Each course is worth one full-year credit and is contingent on adequate enrolment. Students are not permitted to register for more than one course.
Classes take place in Humboldt University, Monday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon (TBD). Mandatory field trips are an integral part of each course and may occur outside of class time on afternoons or Fridays.
Courses
CRI389Y0 Regulating Citizenship
More details coming soon
GER354Y0 Berlin Roots: Creativity, Culture, and the Making of a Global Creative City
GER354Y0 Berlin Roots: Creativity, Culture, and the Making of a Global Creative City
Course participants will engage in an interdisciplinary study of Berlin’s vibrant creative industries, with a focus on print media and publishing, film and television, and digital gaming. We will begin by examining key theories about the relationship between creativity, cities, and economic development, alongside working definitions of culture and an introduction to Berlin’s complex historical landscape. Building on this foundation, our exploratory journey will trace the evolution of the creative industries from Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press and the emergence of mass publishing and newsrooms to the rise of cinematography and television, and finally to the modern digital era. Throughout, we will analyze how cultural, societal, and historical forces have shaped and sustained creativity as a central driver of innovation and urban identity.
Through engaging lectures, group work & discussions, various site visits and guided tours, as well as workshops and critical analysis, students will gain valuable insights into the complexities of contemporary creative enterprises while developing a deeper understanding for the cultural dynamics that shape them.
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended Preparation: 100-level HIS/POL/GER course/International or European Studies
Breadth Requirement = Creative and Cultural Representations (1)
Field Trips
The value of this course is significantly enhanced by the opportunity to merge theoretical knowledge from readings with hands-on experiences and direct interactions with key figures in Germany’s creative industries.
Visits to the Axel Springer AG, Suhrkamp and Die Zeit Online headquarters will immerse participants in the operations of some of Europe’s largest digital publishing houses, illustrating how traditional and digital media converge. Guided tours at the Deutsches Technikmuseum and Museum für Kommunikation will provide deeper insights into the evolution of communication, offering a historical perspective that complements the contemporary media landscape. A tour of ARD and Deutsche Welle-TV will offer a glimpse into the world of global broadcasting and its role in shaping cultural narratives. At the Staatsbibliothek and Literaturhaus Berlin, students can investigate the literary scene, gaining perspectives on the evolution of print media and its cultural impact. “Behind the scenes” tours at the Atelier Gardens Berlin and Studio Babelsberg will expand participants’ understanding of the creative and technical process involved in video and movie making. Finally, a visit to Stiftung Digitale Spielkultur and Computerspielmuseum followed by a meet-and-greet at Ubisoft Berlin, one of Germany’s top gaming enterprises, will immerse students in the burgeoning field of digital entertainment.
Instructor
Prof. Stefana Gargova moved from Cologne to Toronto in 2007, after graduating with a B.A. and M.A. in Nordic and German Studies from Universität zu Köln, Germany. After receiving her PhD in Germanic Languages & Literatures from the University of Toronto, she went on to obtain her Master of Teaching from OISE. Prof. Gargova’s research centers on the intersections of culture, identity, and language learning, particularly within the field of Second Language Acquisition and German as a Foreign Language. Her work explores how cultural identity shapes the learning process, with a special focus on multiculturalism, the concept of the third space, and the experiences of adult learners. She also examines the role of digital pedagogies in fostering cultural exchange in online learning environments. She further oversees and teaches the German Business Culture program.