Germany & Der Coffeehaus

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After our quiz on Murder on the Orient Express today, let's read a little German lit. After reading, please move to the lab to conduct some research. Our coffeehouse recital is coming up (May 29) and you should decide on a reading from your many, many options. The coffeehouse celebrates YOU and your fine writing/work. Pick something representative of YOU. Something you are proud of...that is, don't simply pick something because it's short. That's just lazy and will make you look bad.

The coffeehouse is a requirement. You MUST attend. It's that important. Clear your busy schedule to attend. If I can do it, so can you....

Anyway, in the lab (and as interested for homework), take a look at any of the following material:

Key moments in German History:
Pop Culture articles (an example made of Germany):

Article on German filmmaker & auteur: Werner Herzog
German Newspapers/News sites on line: (in English)
Info about Berlin
Symphony of a Metropolis (formalistic German film)
An interesting article: "Sexual Freedom vs. Fascism in Germany" by Leslie Feinberg
Persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany.
German Gay Rights Movement
Willkommen from Cabaret (Joel Gray) The play was based on the life of Christopher Isherwood (he defected to Berlin between 1930-1933, but settled eventually in California).
The first gay-themed film in the world was the German silent film Different From Others (1919) starring Conrad Veidt.

World War II propaganda films:

These next clips are shocking at times, but they give a good sense of World War II. As you watch, comment on the forum about all of them, or selected ones.

German National Anthem
Joseph Goebbels Speech
Herr Joseph Goebbels
Goebbel Talk about German Culture
1936 German Olympics
Leni Riefenstahl's "Olympia"
Leni Riefenstahl: The Last Days of Leni Riefenstahl
The Assassination of Ernst Rohm
Night of the Long Knives
Hitler Speech (one of many)
German Cartoon (1940)
Disney Donald Duck Cartoon: The Fuhrer's Face
Disney's Anti-Nazi Cartoon (American Propaganda)
Disney Short Animated Film (Banned)
Tex Avery wartime cartoon

Part of writing is discovering new things. Research often leads to new ideas and excitement. Use the website above and below as a background for your research during this unit. You may be surprised where it takes your writing and subject matter.

The following website is a wonderful stating point for the uninitiated. It's filled with pictures and information about German History stretching all the way back to the medieval period. Peruse it as you see fit. You will no doubt learn a lot if you do.

German History in Documents and Images.

How to use this as a writer?
1. Pick a picture. Write about it. or Choose someone in the picture and pretend to be that person. What might he/she say? Create a dramatic monologue or first person POV story using this person's fictional voice.
2. Choose a period of time. Research it. Gather facts in your notebook. Use some of these facts in a story, play, setting, etc.
3. Choose a picture. Describe it in a poem.
4. Create a character. Put your character in one setting (including time period); then move the action forward to another parallel time period. Do this again (at least 3 times). Try to find similarities between time periods and conflicts, plot elements, etc.
5. Learn a period of German history. Comment on it in a personal essay or memoir.
6. Choose an important event or person from German history. Write about it in a poem, play, or short story.
Just a few ideas.

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