BA History

Year of entry: 2026

Course unit details:
Weimar Culture? Art, Film and Politics in Germany, 1918-33

Course unit fact file
Unit code GERM20262
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Offered by German Studies
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

In his classic study of Weimar Culture (1969), Peter Gay makes a startling assertion: ‘The Republic created little; it liberated what was already there’. This course unit assesses if this was the case by examining the major currents in German art, film, music, architecture and photography between the November Revolutions and the Nazi ‘seizure of power’, when political and social instability was accompanied by great artistic and intellectual creativity. It reveals a complex and fascinating picture of an era in which Germany was briefly the laboratory of the modern world. 

Aims

  • To develop knowledge and understanding of German history, particularly of the Weimar Republic  

  • To develop critical thinking and higher order conceptual reasoning and analytical skills 

  • To develop advanced skills of written and verbal communication 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course unit, students will have developed: 

knowledge and understanding of German history (see below)

  1.   Expressionism and the Great War 

2.   Dada

This course unit consists of 22 interactive seminars. Some of these will be student-led. 

Knowledge and understanding

On successful completion of this course unit, students will have a knowledge and understanding of:  

  • the principal movements and figures in German art, film, music, architecture and photography between 1918 and 1933
    • Critical thinking – capacity to abstract, analyse and make critical judgements 
    • Synthesis and analysis of data and information 
    • Critical reflection and evaluation 

    • Using library, electronic and online resources  

    • Essay writing and exam technique 

    Transferable skills and personal qualities

    • Information Retrieval – ability independently to gather, sift, synthesise and organise material from various sources (including library, electronic and online resources), and to critically evaluate its significance 

    • Presentation – present information, ideas and arguments, orally and in writing, with due regard to the target audience 

    • Literacy – the capacity both to make written presentations using appropriate language for a target population and to collect and integrate evidence to formulate and test a hypothesis  

    • Time Management – ability to schedule tasks in order of importance and work to deadlines 

    • Improving own Learning – ability to improve one's own learning through planning, monitoring, critical reflection, evaluate and adapt strategies for one's learning 

    Employability skills

    Other
    On successful completion of this course unit, students will be able to: manage time and work to deadlines participate constructively in group activities assess the relevance and importance of the ideas of others present information, ideas and arguments, orally and in writing, with due regard to the target audience demonstrate powers of analysis

    Assessment methods

    Assessment task

    Weighting within unit

    48 hour open-book examination

    75%

    Group presentation as part of a student-led seminar

    25%

     

    Resit Assessment

    48 hour open-book examination

    Feedback methods

    Comments made during class discussion regarding the relevance and coherence of student responses/participation in discussion 

    Comments on seminar presentation 

    Advice on revision and exam preparation given in Week 11

    Post-exam feedback if required 

     

    Recommended reading

    et text: Weitz, Eric, Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy (Princeton and Oxford: Princeton U.P., 2007) available as an eBook through the library 

    Scheduled activity hours Lectures 11 Seminars 22

    Independent study hours
    Independent study 167

    Teaching staff

    Staff member Role
    Matthew Jefferies Unit coordinator

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