Contemporary Popular Culture in Germany

This subject is not offered in 2008.

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What is popular culture, and what is its purpose? In postwar debates in Germany about popular culture, two main positions can be distinguished. There is the "apocalyptic" view of the Frankfurt School, claiming that popular culture is part of the superstructure of society and imposed by cultural industries to serve as an anaesthetic drug for the masses. An opposing view is offered by exponents of Cultural Studies like the Birmingham School: an "integrated" view, seeing the origins of popular culture in the base of society, where it functions as the "voice of the people" and a form of free expression. Students are introduced to the history and main topics of this debate in Germany. The legacy of the Frankfurt School will be discussed, as well as the German contribution to Cultural Studies. Key concepts of a theory of popular culture will be introduced and discussed (manipulation, ease of consumption, escapism, complicity with the audience, the role of popular culture in the culture industry, popular culture and "Schund und Schmutz"). A close look will also be taken at the multiple relationships between popular culture, society and the media. Examples will be critically discussed. These include songs and videoclips by German pop/rock bands and literary works and pamphlets from Popliteratur. It will be shown how musicians and writers (de-)construct concepts like (Anti-)Americanism, Germanness, national pride/ nationalism and social health in their works.

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• have acquired skills in research, critical thinking and contextualising information;

• have developed skills in communicating knowledge intelligibly through oral presentations and essays in German.