Department Events: Spring 2024
In the spring semester of 2024, the German Department hosted two lectures as part of the “Sound Tracks: New Global Perspectives on Sound Studies” series organized by Professor Mary Helen Dupree. The first of these lectures was held on Friday, January 26, when Professor Brian Hochman (Georgetown University) gave a talk entitled “On the Wire: Electronic Surveillance and the War on Drugs.” The talk explored how the wiretap emerged as a privileged law enforcement tool in the U.S. war on drugs. Ranging from the earliest narcotics wiretaps in the 1970s to the passage of the 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act–a law that required the U.S. telecom industry to build surveillance-friendly networks–Dr. Hochman’s talk traced the influence of the drug war’s racial politics on the normalization of electronic surveillance in complex criminal investigations.
On Friday, February 2, Professor Joe Cunningham offered a workshop on “Language Teaching in the Era of A.I., which was attended by students and faculty from across the FLCLS. Participants explored the fundamentals of Generative A.I. and its application in language instruction, and gained insights into the dynamic landscape of A.I.-assisted teaching methodologies. Professor Cunningham offered hands-on demonstrations showcasing practical applications of Generative A.I. tools, and participants learned how to implement these tools effectively in their language teaching approaches. The workshop emphasized the need to stay ahead in the ever-evolving realm of language education, and offered strategies for adapting and thriving in an era where A.I. plays a pivotal role in shaping the learning experience.
Dr. Gerlof (left) with members of the German Department
On February 23, students and faculty from the German Department and the FLL participated in a workshop on “Academic Publishing in the Digital Era” with Dr. Manuela Gerlof, Vice-President of Publishing in the Humanities and Social Sciences at De Gruyter Publishers. In her presentation and in the discussion that followed, Dr. Gerlof outlined the major current trends in humanities publishing, including open access, data-driven publishing, digital humanities, and most recently A.I. She shared her industry expertise and provided guidance and tips for making the most of what digital publishing today has to offer. Dr. Gerlof met with the graduate students afterwards for lunch and a more in-depth chat about academic publishing.
Dr. Amy Kenny (center) with German Dept. Graduate Students
On March 15, following the very successful workshop in the fall, graduate students in the German Department held a follow up workshop on creating a culture of access, led by Dr. Amy Kenny, Director of the Disability Cultural Center. This workshop moved beyond individual compliance and into strategies for curating a community where disabled students, peers, and colleagues can thrive.
On Friday, March 22, 2024, Professor Mary Helen Dupree presented the final lecture in the “Sound Tracks” series, on “Laugh Tracks: Comic Declamation in Germany, 1800-1920.” In the nineteenth century, public and private readings of literary works were an essential part of how middle-class Germans experienced the German literary canon and their own sense of belonging to the German ‘nation.’ In her talk, Dr. Dupree explored the increasing popularity and commercialization of comic literary declamation in the nineteenth century and the possibilities it opened up for increased participation by previously excluded groups, such as women and Jewish Germans.
The Department welcomed Dr. Lisa Wille (Technische Universität Darmstadt) on Tuesday, March 26. She presented a lecture on her current book project, which explores themes of Americanization and consumerism in German literature and culture of the Weimar Republic and the postwar period.
Dr. Lisa Wille (second from left) with Professors Banchoff, Kick, and Dabic
On Friday, April 5, Professor Joe Cunningham offered a workshop on the academic job search. Attended by graduate students from across the FLCLS, the workshop covered such topics as crafting an impactful CV and tailoring hiring documents for specific positions.
This semester, our department also hosted a monthly German Movie Night, inviting students to explore German culture through film. We covered a range of themes including migration, the foster system, and the Cold War, featuring popular movies from the past two decades. Each screening was accompanied by pizza and snacks, followed by lively, low-stakes discussions about the film’s key themes. We are excited to continue these movie nights next semester and hope to see even more participants. Please keep an eye out for more information at the start of the fall semester.