This course will be a collaborative effort to answer the question: “What is creativity?”  Is it imitation, recombination, or inspiration? The product of individual genius or of context and collaboration? How is creativity influenced by forces such as history, technology, politics, race, and gender? This course will address these and related questions by surveying a variety of prose, drama, and poetry in German from the 18^th to the 21^st centuries.  Major readings will include works by E.T. A. Hoffmann, Thomas Mann, and Bertolt Brecht. 

This is a hybrid of two courses: a seminar intended for junior- and senior-level students (GER 4023) and a seminar for graduate students (GER 8803).  It will be conducted entirely in German (readings—with a few exceptions, assignments, and discussions) and counts towards the major and minor in German. The subject matter, most readings, and in-class discussions for both seminars will be the same.  The courses will differ, however, in the assignments and methods of evaluations for each.  Students in the undergraduate seminar will write two short papers with minimal research required, give one brief oral report, and produce a final project (an additional oral report and written project). Students in the graduate section will have supplemental readings, will meet with the instructor weekly once outside of class, and will also write a longer, research-intensive project of their own design and give a formal presentation on it. Descriptions of the specific assignments for each group are available in the respective “How To” documents associated with this syllabus (found under “Course Documents” in Canvas). For both groups, there will also be regular low-stakes assignments to encourage participation and reflection.