MFL/German: The Dark Sides of German Unification – Then and Now with Dr Katie Stone from University of Warwick

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In this MFL/German session, Dr Katie Stone, Associate Professor in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at University of Warwick, presents The Dark Sides of German Unification – Then and Now.

Afro-German activist and intellectual May Ayim (1960-1996) used poetry to criticise “die deutsche Scheinheit” (the pseudo-unity of Germany) after the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990. In this taster session, I will use a poem that we study in one of my final-year undergraduate classes “Blues in Schwarz Weiss” (1990) to look beyond the headlines and ask: Who was included and who was silenced as Germany figured out what it meant to say “we” after Unification? Did the end of division truly represent a new beginning for Germany? Or were there already signs back then that there was no easy fix to decades of separation?

With a poem as our starting point, we will see how language is not only about grammar and vocabulary. It is a carrier of culture. The very words we use reveal something about who we are and where we come from. By manipulating language, then, Ayim encourages her readers to think carefully about the power of language to include and exclude, calling attention to difficult truths that mainstream society would often prefer to overlook.

May Ayim [Photo by Dagmar Schulz. Wikimedia Commons]

Lecturer Profile: Dr Katie Stone 

Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. There is no charge to take part.

As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but slides and other resources will be shared after the event, where available.

Suitable for: Aged 16+ pre-university students studying, or with a possible interest in studying, German and related disciplines. Student groups as well as students and teachers joining individually are very welcome.

Preparation/Pre-Reading: If students would like to see the poem in full (we will only examine excerpts) and/or have a copy to hand during the session, it is available here: “Blues in Schwarz Weiss” (1990). Students may wish to consider the topic in advance and questions they have. Students can also think about questions about studying at university level.

The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the speaker via typed comments and questions and/or via a microphone. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.

Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below:

Register here