Happily Ever After? German Fairy Tales and Their Afterlives
Course Description
The fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are virtually universally known and loved. Translated into over 160 languages and included on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Registry, there are few corners of the earth the 1812 publication and its many subsequent editions have not reached. But what do we really know about the tales? What are their sources, versions, and contexts?
In this course we will explore the meaning and enduring appeal of one of Germany’s greatest cultural exports. We will consider the historical, cultural, and sociopolitical contexts of the Grimms and “their” tales, as well as subsequent theoretical approaches to them. A variety of literary and cinematic adaptations, from Disney to dark political satire, and from feminist reinterpretation to contemporary anti-fairy tales and poetry, will also serve us as points of comparison. Finally, we will try our hand at writing tales and creating adaptations of our own.
Meet the Instructor: Alys George
“I am an assistant professor in the Department of German Studies, a part of the Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages (DLCL). What fascinates me regardless of whether I’m thinking about Germany, Austria, or beyond, about the 19th or the 21st century, are the stories we tell ourselves about our own histories. That concern—one fundamental to the tale tradition—cuts across individual, cultural, social, and political lines. I relish the chance to branch out in my teaching and research and to explore storytelling as an empowering, multidisciplinary practice. That is one reason I’m excited to teach this IntroSem with a focus on creative writing. I hope we will become not just more skilled readers and students of history and literature, but also more creative thinkers.”
Of related interest
FEMGEN 146N