Course Catalogue

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To develop critical understanding of the key artistic groups, cultural movements, historical events and theoretical debates of the period.

- To encourage an inter-disciplinary approach to the period in which painting, graphic art, sculpture, architecture and design are considered in relation to selected aspects of Weimar theory and criticism, literature, film, photography, mass media, theatre and music.

- To examine visual culture in Weimar in the context of key political developments during the period: chiefly political and theoretical movements in radical (revolutionary) Communism, Social Democracy and the rise of Fascism.

- To relate these developments to wider thematic issues: the social-revolutionary aims of artistic groups, concepts of the 'avant garde', critical/theoretical frameworks of the period and the tension between modernity and anti-modernity, revolution and reaction.

- To introduce students to key texts, sources and methodological approaches for the study of the period.

This course will be taught in two one-hour sessions each week: a lecture and a seminar, with an oral presentation and follow-up discussion in the seminar. Some additional time may be designated as needed for, eg, film screenings.

Entry into Honours will be subject to normal departmental requirements. Single Junior Honours is a prerequisite for Single Senior Honours and Joint Junior Honours is a prerequisite for Joint Senior Honours.(103H /103F).

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

To develop critical understanding of the key artistic groups, cultural movements, historical events and theoretical debates of the period.

- To encourage an inter-disciplinary approach to the period in which painting, graphic art, sculpture, architecture and design are considered in relation to selected aspects of Weimar theory and criticism, literature, film, photography, mass media, theatre and music.

- To examine visual culture in Weimar in the context of key political developments during the period: chiefly political and theoretical movements in radical (revolutionary) Communism, Social Democracy and the rise of Fascism.

- To relate these developments to wider thematic issues: the social-revolutionary aims of artistic groups, concepts of the 'avant garde', critical/theoretical frameworks of the period and the tension between modernity and anti-modernity, revolution and reaction.

- To introduce students to key texts, sources and methodological approaches for the study of the period.

By the end of the course, students should be able, in oral presentations, essays and examination answers, to demonstrate their knowledge and skills by:

- Demonstrating familiarity with and critical understanding of the historical scope and development of the arts of the Weimar period.

- Showing detailed knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and thematic preoccupations of the major groups, movements and individuals studied and broader familiarity with a wide range of cultural production in Weimar Germany.

- Evaluating and accounting for how these concepts and preoccupations are interrelated with the wider historical events and social and political movements of the period.

- Engaging critically with and assessing aspects of Weimar theory / criticism and recent critical accounts of the period.

- Organising, evaluating, synthesising and effectively presenting knowledge and understanding within a coherent argument in both written and oral work.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.