In this seminar, we will work on different narratives about and representations of what is imagined – in different times and under different (political, social, economic) circumstances – as ‘Germany’. We will explore what ‘Germany’ supposedly is and gain a deeper understanding of it. Inspired by a cultural studies perspective we will look at what and who is represented by whom as ‘German(y)’, who and what is excluded by the narratives, what the specific circumstances for specific narratives are and which counter-narratives can be found.

The aim of the seminar is not to study what is called ‘Germany’ or ‘Europe’ but to learn about representation and perspectives of (multiple) self-imaginations, how they are constructed in different narratives and which functions these imaginations serve.

The focus of this seminar will be on imaginations that are connected to German and European colonialism and migration in different German eras.
In the context of this seminar, we do a joint study trip to the museum Auswandererhaus (German Emigration Center) in Bremerhaven to explore different narratives and representations about Germany’s past and present connected to migration. With a selection of texts and short films we will examine issues of power relations, exclusion and inclusion, and their implications.