Sex and the City: Berlin, Vienna, New York

Summer 2007, University of West Georgia

Course Description:

Following in the wake of massive urbanization, democratization, and secularization in Europe and North America, the Twentieth Century has seen revolutionary changes in the way human beings discuss and portray norms and expectations of gender-appropriate behavior and in the way sexuality is expressed and experienced. In this course, we reexamine our contemporary attitudes about gender and sexuality by studying the influence of two major movements that originated in Berlin and Vienna (psychoanalysis and sexology) on artistic production in Europe in America in the areas of literature, theater, film, and the visual arts (painting and sculpture).

            This course will examine important works of literature, theater, film, and visual art within the context of the revolution in the discussion of sexuality that arose in the context of urban life in early twentieth-century Berlin and Vienna.  We will not only look at works by German and Austrian artists, writers, and filmmakers, but also by American, English, and French artists who were inspired and fascinated by developments in central Europe. Students will be encouraged to understand the transformations that occur in artistic representations as ideas migrate from one cultural context to another. For example, the theory of unconscious desire elaborated by Sigmund Freud in Vienna exercised enormous influence not only on psychology and medicine, but also on aesthetic developments in German-speaking Europe and worldwide. Berlin sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld, who in contrast to Freud took an empiricist approach to the study of sex, although less well known than Freud, also influenced the perception of sexuality and gender in popular culture and influenced such writers as Christopher Isherwood, whose novel Good Bye Berlin was a source for the Broadway musical and film Cabaret.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students demonstrate factual knowledge surrounding the origin of psychoanalysis and sexology and the historical context in which these discourses came into being.
•  Students are able to situate works of literature, film, and art within the greater national and international historical context.
• Students demonstrate their ability to apply knowledge of intellectual, cultural, and political history to the analysis of aesthetic texts both in classroom discussion and in written assignments.
• Students develop an appreciation for the cultural richness of Berlin and Vienna and an ability to articulate the relevance of the two cities to modern life.
• Students demonstrate their awareness of the cultural embededness of artistic production and the transformation that occur over time and place.

Assessment and Grading:

• 2 exams 40% (midterm and final) in which students demonstrate factual knowledge of historical developments related to the aforementioned course topics and their ability to apply such knowledge to the interpretation of cultural texts (e.g. a painting, poem, prose passage).
• Class participation 10%: students demonstrate active engagement in the learning process by asking questions and engaging in discussion on the course texts.
• 2 written papers 40% in which students analyze and evaluate the representation of sexuality in a literary text/film and relate it to material from the textbook and lectures
• Reading Quizzes 10% - Drop 1 (Study questions will be provided to focus on when you do your reading).

Books required for purchase:

Arthur Schnitzler. Dream Story. ISBN 978-0-141-18224-7

Doug Wright.  I am My Own Wife. ISBN 0-571-21174-7

Irmgard Keun. The Artificial Silk Girl. ISBN 1-892746-81-6

Angus McLaren. Twentieth-Century Sexuality: A History. ISBN 0-631-20813-5

Plagiarism Policy:

The State University of West Georgia defines plagiarism as "the purchase and/or use of ghost-written papers and reports, or incorporating into a report, term theme, research paper, or project, ideas and information obtained from another person without giving credit to the person from whom such information was obtained" (Faculty Handbook, Section 207).  This definition applies equally to electronic, print, and verbal sources.  Plagiarism is grounds for failing this course. 

Please note: all formal essays for this course must be original to this course, i.e. written work previously submitted for a grade in another course will not be accepted.

Schedule: Summer 2007

Readings and Assignments are to be completed before class for the date they are assigned

Contract (for my personal records):

1.      I will prepare for and participate in class in a manner that is productive for both myself and my classmates.  If I am disruptive, asleep, or engaged in activities unrelated to the class (including but not limited to reading newspapers, notes, e-mails, text messages or playing with my cell phone), I may be considered absent. 

2.      I understand that all the work I submit must be my own.  I will not use online sources to cut and paste either parts of a paper or an entire paper.  I understand that such actions constitute academic dishonesty and will result in a failing grade and/or further disciplinary actions.  I have read the University plagiarism policy (printed above in the syllabus) and will abide by it.

3.      I understand that attendance is important and that I am responsible for everything I miss when I skip class.  I know that tests cannot be made up except in cases of documented emergencies.  I understand that there is no guarantee that I can take a make-up exam.  If I have not contacted the professor before he returns the graded exams, I have relinquished the possibility of a make-up. I understand that QUIZZES CANNOT BE MADE UP UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

4.      I understand that coming to class late and/or leaving class unnecessarily at any time other than the scheduled break is rude and disruptive for my colleagues and professor and I will do so only in extreme circumstances. I understand that two lates is equivalent to an absence and will be counted as such.  I also understand that I may not have cell phones or beepers turned on, on vibrate, or on my desk during class.  I understand that if my cell phone goes off during an exam or quiz, I will receive a zero.  

5.      I understand that absences are my own business and need not be discussed with the professor because there are no excused absences in this class. All absences affect my performance and my grade both directly and indirectly. I know that it is my responsibility to learn the material covered in class on that day on my own and realize that it is not possible for the professor to reteach the class for me because I was absent. I know that I will automatically fail the class should I amass 6 absences before the end of the course.

6.   I understand that if I am having difficulty with the class material that it is my responsibility to seek out my professor during his office hours to ask questions about the topics I am having difficulty with.

7. I understand that my finances, my job, my personal relationships, and my Hope Scholarship cannot play a role in the assigning of my grade and that my grade must be based on what I do and how well I do it in this course.  I understand that if I have dire personal circumstances, I may talk to the professor and the Dean about a hardship withdrawal from all of my classes.

8.   I understand that I am required by university policy to check my university e-mail account and that all e-mail correspondences between me and my professor should be made using university e-mail. I understand that if I write to my professor using any other e-mail address that he will not respond to the e-mail.

9.      I have read and understood the syllabus and how I will be evaluated in this course.  

10.      I have read and understood this contract or have asked questions about those aspects that I did not understand.  I hereby declare my commitment to following these guidelines and agree to contact my professor if I believe I can no longer fulfill this commitment. 

Contract (to be signed and returned to instructor):

1.      I will prepare for and participate in class in a manner that is productive for both myself and my classmates.  If I am disruptive, asleep, or engaged in activities unrelated to the class (including but not limited to reading newspapers, notes, e-mails, text messages or playing with my cell phone), I may be considered absent. 

2.      I understand that all the work I submit must be my own.  I will not use online sources to cut and paste either parts of a paper or an entire paper.  I understand that such actions constitute academic dishonesty and will result in a failing grade and/or further disciplinary actions.  I have read the University plagiarism policy (printed above in the syllabus) and will abide by it.

3.      I understand that attendance is important and that I am responsible for everything I miss when I skip class.  I know that tests cannot be made up except in cases of documented emergencies.  I understand that there is no guarantee that I can take a make-up exam.  If I have not contacted the professor before he returns the graded exams, I have relinquished the possibility of a make-up. I understand that QUIZZES CANNOT BE MADE UP UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

4.      I understand that coming to class late and/or leaving class unnecessarily at any time other than the scheduled break is rude and disruptive for my colleagues and professor and I will do so only in extreme circumstances. I understand that two lates is equivalent to an absence and will be counted as such.  I also understand that I may not have cell phones or beepers turned on, on vibrate, or on my desk during class.  I understand that if my cell phone goes off during an exam or quiz, I will receive a zero.  

5.      I understand that absences are my own business and need not be discussed with the professor because there are no excused absences in this class. All absences affect my performance and my grade both directly and indirectly. I know that it is my responsibility to learn the material covered in class on that day on my own and realize that it is not possible for the professor to reteach the class for me because I was absent. I know that I will automatically fail the class should I amass 6 absences before the end of the course.

6.   I understand that if I am having difficulty with the class material that it is my responsibility to seek out my professor during his office hours to ask questions about the topics I am having difficulty with.

7. I understand that my finances, my job, my personal relationships, and my Hope Scholarship cannot play a role in the assigning of my grade and that my grade must be based on what I do and how well I do it in this course.  I understand that if I have dire personal circumstances, I may talk to the professor and the Dean about a hardship withdrawal from all of my classes.

8.   I understand that I am required by university policy to check my university e-mail account and that all e-mail correspondences between me and my professor should be made using university e-mail. I understand that if I write to my professor using any other e-mail address that he will not respond to the e-mail.

9.      I have read and understood the syllabus and how I will be evaluated in this course.  

10.      I have read and understood this contract or have asked questions about those aspects that I did not understand.  I hereby declare my commitment to following these guidelines and agree to contact my professor if I believe I can no longer fulfill this commitment. 

SIGNATURE                                                                                         DATE