the traditional German Studies canon.
• Gain a sound foundation on which to base your studies at higher levels, whatever your previous experience of literature and film.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Read and analyse the set texts/films in translation, relating them to key aspects of their historical, literary, and cultural context.
• 2. Demonstrate an understanding of key aspects of German-speaking society by recognising the meaning and importance of being an outcast or outsider from this society

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Describe and evaluate, under guidance from the module tutor, key critical responses to the texts/films and, to a limited extent, apply standard critical approaches to the material independently
• 4. Mount an argument in English using textual and other evidence, using basic critical terminology
• 5. Show ability to give bibliographical information accurately and consistently, following established guidelines

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Select and organise material in order to produce a simple but cogent argument in writing, in English, on a specific topic and following guidelines provided
• 7. Explain and discuss personal conclusions with other members of a group

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that its themes will cover some or all of the following:

• Franz Kafka, “Ein Bericht für eine Akademie” [“A Report to An Academy”] (1917)
• Bertolt Brecht, “Über die Bezeichnung Emigranten“ [“Concerning the Label Emigrant”] (1937)
• Marlen Haushofer, Die Wand [The Wall] (1963) & Julian Pölsler (dir.), Die Wand [The Wall], 2012.
• Erica Fischer, Aimée & Jaguar (1994) & Max Färberböck (dir.), Aimée & Jaguar (1999)
• Wolfgang Herrndorf, Tschick [Why We Took the Car] (2010) & Fatih Akin (dir.), Tschick [Goodbye Berlin] (2016)
• Heiner Carow (dir.), Coming Out (1989)
• KutluÃ?� Ataman (dir.), Lola + Bilidikid [Lola and Billy the Kid] (1999)

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

• David Bordwell, Kristin Thompson, Jeff Smith (eds), Film Art: An Introduction (New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education, 2020).
• Stephen Brockmann, A Critical History of German Film (Rochester, N.Y.: Camden House, 2010)
• Petra Fachinger, Rewriting Germany From the Margins (Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2001).
• Mary Fulbrook, A Concise History of Germany (Cambridge, 1991).
• Paul Goring, Studying Literature: The Essential Companion (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2010).

Key words search

German, Literature, Film, Outsider