GE220 Violent Women in the German Cultural Imagination
| Module Code: GE220 |
|---|
| Module Name: Violent Women in the German Cultural Imagination |
| Module Coordinator: Katherine Stone |
| Term 2 2025-2026 (Tuesday 13:00 - 15:00. B2.03 (Science Block B, Floor 2) |
| Module Credits: 15 |
Module choice guide:
Key themes: post-1945 German/Austrian history; gender; politics; political violence; terror; right-extremism; motherhood.
Theoretical lenses: feminist theory; postcolonial theory; trauma studies.
Module Description
From Medea to Kriemhild, Charlotte Corday to Irma Grese, violent women haunt the cultural imaginary as figures of horror and fascination. This module will use the exceptional figure of the female perpetrator to explore shifting ideas about women and society in modern German culture. Why did violent women become such figures of fascination and anxiety after 1945? Where do stereotypes about violent women come from, and why do they matter? What do these stereotypes tell us about societal attitudes to women and our understanding of violence? And to what extent do century-old images of female perpetrators shape how society understands violence today?
This module gives students the opportunity to engage in more depth with the history and legacy of the Holocaust, left-wing terrorism, feminism, and right-extremism. Additionally, it exposes students to some of the key authors and filmmakers in post-1945 East Germany, West Germany, and Austria.
Indicative Reading List
Works we may look at include: Margarethe von Trotta's Die bleierne Zeit (film, 1981); Elisabeth Reichart, Februarschatten (novella, 1984); Christa Wolf Medea. Stimmen (novel, 1996); David Wnendt, Die Kriegerin (film, 2012); Fatih Akin Aus dem Nichts (film, 2017).
While language-degree students are expected to read and watch the films in the target language, and quote in German, the primary teaching and assessment language is English.
Please note that these texts deal at times with difficult subject matter, including suicide and bereavement, as well as some graphic depictions of violence and sex. Students will be warned in advance if these topics will feature in the reading and will have the opportunity to flag any potential concerns before class --- either anonymously or in person. Where classroom discussion focuses in on these issues, the approach aims to be both sensitive and academically rigorous; however, the module convenor is open to discussing and accommodating student concerns.
Assessment
- Close analysis (30%): Students will be asked to write a commentary in English (1250-1500 words) on ONE passage or short clip from one of the works studied before reading week.
- Essay (70%): A 2250-2500 word essay in English on a set topic relating to one or more of the primary works studied on this module. The primary work analysed in the essay should not have been the object of the close reading.
Module Prerequisites
Students do not need prior knowledge of the German language to follow this module. All literary and film materials are available in English translation.
Whilst in-class discussion focusses on German extracts, translations are provided so that all students can contribute equally.
Student Voices
- "The content was inspiring. The organisation, as well as the extensive information on the moodle page was extremely helpful!"
- "It is the most unique, interesting and yet relevant module I have studied in my time at university."
- "Overall, the module was very enjoyable, informative and well-taught, with an atmosphere that encouraged participation and questions."
- "This has been a great module, definitely the most academically stretching one I've done and the one for which I have had the most stretching and interesting seminars."
- "The lectures were interesting and the topics always provided great opportunities to think and consider areas of history which I hadn't previously engaged with."