Humboldt University Berlin

This seminar explores the interface between queer identity, music, and history and investigates how musical spaces may serve as mirrors and critiques of societal norms. Students investigate the experiences of queer artists through a historical perspective and see how they use music as a form of social critique and expression. Beginning with operatic roles in the 17th century, through contexts like the 19th century cakewalk, the cabaret of the Weimar republic in the 1920s-1930s, as well as hip-hop culture, the seminar uncovers how gender transgressivity and performance art are reflected in music. Students analyze queer and transgressive music scenes as “heterotopias” (Foucault) – places of resistance against societal norms – and discuss the role of music in the construction of community and identity. Important texts by Audre Lorde, Michael Foucault, and Theodor W Adorno offer theoretical foundations through which the interventional power of music in the negotiation of identity and difference can be understood. Students develop their own case studies of queer artists and their visual, cultural, musical, and/or social moments of intervention.

This course explores the dynamic interplay between gender, space, and state policies in Iran, focusing on how women navigate and resist the gendered narratives imposed by the state. By examining both historical and contemporary contexts, the course delves into the ways Iranian women, from various backgrounds and walks of life, have engaged with modernity, anti-modernity, and state-driven agendas. Through a mix of theoretical frameworks and case studies, students gain insights into the strategies used by women to resist and negotiate oppressive structures, with an emphasis on the spatial aspects of their resistance.

The aim of this seminar is to enact the reality of creating an artwork when elements of the agency are taken out of one's hands and are mediated by an institution, budget and timescale. Students are asked to make an artwork in response to a fictitious curator‘s proposal for an exhibition. They are given details of why the curator has picked them and the themes the curator is working with, along with a time scale and budget. The instructor guides them through the process of responding to the curator’s emails along with making their work at the same time as keeping the curators concept and intentions in their head. The course is conceived in line with the art history department's mission of advancing the study of art history and one's understanding of art by way of an active engagement with artistic practice. The course therefore offers students of art history and related disciplines the rare opportunity of assuming the perspective of the artist. Complementing this approach, students are also offered the alternative option of taking on the role of curator.

This course uses Berlin as a case study to analyze the origins of hate discourses and the so-called "gender ideology" by integrating key concepts of queer theory and gender studies into the discussions to explore the cultural politics of emotions and affect. Questions posed include why has Berlin become one of the foremost LGBTQIA+ capitals in the world? What social and political challenges does the Berlin queer community face, such as the emergence of a new wave of far-right movements? Students examine the evolution of a contemporary, multicultural, and artistic queer Berlin. Topics include the 1920s, the rise of fascism and Nazi atrocities, the division of Germany, and its different approaches to sexual liberation movements. The course considers the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the Reunification of Germany and the 1990s to understand today's vast and diverse queer scene. It explores recent theoretical advancements in critical queer and gender studies, complemented by workshops and cultural excursions, covering topics such as body politics, queer diaspora and migration, and critical solidarity.

This course explores the complex historical and contemporary dynamics of German colonialism, anti-colonial resistance movements, and the impact of colonialism on present-day German society. Divided into four themes that intersect throughout the classes, the course provides a comprehensive understanding of the German colonial past, anti-colonial struggles in Berlin, contemporary Berlin as a site of colonial heritage, and the emergence of post-colonial and decolonial movements in the city. The first main theme is the German colonial era, which examines key historical events, colonial practices, and the territories under German control. The course explores Berlin as a physical and symbolic space that reflects the remnants of German colonialism and consider how these remnants shape the city's identity. The second focuses on resistance movements against colonization. It studies the diverse strategies and initiatives employed by individuals and communities who fought against German colonialism both in the colonies and in Berlin and the capital of the German empire. The third theme investigates the effects of colonialism on contemporary German society. It examines how colonial legacies continue to shape social, political, and cultural structures in Germany today. Topics include the influence of colonialism on immigration policies, racial dynamics, cultural heritage, and the representation of marginalized communities. The fourth theme engages with postcolonial and decolonial contemporary movements. It critically examines different theoretical frameworks and approaches used to deconstruct colonial power structures, challenge Eurocentric narratives, and envision alternative futures. It also explores the global context of decolonial movements and their relevance to Germany and Berlin specifically.

The history of the Jewish people in East Germany has become a focus of interest in the last few years. This seminar focuses on the perspective of Jewish returners, both prominent and not and focuses on a series of questions and topics: The catastrophe of the Holocaust causes a great many questions about the various lifestyles of East German Jews: What persuaded them after the Holocaust to return to Germany? Which hopes and expectations did this new community have? And to what extent did return to Germany mean the immigration into a socialist utopia, which was a reaction to the atrocities of the past and promised a future and foothold for returnees? But with hope and expectations often comes disappointment: How was the East German antisemitism, both private and occasionally also public, experienced, and what did it mean for returnees; how did they perceive East German evasion surrounding discussion of and responsibility for the Holocaust? The course explores these themes through autobiographical texts and scientific secondary literature.