Germany and its European Context
An MIT OpenCourseWare course examining contemporary German literary and visual culture through its European connections. Starting from Nietzsche's philosophy as a departure point, the syllabus traces the tension between tradition and modernity across Germany, the UK, France, Denmark, and Poland. Primary materials include literature, film, art, and performance works by figures such as Peter Sloterdijk, Thomas Vinterberg, and Michel Houellebecq, read alongside critical and theoretical texts. The course includes MIT's published syllabus, reading lists, and assignment materials, free to access online. It suits students interested in how national culture and identity get reworked through cross-border artistic exchange, and how a philosophical inheritance from Nietzsche continues to shape debates about modern European identity in fiction, cinema, and criticism.