82-320 Contemporary Society in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

9 units, Carnegie Mellon University

This course offers an introduction to contemporary German culture since 1989. We will include Switzerland and Austria in our discussions but our main focus will be on Germany. In the wake of reunification, constructions of German cultural identity have undergone radical changes. Through encounters with articles, literary texts, popular music, and film we will explore these transformations and examine German culture and (both individual and collective) 'identities' after reunification. The class sessions will be organized around thematic modules: national identities and stereotypes, German East/West relations during and after reunification, political systems, multiculturalism and minorities, diversity, youth cultures, and, finally, a segment on leisure time and travel culture in German-speaking countries. The course will be conducted entirely in German and is designed to deepen your understanding and awareness of issues in contemporary German culture. This course is taught in German.

Prerequisites: 82-222

Offered: Fall 2026, Fall 2025

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