English

This course provides an overview of the developments of art in China from the 19th century to the present, relating those developments to the broader changes in Chinese politics and society. It explores art within its political, social, and historical context, searching for the echoes, encounters, and exchanges between artistic trends and politics and society, and investigating the conflicts that underpinned Chinese artistic development and its negotiations with modernity. Topics explored range from artistic identities and the art market to intercultural relations and critical interpretations. The art forms studied range as well, including paintings of various forms and mediums, performance and installation art, graphics, photography, printed illustrations, woodcut prints, and advertisements.

The course focuses on mapping and listening to acoustic territories in Berlin. It allows academic research for exploring and understanding the city by sensing aural environments. Structured in theory and practice, the central questions of the course are: Which sonic elements can we encounter in navigating historical and contemporary maps? Which methods of research and practices exist in the act of mapping with sound? How can we generate sound maps? From a transdisciplinary approach, the course reflects the city‘s cultural, social, and political dimensions through analyzing and creating maps by listening. It aims to allow students to explore auditory territories, gain strength, and develop knowledge and individual perspective on cultural studies and urban studies. The mapping methods are practice-based on field recordings, soundwalk, and sound diagramming exercises. The academic readings and discussions introduce the student to the field of sound studies.

New perspectives in Ibsen Studies selectively focuses on the latest topics and methods in the field of Ibsen Studies. This course builds upon the foundational understanding of Ibsen’s works and the methodologies in studying his works both as text and in performances. The course consists of the contemporary trends in the field of Ibsen Studies and applying these new perspectives in one’s own research.

Computational social science is a new paradigm in social science that actively utilizes the methodologies of computer science and statistics for collecting, producing, and analyzing large-scale data sets. This class introduces a set of methodologies used in computational social science and how they change social science research designs and practices. It also discusses institutional and ethical issues that arise as a result of the widespread use of automated algorithms for managing massive data sets in the private and public sectors.

This course elaborates on the biological, psychological, and societal determinants of sexuality (in general) and sexual disorders (in specific). There are 4 lectures and 4 educational meetings in which a theme or group of complaints are discussed. These themes are (biological and psychological) theories on sexuality, sexual diversity, sexual dysfunctions in men and women, the impact of physical/psychological health and disease on sexual behavior and well-being, and the role of attachment and relationships (context and history) on sexuality. The theory is supplemented with practical clinical training in which students reflect on their own sexual development and learn to administer a sexual anamnesis.  The course also includes one theoretical practicum in which students discuss a specific research question and brainstorm possible research designs.

The course develops students’ understanding of fiction writing and its techniques. It is a practice-based course which involves close reading and academic investigation of the short story and novel forms. Through lectures and weekly workshops, the course exposes students to questions of inspiration and choice, method, application, revision, and editing.