EXCESS, EXPERIMENT, EXPOSURE: THEATER IN BERLIN

Exploring three theatrical phenomena of the twentieth century, which are unique to Berlin but have also had a worldwide impact, this bilingual seminar traces connections between sociopolitical developments and art in a historical and contemporary context and discusses aspects like artistic purpose, responsibility, and censorship. The Berlin operetta, a hybrid genre integrating modern dance, jazz and chanson, can be considered a seismograph of the Roaring Twenties, addressing globalization, urbanity, gender roles, and sexuality. Its existence and reputation were shattered by the National Socialists, who also forced German-born dramatist Bertolt Brecht into exile. He later returned to East Berlin and founded the Berliner Ensemble in 1949, which students tour during the seminar. In West Berlin the Schaubühne became the most famous stage, where Peter Stein introduced a system of codetermination and staged several experimental productions in the 1970s. Students visit two theater performances as part of the course.