DEPARTMENT OF GERMANIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES

NEWSLETTER SPRING 2017

lsa.umich.edu/german TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chair 3 Faculty Focus 4 - 7 Graduate Student Focus 8 - 9 Undergraduate Student Focus 10 - 11 Dutch Studies 12 Scandinavian Studies 13 In the Classroom 14 - 15 Events 16 - 17 Staying Connected 18 - 19

2 Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

Dear friends of the German Department,

Just a few weeks ago, the students, meanwhile, have As we head into summer Ingalls Mall outside of the now turned their attention we’re already making plans MLB was still teeming with back full-time to research and for the coming year, and we black-robed, mortarboard- writing on topics ranging from look forward to updating bedecked graduates sporting translation to collecting, from you on our line-up of events, colorful tassels—and now media to museums, from visits, and speakers on those graduates have all “forms of life” to histories the web, Facebook, and left campus and the lighter of waiting, and from black Twitter (@umichGerman). rhythms of spring/summer musicians in Germany to have begun to settle in Jewish life in central Europe. As ever, please stay in touch. (even though the weather Much as we love sharing seems to be lagging). We It’s been quite a year, once what we do, we also enjoy have taken leave of another again: full of exciting classes, immensely when we hear impressive graduating class fascinating lectures, visits, from you, find out where your of majors and minors, who and events—many of which “Abenteuer mit Deutsch”, are off to great things in you can read about in the your explorations of Dutch the world beyond Michigan; pages that follow: workshops language and culture, or your perhaps some of you will on Neue Sachlichkeit and Scandinavian studies have discover yourselves in transnational German taken you. And most of all, the graduation photos we Studies, classes on a we enjoy the opportunity include in this issue. And plethora of eye- (and ear-) to reconnect and say hi continuing students have opening subjects; two when you pass through left, or are about to embark, colleagues even brightened Ann Arbor: come visit! for language study and the cinderblock hallways of internships abroad, which the MLB by curating a display Mit herzlichen Grüßen, we are once again able to that showcased intricate support financially from our glass models of marine endowments thanks to the invertebrates, manufactured continued generosity of our by a father and son in donors. Faculty and graduate Dresden in the 19th century! Johannes von Moltke [email protected]

lsa.umich.edu/german 3 FACULTY FOCUS

The Museum of Vitreous Ecology by Kerstin Barndt and Alice Goff

The histories of art, nature Together with his son Rudolf One of the first museum Alice Goff and Kerstin Barndt in front and science meet in the Blaschka (1857–1939), directors to discover the of The Museum of Vitreous Ecology. glass models of Rudolf Leopold brought a century- Blaschkas’ art of glass Between 1862 and 1890, and Leopold Blaschka long Bohemian family modeling for biological the father and son team (1822–1895). The intricate tradition in the artistry exhibitions was Ludwig designed 800 different creatures that first came to of glasswork to Dresden. Reichenbach, director marine invertebrate models. the University of Michigan Leopold and Rudolf studied of Dresden’s courtly After 1890, the Blaschkas 125 years ago have moved natural history through natural history collections concentrated solely on a freely between these realms. descriptions, illustrations and and botanical garden. commission of an extensive They inspired students in live specimens. With their Reichenbach exhibited array of glass plants, known the nineteenth century glass models, Rudolf and Blaschka sea anemones in as the “glass flowers,” for to further their studies in Leopold Blaschka captured dry aquaria that mimicked the Botanical Museum at biology and struck a chord the transparency, colors and the original marine habitat. Harvard University. The with visitors to the University details of ocean animal life From Dresden, the glass collection at the University of Michigan’s Museum forms, such as jellyfish, sea models began their path of Michigan encompasses of Natural History. In the anemones, sea slugs or sea to global fame. Museums approximately 78 marine late twentieth century new cucumbers. Emphasizing and universities in Europe, invertebrate models, many technologies of visualization the symmetry and intricacy Canada, the USA and of which have only survived and learning displaced most of organic forms the Australia ordered the fragile in fragments. The first group of the glass miniatures and naturalism of the Blaschka specimens from Leopold arrived in Ann Arbor in the they went into storage. This models also mirrored and Rudolf Blaschka who late nineteenth century exhibit of The Museum of contemporary conventions created each one individually to support the “scientific Vitreous Ecology brings of art and beauty. in their glasswork studio. apparatus” and teaching of them back into public view. 4 Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures Good-bye, Alice biology. In 1928, a second fragmented state, these by Andreas Gailus set of glass specimens was objects no longer capture brought to campus for the the physiological complexity inaugural exhibition in the of marine invertebrates Has it already been presented talks at the new University Museums toward which the Blaschkas’ two years? Alice Goff, GSA, Bowdoin College, building. All specimens seem exhaustively strove. Instead, Assistant Professor in the University of Chicago to have been bestowed to the transformed into witnesses History and GLL and and at the conference on University as gifts from Louis of the history of science and Postdoctoral Fellow at "Vagaries of Objectivity," Agassiz’s Blaschka collection collecting at the University the Michigan Society organized by two of our at the Harvard Museum of Michigan and beyond, of Fellows, will leave us graduate students. And of Comparative Zoology. these fragments open up this summer to accept the best she kept for new elusive worlds. Enter a position as Assistant the end. Together with To this day, some of these The Museum of Vitreous Professor of History Associate Professor Blaschka marine invertebrate Ecology: an aquarium of the at the University of Kerstin Barndt, Alice models remain on display novel life forms that emerge Chicago. Alice has been curated the spectacular to support the story of from the fragile enterprise extremely active since exhibition on the glass evolution as told in the of biological representation her arrival in Ann Arbor, models of Rudolf and Museum of Natural History and the inevitable decay of bringing her expertise Leopold Blaschka in the Ruthven Museums old technologies of research. on memory culture and featured on these pages, Building. Not marked as The Museum of Vitreous politics to bear on many where glasswork artistry historical artifacts, they Ecology opened on March projects inside and met with contemporary blend in with plastic models 24, 2017, and remained outside the department. nineteenth-century natural that have followed the on display through May 15, Besides teaching a history to represent, in Blaschkas’ lead in illustrating 2017, in the hallway outside highly innovative class delicate and extraordinary systematic biology. the Department of Germanic on "Looting" and co- detail, rare forms of Languages and Literatures. organizing a Teach-in on marine life. Thank you, The Museum of Vitreous "What is Fascism and Alice, we will miss you! Ecology exhibits all remaining how does it work," Alice glass models not on permanent display. In their

Collegiate Professorship for Helmut Puff by Johannes von Moltke

We were thrilled to receive distinctive recognition that traditionally bear the name news this Spring from the a named Professorship of former University faculty College that Helmut Puff, carries. Professor Puff members who have made jointly appointed in the is recognized for his substantial scholarly and Departments of German and outstanding scholarship, other contributions while at History, has been awarded his teaching at both the the University of Michigan. a Collegiate Professorship. undergraduate and graduate We look forward to welcoming This is one of the highest levels, and for his significant back Helmut Puff this Fall honors the College has leadership in the unit, the as the Elizabeth Eisenstein available for active faculty College, and the University. Collegiate Professor of members who deserve the Collegiate Professorships German and History! lsa.umich.edu/german 5 FACULTY FOCUS (CONT.)

Toward a Critical Appreciation of Waiting by Helmut Puff

Waiting is a universal Put differently, however, This is why the question experience. We hope for waithood amounts to whether there is a history of better weather. We are idling a temporally bounded waiting must be answered in at the departure gate. We are condition in which time the affirmative. The history anxious to receive a medical becomes actual, if not acute. I seek to uncover in this Warten auf die BOB Bahn an diagnosis. We prepare for the Removed from their regular research intersects with the der Donnersbergbruecke bei untergehender Sonne im spaeten birth of a child. Waiting, in activities, those who wait history of measuring time November (Waiting for the BOB Train other words, is an everyday often anticipate what will, as well as building spaces. at the Donnersbergbruecke [Munich] occurrence, though how may, or must come. In this After all, separate rooms while the sun set in late November). and what we wait for varies. sense, waiting is anything often harbor those who Photo by Stephan Gelbmann, Nov 29, 2009. Courtesy Still, we barely reflect on but wasted time. Waiting wait. Waiting, as I argue, is of Bahnbilder.de. what this state entails. It is orients us toward the full of possibilities. And so even difficult to state what world and the future. What is the history of waiting. it is we do when we wait. Is is more, waiting, though it an activity or the absence an individual experience, of one? For the most part, is collective. Utopia may what we remember about be the only place where spending time in limbo—if such intervals do not exist. we remember it at all—is a Almost everywhere else, barrage of emotions, with forms of waiting structure, frustration likely topping the organize, and coordinate list. While waiting, one might social interactions. say, we are confronted with the realization that we are not always in command.

6 Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures Discussions on Film Theory and Criticism: Johannes von Moltke and A.O. Scott at Labyrinth Books by Johannes von Moltke

In the Spring of 2016, arrived in Manhattan aboard how Kracauer pursued Johannes von Moltke joined a crowded refugee ship in questions in conversation distinguished New York Times 1941, Kracauer was virtually with contemporary critics film critic A.O. Scott at Labyrinth unknown in the United States from Theodor Adorno to Books in Princeton to talk with and had yet to write his best- Hannah Arendt, from Clement Scott about his new book on known books, From Caligari Greenberg to Robert Warshow: film criticism, Better Living to Hitler and Theory of Film. questions about the origins Through Criticism: How to Think In The Curious Humanist, von of totalitarianism and the About Art, Pleasure, Beauty Moltke details the intricate authoritarian personality; and Truth. In December, they ways in which the American about high and low culture; both traveled back to Princeton intellectual and political about liberalism, democracy, to reverse roles, discussing context shaped Kracauer’s and what it means to be von Moltke’s new book about seminal contributions to film human. From these wide- Siegfried Kracauer, The Curious studies and shows how, in ranging debates, Kracauer’s Humanist. Their conversation turn, Kracauer’s American own voice emerges as that touched on Kracauer’s writings helped shape the way of an incisive cultural critic intellectual biography as in which films are understood invested in a humanist well as on the larger claims and discussed in America. understanding of the cinema. of von Moltke’s book. Using archival sources and During the Weimar Republic, detailed readings of published Kracauer established himself works, von Moltke asks what as a trenchant theorist of it means to consider Kracauer film, culture, and modernity, as the New York intellectual and he is now considered he became in the last quarter one of the key thinkers of the century of his life. The Curious twentieth century. But when he Humanist demonstrates

" Kracauer established himself as a trenchant theorist of film, culture, and modernity."

lsa.umich.edu/german 7 GRADUATE STUDENT FOCUS

A new Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshop: Music and Sound Studies by Tyler Whitney

The Music & Sound Studies Reading Group is a new Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshop convened by graduate students in German, Music, Architecture, History, and the School of Information, and advised by German Department Professors Kira Thurman and Tyler Whitney. The group aims to open up much- needed space for graduate students on campus to exchange original research and discuss key theoretical texts related to music and sonic culture across a variety of disciplinary perspectives— from media theory, literary studies, and the history of science, to affect theory, ‘new materialism,’ and actor-network theory. The group’s stated goal is to develop conceptual flexibility in thinking through a common Next year, in conjunction set of questions located at with discussions of the intersection of aesthetics, participants’ own research, politics, and the histories of the group is planning a acoustic media and auditory one-day conference on perception. This year the related questions and group chose the topic “Sound concerns. Anyone interested and Power” to organize a in joining should contact series of discussions, which Emily Gauld (German) or culminated in a talk by the Kathyrn Wataha (History) at musicologist William Cheng musicandsoundstudies@ (Dartmouth College). umich.edu.

Right image: Louis d'Hurcourt, "Téléphones et phonographes à l'Exposition Universelle" in L'Illustration 47 (1889): 328-30. Page 9: Participants of January 2017 conference Vagaries of Objectivity/Launen der Sachlichkeit Conference.

8 Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures Objectivity/Launen der Sachlichkeit by Katy Holihan

Graduate Student Awards: Congratulations!

Biz Nijdam Swann Fellow at the Library of Congress: Biz Nijdam

Rackham Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award 2017: Under the guidance of artists, and inflation and Biz Nijdam Professor Kerstin Bandt, counterfeit questioned the Calder Fong graduate students Kristin driving forces behind the Sweetland Schroeder (Art History) and historical applications of Dissertation Writing Katy Holihan (German) “Sachlichkeit.” Exploring the Institute Fellows organized the January term in relation to the Arts Spring/Summer 2017: 2017 conference Vagaries & Crafts Movement, public Biz Nijdam and of Objectivity/Launen der health, photographic realism, Calder Fong Sachlichkeit. This conference exhibition practice, and Naomi brought together professors, factory design, participants Vaughan Rackham Predoctoral graduate students, and transcended disciplinary Fellow 2017–18: recent PhDs in the fields borders, exposing the many Naomi Vaughan of German Studies, Art guises of “Sachlichkeit” as History, and History from modern sensibility, regulatory Austria, California, New York, concept, political disposition, Tennessee, Colorado, and and critique of modernity. our home University. The Mary German-American two-day conference kicked off Katy and Kristin would like Hennessy Fulbright 2017–18: with a keynote presentation to thank the departments Mary Hennessy from "Mr. Sachlichkeit" of Germanic Languages and himself, Professor Helmut Literatures and History of Art Lethen, on the habitus of for co-sponsoring the event Prussian Finance Minister and they extend heartfelt Johannes Popitz. thanks to Professor Kerstin Barndt for her invaluable Katy Freie Universität Holihan Professor Lethen set guidance and support. They Berlin/Sturm the stage for two days would also like to thank Fellowship 2017–18: of intensive scrutiny of keynote speakers Professors Katy Holihan the polyvalent and often Helmut Lethen and Daniel contradictory meanings of Magilow, sponsors, speakers, the term “Sachlichkeit” in participants, and staff for the German context before making this conference and after World War I. as fruitful an intellectual Presentations on Bauhaus exchange as possible! ghosts, pedantic Biedermeier

lsa.umich.edu/german 9 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT FOCUS

Congratulations, Graduates!

Majors in German Studies

Matthew Victor Ackerman* Matthew Glen Egeler Edward Michael Kosta Alexandra Eileen Oklejas Josiah Randall Ault Kirsten Elaine Eriksson Sophia Kotov Michael T. Payne Jamie Bahoura Andrew Michael Ferguson Angelika Losey Kurthen Matthew Tait Pfennig* Megan Adele Bayagich Laurel Marie Fricker Susan Pamela LaMoreaux Helena Martine Ratté Milena Danielle Beltramo Remington Gregory Gerras** John Patrick Larsen IV** Meredith Ann Ray Sarah Virginia Blasius Daniel Nehring Gibbs Samuel Eli Lee* Sam Dewitt Rea* Brittany Ann Boyle Meredith Anne Gilbert Yuchen Liang Ethan Tyler Schulz Galen Edward Burrell** Fangmeng Gu Nichole Jean Lohrke Jacqueline Ann Smith Nathan Daniel Carrillo Raffaela Hainbuchner Hannah Rothley Lucas Alexandria Jane Stehney Max Vortex Carrillo-Ostrow Arlene Grace Haselhuhn* Sydney Amber McConnell Adam Jason Stone Rachel Cheng Ian Geoffrey Holtz* Amy Diane McGregor Kate Hannahfreitag- Katie Rose Choike Courtney Grace Keller* Gage Alexander Minkley Vandervoort Brandon Clark Cummings Jennifer Jihye Kim Eric James Montag Sabrina Nicole Walker

Minors in German Studies

Jessica Marie Bauer Edward Lee Godbold Ian Moon Chul Larson Joseph David Rubino* Alison Jai Beach Eric Terrence Green* Kevin William Lavelle Philip Michael Rynearson Marissa Maree Bivins Ben Patrick Greenberg* Erica Augustina Liao Clark Alexander Sanford Zachary Rodney Boulanger Abigail Elise Grobbel Larissa Marten Hyun Jun Jun Shin* Katherine Elizabeth Cox Megan Rae Gutman Barbara Ann McHugh Jordan Alan Shore Austin James Day Cameron Thomas Hodges* Grace Margaret McKenna Jasmine Breonna Smith Faris Dizdarevic Brooke Donna Huisman Charlotte Caroline Moore Carsten Robert Sprunger Krysten Marieshaw Dorfman Ryan Alan Uriu Jackson* Colleen Regina Natzke Cherice Alexandra Todd* Natalia Catherine Estes Derek David Jacob Addison Pia Notarantonio* Sarah Keating Vanderwalde Eva Elizabeth Fall Jose Antonio Jimenez Rocha Kendall Maye Oldford Joris Anthony von Moltke Jessica Lynn Feathers** Jin Hong Jessica Kim Litong Pei Rachel P. Wallace Hannah Nicole Fetner Amanda Rose Knop Samantha Robinson Raeder Mitchell Carlisle Walsh Kim Marie Frauhammer Nathan Gold Korth** Molly Marie Range Allison Renee Ward* Jesse Michael Friedman Shao-Kai Lai Jessica Ann Reid Nicholas John Wei** Joseph W. Zimmer

German Honors Minors in Students Scandinavian Studies Departmental Awards

Jamie Bahoura Max Aveis* Bronson-Thomas Essay Prize: Frank X. Braun Award: Matthew Glen Egeler Joshua Blazen* Winners of Advanced German Outstanding Graduate Student Laurel Marie Fricker Michelle Hoban Essay Prize Instructors Rebecca Smith Native-German: Domenic DeSocio Siri Andrews Angelika Kurthen Calder Bragdon Fong Hanna Ljungman Learned-German: Meredith Ostermann Lecturer of the Year Award: Student Nominated Award for Excellence in Teaching and Promoting German Language *Denotes December 2016 Graduate and Culture **Denotes August 2017 Graduate Catherine Alice Marquardt 10 Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures German minors.

German majors. Photos by Sarah Nesbitt. Link to full photo album: myumi.ch/6nGRn

lsa.umich.edu/german 11 DUTCH STUDIES

Diversity and Tolerance by Annemarie Toebosch

Dutch and Flemish studies This fall Dutch and continues to build its Flemish Studies will start curriculum around issues collaborating with one of the of diversity and tolerance university’s most diverse with a special focus on the residential communities, non-obvious relationship the Michigan Community between intolerance and Scholars Program (MCSP). progressivism in Dutch A set number of slots in the culture and politics. In March, Amsterdam course will be the program reached the reserved for MCSP students, national stage in an article and the course will be taught on the Dutch elections in MCSP classrooms. MCSP (Newsweek, 3/19/17, students will strengthen the “Shattering the Myth of Dutch Dutch program with their Top image: 2016–17 first-year Hup students of Dutch. Tolerance,” first published focus on community and Middle image: An evening of in The Conversation as social justice. The first set “sjoelen” and movies. “Populist Wilders may have of MCSP students will have Two established institutes come up short, but Dutch the opportunity to explore for Dutch language research intolerance is still real”). options at U-M for a student- Blauw and policy, the Meertens elderly cohousing program. Institute and the Dutch In a new political climate, This type of cohousing, first Language Union, recently many students expressed designed and implemented in concluded that Dutch is a interest in examining the Netherlands, is also the Hup! “vital language with excellent connections between topic of the 2017 annual De by Annemarie Toebosch chances of survival” [read: (neo-)fascism and white Vries-Van der Kooy memorial despite influences from nationalism this year. The lecture (speaker: Gea Sijpkes, English]. Dutch and Flemish "Anne Frank in Context" CEO Humanitas, Deventer). Studies at the University course, now the third The lecture is scheduled of Michigan continues largest course offered in to take place Thursday, to do its modest part to Judaic Studies, responded October 12, at 8pm in the expand the pool of Dutch by including new material Hussey Room of the Michigan speakers in the U.S. this year to connect the League. Thanks go to the course with current events. Netherlands Embassy in 2016–17 was another year Students examined almost Washington, D.C., and the of strong enrollment (140 weekly Anne Frank-related Consulate General in Chicago student registrations, 65 in news, spent additional for their consultations language and 75 in culture time considering forms of on speaker selection. courses) and students resistance to persecution, celebrated the program and studied the effects with a lunch through the of the Holocaust on next Germanic Faculty to Lunch generations in more detail. Program, a night of “sjoelen” (Dutch shuffleboarding), and new Hup Blauw Hup (Go Blue) t-shirts. Many thanks Bottom image: Student-faculty lunch with Annemarie Toebosch, Director of go to David Baker and Mel Dutch Studies. Rolando for organizing. 12 Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures SCANDINAVIAN STUDIES

Scandinavian Program 2017 by Johanna Eriksson

Congratulations to the six participated in a program students who graduated called “Top 30,” where they this year with a Minor in climbed 30 mountains on Scandinavian Studies: skis. Hikes started at 6am, Max Aveis, Joshua Blazen, giving students hours of self- Rebecca Smith, Michelle reflection and demanding Hoban, Hanna Ljungman, physical challenges. Erik Swedish students with a very and Siri Andrews. These was surprised to find he positive impression of Detroit. wonderful students took appreciated the climb up Thank you for your time and advantage of the study even more than skiing down. support, Tom and Missy! abroad program at Uppsala His Norwegian language University, summer skills improved a lot, but This summer, creative writing internships in Sweden, and most importantly, he found major Caroline Rothrock has wrote independent papers on himself. After surveying 150 secured an internship at the topics from Finnish Swedish folkhögskola students for magazine Gatans Röster culture to sustainability. They his independent studies in Malmö. She received led the U-M Scandinavian paper, Erik found that the a generous scholarship Club, organizing weekly majority of students felt from the Scandinavian fika-conversation hours, considerably happier and Program with support from board game and film nights, more self-confident and The Highfield Foundation and seasonal Scandinavian appreciative of life after their and SWEA Michigan. parties. We celebrated with studies at a folkhögskola. a Swedish themed reception, During the 2017–18 Swedish deserts, Swedish Twelve second-year Swedish academic year, Professor graduation songs, and students joined the Spring David Östlund from Top Image: Scandinavian conversation in Swedish Break Study Tour to Sweden Stockholm and Sodertorn minors with Johanna Eriksson, about future plans. during the 2017 Winter will join the Scandinavian Collegiate Lecturer, Scandinavian term, and ten Swedish Program for a third time. Program Director. Taking a gap year is very students from ProCivitas Middle and Bottom images: He will teach a course on Swedish Students touring popular in Scandinavia. Many in Helsingborg visited U-M the history of the Modern landmarks in Sweden on the high school graduates spend in March. Newly appointed Welfare state, give public Spring Break Study Tour. at least a year after high Swedish Honorary Consul talks, and join the program in school working, volunteering, Thomas Mark and wife activities throughout the year. traveling, and thinking about Melissa Mark joined us on future careers before entering our tour of Detroit. Mr. Mark university, while less than 1% is taking over the position of students in the U.S. do so. from Lennart Johansson, Many explore their personal who has been the honorary passion at a “folkhögskola,” consul since 1992. The a school for adults offering Marks presented on Swedish programs in arts, music and companies in the region, the outdoors, among many and generously sponsored other things. Our student our visits to the Motown Erik Lundberg (AB ‘17) Museum and DIA as well as spent a semester at Høgtun a great American lunch. The Folkehøgskole in Norway. He sunny day in Detroit left the

lsa.umich.edu/german 13 IN THE CLASSROOM

Different ways to study & learn German

We believe that language learning is and should be enjoyable and stimulating. At every level of our language program, we strive to appeal to the cognitive abilities and intellectual curiosity of our students. It is fundamental to our program that all language courses encourage students to explore other world- views and learn to think critically about culture.

14 Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures From Classroom Translation to Published Translation by Kristin Dickinson

Left image: Selim Özdoğan. Photo credit: Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Right image: Cover of Selim Özdoğan's book, Wieso Heimat? Ich wohne zur Miete (2016) (Who Said Heimat, I’m Only Renting). Published by Haymon Verlag. Page 14: Some courses offered this past year by the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.

Selim Özdoğan was the Max read, discussed, and edited are by Milena Beltrama, Kade Writer in Residence each other’s work together Brittany Boyle, Brandon during the Fall 2016 term. with the author. Overall, Cummings, Kristen Datta, During his residency, this project offered the Hannah Kelley-Watkins, Özdoğan visited Professor exciting opportunity for Nathan Korth, Edward Kristin Dickinson’s seminar students to engage in a Kosta, Ted Ma, James “Un/Translatability in Theory collaborative translation Margard, Sydney McConnell, and Practice” to workshop practice which underscored and Sabrina Walker. student translations from the value of translation as In addition to the students’ his most recent novel Wieso an ongoing process rather translations, Transit also Heimat? Ich wohne zur than simply an end product. published an introduction to Miete (2016) (Who Said The refereed online German the novel and an interview Heimat, I’m Only Renting). Studies Journal Transit with Selim Özdoğan by Kristin Students first read the novel recently published these Dickinson. The article can and then selected individual translations that Özdoğan be found by visiting: www. chapters to translate. Over and the students worked so lsa.umich.edu/german/ the course of several weeks, hard on during Dickinson’s news-events/all-news/search- students subsequently seminar. These translations news/german-472-students- translate-selim-oezdoan.html.

lsa.umich.edu/german 15 EVENTS

Exhibit to Commemorate 500th Anniversary of the Reformation curated by Professor Helmut Puff

Ulrich Pinder, Speculum passionis, The late medieval German became a battle-cry for Christianity. The Reformations 1519, 26v (detail) (Harlan lands teemed with religious, economic, that followed forever altered Hatcher Library, BT 430 .P65): (Photograph: Helmut Puff). innovation. Novel forms of and political change. the lives of those in early piety emerged, the demand modern Europe and beyond. for practical learning grew, In 1517, Martin Luther, a more universities competed professor of theology and a Highlighting the University for students, and wealth monk, published his scathing of Michigan’s Special from both trade and mining critique of indulgences, a Collections, Reforming the transformed social relations. church practice that allowed Word: Martin Luther in The dissemination of texts Christians to buy off time Context, commemorates this and ideas on an industrial from suffering for one’s sins pivotal transformation in scale via the printing press in the afterlife. Issued in the world history. The exhibit will reshaped communication, provincial town of Wittenberg, be open to visitors between knowledge, and belief. In this call for academic debate September 5 and November this context, reform—the and reform unleashed a 15 in the Audubon Room renewal of a lost standard series of events that led of the Graduate Library. of the past in the present— to the break-up of Latin

16 Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures Werner Grilk Lecture Transnational German Studies Network by Johannes von Moltke and Workshop by Kristin Dickinson

Professor Helmut Lethen. In order to critically engage concerned with analyzing Photo credit: Heribert Corn. with deeply important issues cross-cultural encounters related to transnationalism— between Germany and the down as Director of the including migration, race world in the nineteenth and International Research Center and ethnicity, globalization, twentieth centuries. The for Cultural Studies (IFK) in colonialism, multiculturalism, ultimate goal is to create Vienna (2007–2016). He translation, identity politics, an ongoing interdisciplinary previously held positions at cosmopolitanism, and workshop that is separate the Universities of Utrecht exile—Professor Kristin from Alamanya, but that (Netherlands) and Rostock, Dickinson has been working provides a forum for its and has held visiting to form an interdisciplinary members to network with professorships at Chicago, research network involving faculty and graduate students UCLA, Indiana, and Berkeley. graduate students and faculty working on similar issues at This past January, for its Lethen is the author of from four leading public other U.S. institutions. annual Werner Grilk Lecture numerous works on German universities: The University in German Studies, the literary and cultural history, of Michigan, Michigan State The research network’s Department welcomed including Neue Sachlichkeit University, The University of inaugural workshop Professor Helmut Lethen, (1970), Verhaltenslehren der Massachusetts Amherst, took place on May 6–7, who spoke on “Magical Kälte (1994; translated as and The University of North 2017 at the University of Thinking in Cultural Studies.” Cool Conduct: The Culture of Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Michigan, with the plan to By which he meant the Distance in Weimar Germany, impetus for this network finds reconvene once every two tendency to confuse rough California 2002), Der Sound its roots in the Rackham years. The workshop had simultaneity with causality– der Väter (2006) and Die Interdisciplinary Workshop approximately 25 participants as when someone (such as Suche nach dem Handorakel “Alamanya: Transnational and diverse presentation the German media theorist (2010). His most recent book, German Studies,” which formats, including panels, Friedrich Kittler) claims it Der Schatten des Fotografen brings together graduate a roundtable, and a to be “no coincidence” that (2014), assembles essays students and scholars discussion of current the first typewriters were on photography and won the scholarship in the field. produced in a weapons Prize of the Leipzig Book Fair factory, or that EMI, Pink in 2014. Floyd’s record label, employed technology used This year’s lecture was An Exhibit for the University's in warfare to locate U-boats. the first to be held since Bicentennial Highlighted in the In his talk, Lethen went on to Werner Grilk passed away. offer a spirited exploration of Thanks to the generosity LSA Magazine the coincidences that shaped of the donor —a student of Kerstin Barndt's work Barndt is currently in the his own intellectual biography Werner’s—who endowed it, with Carla Sinopoli on the process of organizing –including the Beatles we will continue to hold the history of the University's another exhibit from single “Twist and Shout,” a event as a memorial lecture museums, libraries, and various collections in Stravinsky recording, some in Werner Grilk’s honor. We collections is highlighted honor of the University's ​ American sociology, and a lot are delighted to announce in the current issue of Bicentennial. The fall of German critical theory. our next speaker: in late LSA magazine and on-line exhibit will be held in the September, Professor Celia here: www.lsa.umich.edu/ Ruthven Museum. Lethen is Visiting Professor Applegate (Vanderbilt) will be lsa/news-events/all-news/ for Cultural Studies at the delivering the 17th annual search-news/object- Kunstuniversität Linz, which Werner Grilk Memorial lessons.html he joined after stepping Lecture in German Studies. lsa.umich.edu/german 17 STAYING CONNECTED

From U-M German Student to U-M's German Librarian by Mara Blake (AB '05)

The small classes and engaged faculty made my experience as a German student wonderful. In addition to my coursework, I worked for Andy Markovits as a research assistant, learning a lot about the scholarly research process. Writing my honors thesis under the guidance of Kerstin Barndt and with Andy Markovits as my advisor in the department allowed me to develop my research skills further and also gain experience working Like so many German majors on my first long-term project. before and after me, I clearly Language learning in general remember leaving Kalli provides an opportunity to Federhofer’s office feeling develop lots of transferrable somewhat dazed and holding skills, including, but not a piece of paper indicating limited to: cultural sensitivity, I had just declared a major time management, and in German. Also, I had made self-confidence. The German tentative plans to study at department provides the "A German the Goethe Institut in Berlin perfect environment to over an upcoming summer. develop these skills which major helps I had originally scheduled will be an asset no matter the appointment to discuss where your future takes you. prepare you the possibility—possibility—of declaring a German minor. After completing my B.A. at for wherever Kalli made a major and a the University of Michigan, trip to Germany seem so I went on to obtain an M.S. your future logical and reasonable! in Information Science at Although I experienced the University of Illinois. takes you." some initial shock, I am so Since 2009, I have served glad and grateful that Kalli as a librarian at a couple of made me see how wonderful colleges and universities. I completing my B.A. in German currently serve the University (in addition to my second of Michigan as a Spatial and major, Residential College Numeric Data Librarian, as Social Science) would be. well as the Librarian for the Left above image: Mara printing an owl at the Gutenberg Museum My major in German served Department of Germanic booth at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Photo credit: Beau Case. me well as a student and Right above image: Mara Blake. Photo credit: Catherine Morse. Languages and Literatures. Page 19: Mara giving a workshop to Kira Thurman’s later throughout my career The research skills I gained GER 396 class on mapping with colleague Justin Joque. as an academic librarian. as a German student, Photo credit: Gregory Parker. particularly as an honors 18 Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures Reviving a U-M tradition, the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures will be hosting German Career Day this Fall Semester. Our focus for the event is making connections between our skilled and talented German Minors and Majors and companies that need employees and interns with German language skills. We are thesis writer, prepared me Mara is a recent inviting German companies well for my current role recipient of the to participate in the event, instructing others how to as well as companies that use tools available from the University Librarian have subsidiaries and library to conduct their own Recognition Award. operations in Germany. This research. I enjoy working with event will offer an opportunity researchers on their topics Congrats Mara! for our stellar students to in German because I always meet representatives from get to learn new things as I these companies, learn learn about their research what potential employers topics. I particularly have fun are actually looking for, and working with the cohorts of get a sense of the value German honors students as their language skills can they work on the research play in the hiring process for their thesis projects. and their professional lives. Please contact Maria The Department of Germanic Measel at: measelm@ Languages and Literatures, umich.edu for additional along with the Library and details and applications to History Department, also participate in the event. supported my attendance at the Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair) in 2015. The Frankfurter Buchmesse German American is the oldest book fair still running. Going allowed me to Career Day continue to build the excellent collection of materials in the University of Michigan Library available for German students and scholars. lsa.umich.edu/german 19 Cover Photos

Top photo: Detail from Rackham Graduate School, Sarah Nesbitt. Bottom Left photo: Blaschka figure, Alice Goff. Bottom Right photo: Fountain outside the MLB, Sarah Nesbitt.

Table of Contents Photo Detail from Rackham Graduate School, Sarah Nesbitt.

Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures 812 East Washington Street 3110 Modern Languages Building Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 -1275 (734) 764-8018 • www.lsa.umich.edu/german

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The Regents of The University of Michigan Michael J. Behm Mark J. Bernstein Shauna Ryder Diggs Denise Ilitch Andrea Fischer Newman Andrew C. Richner Ron Weiser Katherine E. White Mark S. Schlissel (ex officio)

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