Berlin Borders: identity formation after the wall

Final Showcase at the Maxim Gorki Theatre/Berlin

2009-08-29T11:39:00.003-07:00

BERLIN BORDERS: IDENTITY FORMATION AFTER THE WALL
Seattle-Berlin-Istanbul-Berlin-Seattle
Final Showcase
Friday, August 28, 4:00-5:45 p.m., Maxim Gorki Theatre
University of Washington, Seattle, Honors Program, Summer 2009
http://honorsinberlin2009.blogspot.com
In collaboration with Humboldt University, Berlin, Maxim Gorki Theatre-Berlin, and the University of Bilgi, Istanbul, this showcase presents the culmination of four weeks in Berlin and Istanbul. During the month of August, the program explored the concept of borders (and walls) through the lenses of art and literature as employed by writers, filmmakers, performers and visual artists. The showcase, inspired by workshops with Maxim Gorki and educational director, Janka Pankus, is live performance, dance, original music composition, spoken word, and multimedia presentations with a focus on city as text/city as performance as seen through the eyes of 21 students from the University of Washington, Seattle.

How do we tell the story of the city? How do we record memory? What is "our" story? What is "your" story of the city?

Professors Shanga Parker, Drama Department & Shawn Wong, English/Creative Writing, UW Seattle.
Dr. Julie Villegas, University Honors Program, UW Seattle
Program co-instructors, Humboldt: Manuela Mangold, American Studies & Tobias Temme, American Studies
Special thank you to American Studies, Humboldt University, Maxim Gorki Theatre-Berlin, and the University of Bilgi, Istanbul.
Showcase Cast:
1. Natalia Valle, Molly Slusher, Cassie Hoeprich
2. Elroy An, Katie McCorkell, Kelsi Jensen, Sally Neumann
3. Lauren Nuxoll & Adam Farley
4. Fan Lee, Amy Van, Daniel Kashima
5. Lauren McKnight, Michael Phan-Ba, Muhammed Idris
6. Catherine Eisenhauer, Robert Frankle, John O'Meara
7. Joe Kim, Anna Lee, Trang Le
*********************
http://depts.washington.edu/uwhonors/international/berlin/

Turkish Soccer Club in Berlin--Tuerkiyemspor

2009-08-29T11:39:00.001-07:00

Final Write-up--Due Sept 30

2009-08-28T01:37:00.002-07:00

BERLIN BORDERS: IDENTITY FORMATION AFTER THE WALL, Summer 2009, UW Honors Program

Individual Final Write-up/Due Wed, Sept 30—POSTED TO YOUR BLOG
Each student will do a final project write-up. Your completed write-up should include visual or media enhancements. Be creative!! Photos, audio, mapping, video blogging, your personal art, poems, recordings of interviews (if subject has given consent, etc.).

You will have several weeks to assess and assimilate the program in Berlin and Istanbul and the process of writing, compositions, final showcase, and your individual projects. The write-up will be a synthesis of in-city exploration and
the process of bringing this research into the your writings and final showcase (and vice versa, bringing your creative process, reflection, into your research). Post your completed project “write-up” to your blog by Wed, Sept 30.

However, we encourage you to finish before the end of Sept. Let us know when you have everything posted and we’ll start reviewing.

The write up should be between 7-10 pages (double spaced) and include:

*What did you learn about yourself? Tell the story of "your" Berlin, and "your" Istanbul. Who did you meet that touched you and what is their (what are their) story (ies) of the city? You have done much of this in assignments #3 and #4, but continue on. Push yourself to look more deeply in relation to the larger program themes (as a refresher, please see the Berlin Program website: http://depts.washington.edu/uwhonors/international/berlin/)

*Project question and abstract What were you addressing? State the question and write up a brief synopsis of issue

*Background– an overview that synthesizes the project. Discuss the core issues, common concerns, and debates surrounding the issue you investigated
a) Context (Why is the topic relevant How did it advance yours and
others understanding of the issue? Remember to consider why it has been
of personal interest to you.)

b) Problem(s) (what are the struggles you encountered while engaged in your research?)

*Methods of investigation

*Analysis- how did your explorations in the city, dialogues with people,
creative writing performance, and excursions and workshops assist (or
not) in your project investigation?
Things to Consider:
a) How did the creative writing exercises and collaborative act of presenting character(s) in specific situations effect your interpretation of your in- city projects? Future questions/explorations?

***In the end, we hope you will have gotten outside of yourself to interpret the results, to have experienced what it is like to live your research by virtue of the creative process. There is potential for you to see your research findings with new eyes, more depth and form.

Bonus: Discuss the group dynamics of investigating and presenting your project.

Students will receive 15 credits total (2 credits already posted on your transcripts spring quarter). The final 13 credits will be graded and posted the second week of October. Until then, students will have a placeholder on their transcripts “Study Abroad XX”. This is standard practice for study abroad.

From the Berlin Borders Website (http://depts.washington.edu/uwhonors/international/berlin/)
The theme of this year's program is in honor of the 20th anniversary of the toppling of the Berlin wall. Honoring that historic event, the Berlin Program looks at the concept of borders (and walls) through the lenses of art and literature as employed by writers, filmmakers, performers and visual artists. We will explore how borders both define and divide us.
In Berlin, legacies of the Wall remain long after its fall ("the Wall in the head" phenomenon for example). At the same time, in the U.S. efforts continue to build a wall along the border with Mexico. In our inquiry, we must consider issues alive inside and outside immigrant communities, explore racial, linguistic, cultural and psychological "borders" and look at how the arts communities in Germany and the U.S. have addressed the concept of borders-and sought to create identities that transcend them, expressing a new "cultural topography" of individuals and migrant communities.
During the month long summer program, students will focus on researching topics, and explore the city as text - city as art - city as borderscape. The summer portion will include classroom instruction, guest lectures, art and literature events, theatre and music performances, city walks, museum tours, and weekend excursions that will inform the final projects. University of Washington program directors and Humboldt faculty will lead lectures and excursions.

Drama Workshop at Maxim Gorki Theatre

2009-08-28T01:21:00.000-07:00

Photography by Shanga Parker

Performing the city

2009-08-28T01:08:00.000-07:00

Movement Workshop, University of the Arts, Berlin

2009-08-28T01:00:00.001-07:00

Kreuzberg

2009-08-24T14:17:00.001-07:00

Photography by Shanga Parker

Week 3 Portraits

2009-08-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

Reading the City

2009-08-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

City as Performance

2009-08-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

City as Art

2009-08-24T13:44:00.001-07:00

Berlin

2009-08-24T13:36:00.001-07:00

more photos...

2009-08-22T05:24:00.000-07:00

at the "beach" berlin

2009-08-22T05:19:00.000-07:00

wall

2009-08-22T05:05:00.001-07:00

Metro Mime

2009-08-22T04:31:00.000-07:00

Art Spaces and Places around and about Neukölln

2009-08-22T04:30:00.000-07:00

Spaces and Places around and about Neukölln:

City planning organisation:
Zwishenraumnutzung:
www.zwischennutzungsagentur.de

Alte Kindl-Brauerei:
Coaching Culture Gallery:
www.coachingculture-gallery.de

Spaces on Boddinstrasse:

Neukölln Import/ Intransitos:
www.intransitos.de
www.neukoellnimport.de

Atelier Klemm:
Zsuse Klemm
http://www.myspace.com/zsuzsa_klemm

Loophole:
www.loophole-berlin.com

Die Frühperle:
http://www.myspace.com/fruehperle

Rroma Aether Klub Theater:
http://www.rromaakt.de

Other:

Staalplaat:
www.staalplaat.com

Scottish artist, lives in Neukolln:
Momus
http://imomus.livejournal.com/

my contact details:
Kate Squires katewsquires@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/thewolpertinger

Portraits

2009-08-22T02:32:00.000-07:00

Final Showcase Guidelines

2009-08-22T01:51:00.000-07:00

Final Showcase Guidelines
Friday, August 29, 4:00-5:45 p.m. (Rehearsals on Thursday!)
Humboldt or Maxim Gorki, location TBA
Berlin Borders: identity formation after the wall
http://honorsinberlin2009.blogspot.com/
Honors in Berlin, Summer 2009
Showcase Goals
Highlight Program theme and focus on city as text/city as performance. How do we tell the story of the city? How do we record memory? What is our story? What is your story of the city?
Each group has approximately 10-12 minutes
The group must introduce general theme of group (2 minutes).
Each student will showcase their own project for 3 minutes, or the group may decide to integrate their projects into one showcase.
Each student (or group) should characterize a person, monument, building, or memorial they have written about in their postcard assignments. Choose one that illuminates (symbolizes) most closely the essence of your project. As you go outside of yourself through this character exercise, you will present a view of the city/your project that is at the heart of what you've learned intellectually and felt viscerally about Berlin.
The showcase should be reflexive, engaging in the process of the last 4 weeks, and showing (not telling) the audience what they discovered while in Berlin and Istanbul as related to their project. You can also add components outside of your project exploration. However, remember to be specific in order to give the audience a deeper understanding of what you learned.
Use a multimedia approach to your showcase: video, music, photos, dance, spoken and written word. Take advantage of your blog. Be creative and have fun!

Overview of Showcase
4:00 mingle with vlogs/photos on big screen (if all goes well with equipment)
4:15 introduce program and welcome guests
4:20 Group #1 (order of groups will be determined by instructors. TBA)
4:35 Group #2
4: 50 Group #3
5:05 Group #4
5:20 Group #5
5:20 Q &A, Comments
5:45 End

and more Istanbul...

2009-08-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

More Istanbul

2009-08-19T09:55:00.001-07:00

Istanbul

2009-08-19T09:22:00.001-07:00

Photography by Manuela Mangold

Berlin Second Week

2009-08-19T09:00:00.001-07:00

more week 1-Berlin

2009-08-13T08:11:00.001-07:00

Berlin First Week

2009-08-13T00:33:00.000-07:00

Berlin Group Day 2

2009-08-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

Instructors

2009-08-04T23:46:00.001-07:00

Soccer in Berlin

2009-06-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

View the soccer schedule here and buy tickets at Hertha BSC

They don't have their 2009-10 schedule out yet, but last year the season started in midAugust.

Humanity in Action-Berlin

2009-06-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

Sam says to check out the updated publications on the Humanity in Action site

Lots of great publications and relevant to your topics, such as:

Neaka, Corey, and Steffen's report
"Integration Through Recreation: The Role of Youth Soccer in Multicultural Berlin"

Also Anika, Sarah, and Alli's report
"Beyond Stereotypes: How Artists of Turkish Descent Deal with Identity in Germany."

You'll also find Sam's report as the last one among the German reports.

Cafe Babel

2009-06-01T23:43:00.001-07:00

Read the article in Cafe Babel:

Cafe Babel

"Cafe Babel is the first multilingual European current affairs magazine in 6 languages, designed for readers across borders. Cafebabel.com revolutionises European media through participatory journalism, providing a unique platform of expression for the 'eurogeneration', the first generation living Europe on a day-by-day basis thanks to the Erasmus study exchange programme, the internet and an increasing mobility."

Berlin's 25th Long Night of the Museums--Aug 29

2009-06-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

“20 Jahre Mauerfall” (“20 Years since the Fall of the Wall”).

Berlin’s 25th Long Night of the Museums, 29th August 2009, will be characterized by a central theme: how the city’s museum landscape has changed since German reunification.

In addition to museums, there will be an open-air exhibition “Peaceful Revolution” at Alexanderplatz.

Long-Night-of-Museums

June 4 Gathering

2009-05-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

A reminder about the gathering on June 4
Details below, please rsvp through the evite.

Honors Study Abroad Social Gathering
When: Thursday, June 4, 7:00PM

Please join us Thursday, June 4th, to share adventure plans, stories, and itineraries with other students going (or having been) to Berlin, Argentina, Costa Rica, Rome, Amsterdam and other parts the world. Refreshments will be provided.

directions & map
Cosmopolitan - Downtown Seattle
819 Virginia St
Seattle, WA 98101 US

bus: The 71, 72, 73 buses run between UW and downtown approximately every 10 minutes. you can pick up the bus across the street from Solstice cafe on University Ave at 42nd St. Get off the bus at the downtown bus station, walk north to 9th & Virginia.

parking- there is street parking of the sort where you pay at a centralized meter and are provided a parking sticker. if you drive, i would recommend car-pooling.

Updates--Language Instruction June 11

2009-05-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

Updates for the week of June 11

June 11, 4:30-6:20--Join us for a German language crash course, MGH 206 (same room as always). David Canfield-Budde, Germanics Ph.D. and instructor of the EFS course "Culture Clash!: fall of the wall" will teach the session.

Following the crash course, we will screen a documentary about the fall of the wall from the Turkish perspective. Tuna Kuyucu, our guest speaker on May 28, will host the screening. 6:30-7:30 (same room).

Pizza and drinks provided. Please rsvp!

German History--this week's seminar

2009-05-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

Germany map

Germania, extent in 2nd Century AD

**Holy Roman Empire, circa 1200

Germany in 1815

Germany in 1871—Kingdom of Prussia regions in blue

Map 1
Map 2
Map 3

**Bismarck crowns Prussian King at Versailles 1871

**Europe in 1914 (also links to Europe 1919 map)

Third Reich maximum expansion (1942)

Sachsenhausen KZ ("Arbeit Macht Frei")--near Berlin

Dresden in ruins (Feb. 1945)

Sovs hang banner from Reichstag Bldg

Berlin street scene, May '45

Allied occupation zones, 1945

Occupation zones in Berlin

Berlin, 17 June 1953 (Leipziger Strasse)

Berlin Wall

JFK 1963

The Wall, 9 Nov. 1989

Holocaust Memorial, Berlin (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe)

Berlin Klassiktage (Classical Music Festival)

2009-05-26T15:39:00.000-07:00

For those of you arriving early...

Berlin Klassiktage
Start date: 16 July 2009
End date: 3 August 2009
The Berlin Klassiktage is an annual festival of classical music with evening concerts held in spectacular, historic settings all over the city. On the programme are chamber and ensemble pieces by popular classical composers like Bach, Mozart and Chopin.
Berlin, Germany
Perlen der Klassik Website (http://www.berliner-schlosskonzerte.de)

Berlin Wall as a Piece of History: Too-Good Riddance?

2009-05-20T22:53:00.001-07:00

Berlin Wall as a Piece of History: Too-Good Riddance?

By Craig Whitlock
BERLIN -- Two decades after they triumphantly tore down the infamous wall
that divided their city, Berliners are having some regrets.

art and the wall

2009-05-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

New York Times Article: over-the-wall
http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/18/over-the-wall/

UTUBE Video--Stand By Me

2009-05-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

From our friend John.

"This video is a song created by artists all over the world who have never met. A guy globetrotted for a couple years finding street performers and had them compile sound bits to make a cover of "Stand By Me." The result is pretty astounding, as you'll see and hear."

http://www.playingforchange.com/episodes/2/Stand_by_Me

Blog Post, etc.

2009-05-17T22:38:00.000-07:00

Hi Group,
As noted on the syllabus, please:

-continue to post your preliminary findings, musings,etc. about your topic. What is your process and progress? What have you found out so far? What is your central question? Also, blog short response to one of the readings (one out of the two) and bring one question to ask of our guest speaker on Thursday.

Groups- preliminary suggestions

2009-05-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

Here's how I see the 7 groups coming together. Some of the groups seem to be set, others are still developing so what you see below are suggestions. Please add your thoughts.

Also, We would like to meet with each of you this coming week. We have suggestions and resources to share. Please send me your availability for next week, M-F (villegas@u):

Fashion/Globalization/Media
--Cassie, Molly, Natalia

Border and Identity Politics (immigration/migration and psychological borders)
--Anna, Joe, Trang

East and West as represented in film, security, and ??
--Robert , John, and Catherine

Music and Media east/west divide
--Daniel, Fan, Amy

Monuments and Memorials (physical manifestations of memory, border via art and architecture)
--Lauren N, Adam, ??

Psychological & National Borders
Kelsi, Sally, Katie

Youth Culture (borders and identity as expressed in youth of today and comparison with experience during pre fall of wall and WWII periods)
--Muhammed, Michael, Lauren M.

Elroy?

Other option for a group
Education (east/west, pre and post wall)

In Budapest: a snapshot of a world now at risk

2009-05-14T15:31:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article about Budapest, former capital of Communist Hungary...

In Budapest: a snapshot of a world now at risk

Two Memorials-two opinions

2009-05-14T00:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a recent article in the NYT critical of the Jewish Museum in Berlin:
In Berlin, Teaching Germany's Jewish History
The writer applauds the Holocaust Memorial. Interesting to see such diverse (and strong) opinions.
Here's a piece about the Holocaust Memorial:
Holocaust Memorial Opens in Berlin

Turkish Hip Hop

2009-05-07T16:30:00.001-07:00

Read about

New Arts in Berlin-Sasha Waltz

2009-05-07T16:25:00.001-07:00

"Located in the heart of Berlin where the Districts Mitte, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg meet, RADIALSYSTEM is a new, privately owned cultural forum developed to close the missing link in Berlin’s cultural landscape.

RS is music/dance studio combined together with architecture, modern art, and multimedia, all functioning together as a flexible ‘instrument’ is to become reality.

RADIALSYSTEM is designed to operate on the concept of a radi(c)al opening of the arts to the public, who here are given the chance to participate in the experience and unfolding of the
creative process.
Sasha Waltz Radial system

More info here

Bavarian Quarter Plaque Memorials

2009-05-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

16,000 Jews lived in the Bavarian Quarter of Berlin's Schöneberg district.

6000 Jews from Schöneberg were deported or killed.

"This decentralized memorial comprises 80 two-sided plaques on 80 lampposts throughout the neighborhood. The stark contrast between an innocent-looking everyday item on one side, and the official Nazi statute succeed in surprising even the casual passer-by. In the gallery below, the statute is given first, followed by an English paraphrase of its meaning. Horizontal lines are used to group the front and back of the individual signs.

The central question of the memorial is "How could it come it this?" and is designed as a web of remembrance. The goal of the memorial is to focus on the many small steps in the persecution of the Jews that affected the "everyday lives" of the inhabitants of the Bavarian Quarter.

Bavarian Quarter Plaque Memorials

RHYTHM IS IT!

2009-05-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

Berlin, January 2003. In a former bus depot something amazing is happening. 250 pupils from 25 nations ranging in age from eight to early 20s from all social classes, multiple countries and ethnic backgrounds are dancing to Stravinsky’s Sacre du Printemps, which they have rehearsed for nearly three months, trained by the British choreographer Royston Maldoom and accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under its chief conductor, Sir Simon Rattle. A delightful and moving record of the fascination of music, of the need for safeguarding education and training, of passion, diligence, love, esteem and zest.

Directors Thomas Grube and Enrique Sánchez Lansch, follow the putting-on-a-show musical over six weeks of rehearsal concluding with the kids in performance, and it is a sight worth beholding. It is a joyous revelation for the kids when they realise what they can and have achieved. Acclaimed editing, stellar cinematography and a brilliant sound mix emotional elevate this film to become an unparalleled audio visual feast.

Rhythm is it!

Religion in Germany

2009-05-07T15:35:00.000-07:00

Interesting article (from Manuela's blog)

Read it here

Art of Two Germanys/Cold War Divide

2009-05-06T23:19:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting exhibit that just ended in Los Angeles. After LACMA, the exhibition will travel to Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg (May 23–September 6, 2009), and Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin (October 3, 2009–January 10, 2010).

Art of Two Germanys/Cold War Divide

and more art

The Wall Jumper

2009-05-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

Kreuzberg Turks and New Berlin Wall

2009-05-02T10:48:00.001-07:00

Article about the dynamics of Kreuzberg area and comments on identity:

Kreuzberg Turks

Wall of Shame--NYT article

2009-05-02T10:45:00.001-07:00

Interesting article in NYT:

Wall of Shame

Former Border Guards--comments from Manuela

2009-04-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

Regarding the former border guards: This is a highly sensitive issue. People who served at the border are reluctant to talk about their time at the border. Border guards had to follow the "shoot-to-kill-order" and many people were killed while fleeing the country. Therefore, former border guards are always confronted with this implicit question of "have you ever followed the order? "

To get an idea about the whole structure of the troops at the border:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenztruppen_der_DDR

http://www.amnesty.nl/bibliotheek_vervolg/thema_berechting_case_1

Berlin Wall Video

2009-04-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

From Shawn:

Here's a good, short video on the Berlin Wall from formation to tear down (7.5 minutes). Some of the most interesting moments is right after the wall was erected and the film of people standing on either side trying to wave to family members or friends on the other side with white
scarves. In our world of immediate communication and instant gratification, it's hard to understand at first what these people are doing until you realize they can't communicate with people on the other side of the wall by phone or other means. In another scene, a man takes out the bricks from a window on the wall and jumps to freedom.
There is no narration, just music (which is a little melodramatic...).

Watch the video

Berlin Questions and Topic

2009-04-28T16:15:00.000-07:00

Hi Berliners,
Here are some thoughts following yesterday's class. When considering your topic or topics, you might consider not only a subject specific topic, but also a thematic topic. On your blogs, you might begin by simply writing down the questions you have about that topic and the answers you hope to find in Berlin or how you might hope to refine the topic once you get to Berlin.
For example, the theme of "Betrayal." Some of the questions might be:
1. When the wall fell down, did East Berliners feel betrayed by the failure of the Soviet Union, Communism, an ideology?
2. When East and West Germany became one Germany, did the West Germans feel betrayed that this new unification would undermine all that they had built up and now they would have to take care of their "poorer"
cousins behind the Iron Curtain?
3. Did East Germans feel betrayed when they had to adopt a new monetary system?
4. Did those working in East Berlin government or military feel betrayed when the wall came down?
5. When the wall came down, did East Berliners feel betrayed when they lost their identity as East Berliners?
6. When Germany joined the EU, did Germans as a whole feel betrayed at the loss of their national identity?
Sometimes just thinking of questions can lead you to a topic.
Some other ideas that came up during our discussion:
Humor (Was there iron curtain humor? Why is David Hasselhof so popular in Germany?), Food, Music, Sports, National Memory and Identity, Berlin's dual identity (two of everything--museums, airports, etc.), exile.
Another way to approach the topic is to think what are your interests here and how do they translate to your specific study in Berlin (international relations, fashion, globalization, NGO's, propaganda, modernist art, religion, Holocaust, architecture).
Shawn

Berlin in the news

2009-04-26T17:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Group,

Articles related to Berlin (Sunday NYT, April 26, 2009):

Traveling in Berlin

Saving Money (or not) in Berlin

Discovering your topic in Berlin

2009-04-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

Today in class the students did an in-class assignment to help them start thinking about their project topics for Berlin.

Students created an imaginary alter and on this alter they added objects that they might find if they were to create an alter based on their topic interest in Berlin.

The end results...see student blogs...

Schedule Update

2009-04-21T13:11:00.001-07:00

Dear Students,

An update for Thursday's seminar, April 23:

--discuss the Fukuyama articles and also discuss Tamiko's presentation
--discuss/share border assignment
--begin discussion on project topics and start bringing the readings together

We will move the following to April 30:

-- choose three topics of interest and post on blog
--choose groups
--"Becoming a German, what does it mean?"

Also, "Race Culture Nation and Identity Politics in Turkey" is moved to week 7

I will update the syllabus on the blog to reflect these changes. See you all on Thursday!

Border Discussion--4/09

2009-04-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

"border"

Antifascist Protective Wall, Security Fence, Frontier, Bulwark, Barricade, Blockade,
Fortification, Facade, Divided, but held together, Hurdle, Security Fence, Divider,
Rampart, Line, Zipper, Fence, Zareba, Construct, Compartment, Boundary, Ceiling
Rift, Chasm, Void, Inclusive, Break water

What happens at borders?
Mourning
Resistance and Violence
Exchange
Temptation
Memories
Memorials to memory
Factories

Some Borders and Walls around the world:
Thailand's security fence (Malaysia)
North/South Korea demilitarised zone
Beijing/North Korea
Western Sahara/Morocco/camps in Algeria
Israel occupied West Bank/Palestine
Pakistan/Afghanistan
Uzbekistan/Tadzjikistan
United Kuwait/Iraqi frontier
Saudi Kingdom/Yemen (and plans for border with Iraq)
US/Mexico (1,920 mile fence) and virtual fence, i.e. U.S. policies
Borders around EU (Turkey is not part of the EU for example)

And more things to think about...
contradictory aspect of borders
ambiguity
fluidity of borders
porous borders

Types of Borders:
borderscapes (examples in Seattle? Viaduct, 520 Bridge?, other borders?)
environmental ("natural")
Hybrid borders
psychological
generational
gendered
racialized
economic/class borders
Other?

More thoughts on border assignment (from Shawn)

2009-04-11T16:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Students,

As you go out and and see borders in the city, consider:

When we think about walls, we usually think about what the fence or wall will keep out (ancient walled cities, Great Wall of China) or keep in (prisons, Guantanamo Bay), but once you wall in a city, say Rome, what are the consequences inside the city? The emperor had to care for all the residents inside the city and it became a giant welfare state. He had to put people to work, feed them, and even enslave some of them.

Once West Berlin was cutoff, what was the responsibility of the "west" to West Berlin (US Berlin Airlift, etc.). Communist societies and societies committed to democracy both felt the responsibility of supporting the symbol of democracy and freedom or of the iron curtain and communism. Which ideology was going to rule the world? Here we have "the cold war".

We'll continue to think deeply about the idea of walls and division and exile. What kind of walls do we construct? How do we separate ourselves from places, things, people? How do we wall things or people out or in? How do these walls create our own personal ideologies?

Should we care about building a wall between the US and Mexico? Every non-US citizen who comes into the US is fingerprinted by Homeland Security, tourist, everyone. How do we feel about that?

All this as we consider the question of what should we care about studying Berlin?

Assignment: Seeing Borders in Seattle Due April 16

2009-04-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

This week be a traveler in your own city and find a border/wall and reflect upon this particular borderscape. Things to consider:

What is the metaphor/meaning of this particular border (consider Brian Ladd's chapter on the Berlin Wall)?

What happens at this border? Activities, etc.

What is the border dividing and how does its placement change the cityscape, the images/particulars on the other side of the border, and your own perceptions of the division/things being divided?

How would you get around the border?

What are your feelings about this division. Think of the physical, psychology, and social aspects of this border.

Please blog your reflections. Also feel free to use photos and/or video or music to enhance your blog post. It's up to you.

Due next Thursday, April 16

Also due Thursday: Virtual Wall link (review) and readings (see syllabus).

A Berliners Portraits of People and Her Familiar, and Foreign, Home

2009-04-09T13:17:00.000-07:00

A Berliner’s Portraits of People and Her Familiar, and Foreign, Home

By MICHAEL KIMMELMAN
Published: January 7, 2009
BERLIN — Not all culture is global yet. Outside aging lefty circles in Greenwich Village or the Berkshires, the photographer Gisèle Freund mostly causes head-scratching in the United States. Among other reasons, she published unflattering pictures of Eva Perón in Life magazine in 1950, troubling the Argentine dictator and ruffling diplomatic relations, so the State Department officially declared her an “unwanted person.”

Read more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/arts/design/08abroad.html?_r=1&ref=design

In Berlin, Authors Find Their Voice

2009-04-08T23:55:00.000-07:00

TRAVEL   | March 29, 2009
Cultured Traveler:  In Berlin, Authors Find Their Voice
By NICHOLAS KULISH
Wit and wordplay are a native sport in this city, where locals turn out
in force at readings big and small.

Blog Account

2009-03-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Students,
Please create your own blog (instruction below), and then send me your link. I will post your blog link to the "Berlin Borders" blog.

To create a blog, you'll need a Google Account:
CREATE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT HERE

Then go to the create a blog site
http://www.blogger.com/create-blog.g

Follow the instructions on this site.

Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions:
villegas@u.washington.edu

Also, here is information about privacy options:

You can opt to secure your personal blog by taking these steps. On your blog:

1. Go to "Customize"
2. From customize, go to "Settings"
3. go to "Permission"
4. Choose "Who can view this blog"? "Only people I choose".
5. Insert emails of all students in class and also instructor emails (and anyone else you choose).

Reading Assignment for Thursday

2009-03-30T22:04:00.001-07:00

Dear Berlin Students,

As preparation for the first meeting of the Berlin Program seminar, please read:

from GHOSTS OF BERLIN (available in textbooks section, University Bookstore, under H A&S 397):

Chapters 1 & 2 (plus introduction)

Also please take a look at the two websites below:

http://www.berlin.de/mauer/verlauf/index/index.en.php

http://www.goethe.de/ges/mol/dos/ber/wan/en3137826.htm)

See you all on Thursday!
Julie