A compact seminar designed to feature distinguished short-term visitors from German-speaking countries who have expertise in German literature and culture to teach topics that complement regular departmental offerings. One short paper is required. Taught in German.

Taught in German. The concept of the Anthropocene marks a novel understanding of the Earth as unified, self-regulating system that has increasingly been changed by human interventions. This calls into question the role and position of humans within this system, as humanity finds itself in the triple roles of bringing potentially catastrophic change to the planet, being a victim to this change, but also conscious observers of this process. This seminar will discuss how, in the light of the Anthropocene diagnosis, we must rethink the relation between nature and culture, and what this means for art, literature and aesthetic theory. We will examine several aeshetic forms (e.g. the epic, the sublime, the tragic, the comic, the elegiac) that are currently being used and discussed in the context of an aesthetics of the Anthropocene. NOTE: This class meets only for 5 Fridays from 09/13-10/11/2024.

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