The city of Berlin has stood at the center of Germany’s political and social turmoil for centuries. Its architecture remains a physical symbol of Prussia’s rise to power and still contains remnants of Hitler’s mad plans for an empire. The wall that cut the city in half was the central symbol of the Cold War. What did Berlin mean throughout the tumult of Germany’s history? What does it mean today? We’ll ask those questions as we read and discuss literary texts from 19th to the 21st centuries, from such authors as Theodor Fontane, Irmgard Keun, Peter Schneider and Thomas Brussig. In addition to these literary texts we will examine films, music, paintings and photography to explore the history and image of Germany’s capital city. Students will complete several short writing assignments, two essays, as well as a midterm and final exam.