Tom Bibliographic, Class, Gender, Post-1945, Primary, Queer, Race/Ethnicity, Religion

Zaimoglu, Feridun. German Amok (Frankfurt: Fischer, 2002)

Zaimoglu is perhaps better known for his debut work Kanak Sprak (1995) and the Kanak Attack movement that it inspired. German Amok continues Zaimoglu's interest in masculinity and in the relationship between subcultures and the mainstream in contemporary German society. It follows an artist narrator through his sardonic and scathing critique of the German arts scene, even as … Continue reading Zaimoglu, Feridun. German Amok (Frankfurt: Fischer, 2002)

Rey Conquer 18th Century, Bibliographic, Jewishness, Primary, Religion

Maimon, Salomon. Salomon Maimons Lebensgeschichte (1792/93)

Important in considering autobiographical writing as a genre (and 'Bildung'), the literary writings of philosophers/philosophy 'and' or 'as' literature, as well as conceptions of Jewishness. Digital copies available online: Part 1; Part 2 Also available in translation: Maimon, Salomon. The Autobiography of Salomon Maimon with an Essay on Maimon's Philosophy, transl J. Clark Murray, Urbana: University … Continue reading Maimon, Salomon. Salomon Maimons Lebensgeschichte (1792/93)

Tom Bibliographic, Gender, Post-1945, Primary, Queer, Race/Ethnicity, Religion

Khider, Abbas. Ohrfeige (Munich: Hanser, 2016)

Khider's fourth novel received a lot of attention in the press - it opens with an immigration worker being tied up and slapped (the 'Ohrfeige' of the title) by Karim, an Iraqi asylum seeker negotiating the German asylum system. Without giving away the novel's twists and turns, it looks closely at ideal or 'hegemonic' forms of … Continue reading Khider, Abbas. Ohrfeige (Munich: Hanser, 2016)

Tom Bibliographic, Gender, Jewishness, Post-1945, Primary, Religion

Levy, Dani (dir.). Alles auf Zucker! (X Verleih, 2004)

Terrific film comedy for introducing students to Jewishness in contemporary Germany. Levy plays with stereotypes and assumptions, as well as with the awkwardness experienced by Jews and non-Jews when dealing with questions of faith and observance in contemporary culture. Levy combines this portrayal with a satire on Ostalgie, on fragile masculinity and on East/West identity stereotypes. A … Continue reading Levy, Dani (dir.). Alles auf Zucker! (X Verleih, 2004)

Rey Conquer 18th Century, 1900-1945, 19th Century, Bibliographic, Religion, Secondary

Hodkinson, James. “Transnationalizing Faith” (ongoing project)

"The Transnationalizing Faith project is a multi-dimensional outreach project, which takes key aspects of James Hodkinson's research into Islam in German history and culture (1770-1918) and finds multiple pathways along which to communicate this material meaningfully to varying non-academic publics. The programme of events and activities includes public lectures, accompanied by a mobile exhibition, which … Continue reading Hodkinson, James. “Transnationalizing Faith” (ongoing project)

Nicola Bibliographic, Gender, Jewishness, Post-1945, Primary, Race/Ethnicity, Religion

Beckermann, Ruth (dir.), Those Who Go Those Who Stay (2013)

From Beckermann's website: "Rain on a window pane, a fire truck, a tomcat with innumerable offspring: it is an intentionally unintentional gaze that allows for chance encounters, for stories and memories – leads that Ruth Beckermann follows across Europe and the Mediterranean. Nigerian asylum seekers in Sicily, an Arab musician in Galilee, nationalists drunk on … Continue reading Beckermann, Ruth (dir.), Those Who Go Those Who Stay (2013)

Tom Bibliographic, Gender, Post-1945, Primary, Queer, Race/Ethnicity, Religion

Ataman, Kutluğ (dir.). Lola und Bilidikid (Absolut Medien, 1999)

Now a cult film, this updating of the Lola story takes place in and around the Turkish drag bars of Berlin. It explores stereotypes of masculinity and femininity, norms in German culture and in Berlin's Turkish diaspora, and questions of Germanness in contemporary and historical contexts. Could be taught alongside Lola rennt, an intertext which Ataman … Continue reading Ataman, Kutluğ (dir.). Lola und Bilidikid (Absolut Medien, 1999)