language requirements English B2
Capital of Cool, City of Tolerance and (affordable) Hub of Creativity – Berlin’s image is an alluring one. The images of Berlin circulating in all kinds of media are just as interesting, but also surprisingly diversified. If this is true for contemporary Berlin it proves to be so even more in regard of its 20th century history: historic moments like the fall of the Berlin Wall are always also represented in images. The image(s) of Berlin is/are an interconnected mixture of past, present and hoped for future. This seminar focuses on the double meaning of image as pictures with a certain imaginative power (e.g. symbols, iconic images) and image as reputation. It is meant to be an expedition into Berlin’s and Germany‘s Visual Culture. We are going to have a closer look on some of these images – ranging from iconic photographs to music video clips to official marketing campaigns – and reflect their symbolic meaning and varying interpretations, their impact on Berlin's self-concept, identity, on its cultural scene and even on its economic value. Basic concepts developed in the context of the Visual Culture Studies are introduced, with aspects of Art History, Film Studies, Metropolitan Studies, Tourism Studies and Social Science. The seminar aims to be an exercise in Visual Literacy (VL), enabling students to better understand, interpret and use images in their everyday life.
Please note:
Berlin Perspectives is an international and interdisciplinary module for incoming international students to complement their regular studies at Humboldt-Universität. It is also open to regular HU students who may enroll as part of their elective course requirements (üWP). Courses are taught in English, German, or in bilingual formats.
This seminar carries 5 ECTS.
! Please register for the courses before the semester starts both here in Agnes
and the Berlin Perspectives online registration form:
https://hu.berlin/bp-registration
You will find the detailed syllabus for this course on the Berlin Perspectives Website:
hu.berlin/bp-courses |
