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 126-464 Ich lach' mich tot! German Humour - contradictio in adiecto?

Note

Available as 126-364 at 3rd-year level.

This subject will only be run if there is a minimum of six participants.

Availability

Not offered in 1998.

Credit Points

16.7 3rd and 4th year

Coordinator

Dr L. Kretzenbacher

Contact

One three-hour seminar per week

Subject Description

What do Germans consider funny? How does the concept of humour change over time on a European and on a German scale? Are there things like humorous universals that are being laughed at in all cultures? And what is so funny about them anyhow? Students who complete this subject should: have an acquaintance with the most important European traditions of humour as far as they are echoed in the German traditions; have a familiarity with linguistic and literary techniques of humorous communication; have the capacity to analyse forms of humour that are specific to a certain culture a certain epoch according to their respective cultural backgrounds; have an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of cultural studies; have laughed several times (hopefully).

Assessment

Written work up to a maximum of 5000 words for MA, 4000 for 4th year and 3000 for 3rd year.

Prescribed Texts

A reader to be provided at the beginning of the course.



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Status:                   Official 1998
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au