GERM389A

This course will explore the roots of Green Germany, examining texts from the late 18th century to the present in an attempt to trace the cultural history of German conceptions of nature. Germany has long been a leader in green thinking and green practices, yet Germany's green identity is rife with contradictions. German history is marked by the intertwined rise of industry and environmentalism, of racist nationalism and ecological preservation. We will explore this history through novels, poems, operas, movies, and games to deepen our understanding of German culture while also raising questions about contemporary American environmental discourse. Taught in English.