GERM 425 | Nature and Human Being in the Anthropocene

This seminar introduces key themes and concepts in contemporary German-speaking literature and cultural studies with a focus on the role of human-nature interactions. Students examine contemporary issues and questions such as: How can we better understand climate change and its effects and develop systemic / planetary thinking according to proper scales (space, size, time)? How can we talk about our way of life and reflect on globalization, consumption, capitalism, civilization, alienation, and exploitation? What does it mean to be 'human' and how are we responsible for affecting / degrading the earth? What is the 'non-human' and how do these concepts interact? What is the 'Anthropocene' and is such a title really appropriate for our human-driven geological age? Does this require a completely new conception of history, memory, or knowledge? How do we define concepts such as nature, conservation, entanglement, connectedness, sustainability, resilience, and habitability within our current moment? How are social justice and feminism related to climate change?