In this workshop we will explore and experiment with contemporary methods of improvisational theater, which is the art of making up theatrical moments on the spot, without a script. It is one of the liveliest and most current forms of theater of today and ingrained in US popular culture. You will first learn the basic principles of improvisational theater and then apply them to improvised scenework. We will also reflect on the impact of improvisational theater on popular culture, its applications e.g. in teaching and explore its practical approaches to comedic as well as dramatic narrative structures.

There will be a regular meeting on Wednesday 9.45am-12am during the semester, in which we will cover the basics of improvisational theater, followed by an intensive in the lecture-free period, in which we will work on a specific form and prepare for a performance. If you only want to participate in the intensive you need to have some experience, either from this or a previous semester. There is no obligation to be part of the performances.

This part of the theatre workshop is based on our introductory work during the semester. Requirement is previous participation in the theatre workshop or some experience with long form improvisational theatre. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

This course welcomes students who wish to complete the following modules:
M.A. E-SC: OrMO (Orientierungsmodul 1. Semester)
M.A. E-SC SpecMo (Spezialisierungsmodul 3. Semester);
M.A. TnL Vertiefungsmodul und Profilmodul Literatur
Academic Exchange students

This course is now taught online due to temporary shortages in seminar room allocations. Narratives of Travel and Mobility have a long-standing history and are increasingly popular in terms of text production and commercial success, encompassing a fascinating diversity of literary forms, modes and itineraries. As a repository for factual and fictional accounts of mobility and cross-cultural exchange, however, these narratives have long been underestimated for their potential to contribute to a broad range of cultural, political and historical debates that seek to reassess the role of travel writing as a "vehicle for geographic, ethnographic and sociological knowledge." (Thompson 4). This seminar discusses diverse themes and characteristics of historic and contemporary travel narratives, including postcolonial travel accounts and refugee writings and thus aims to map contemporary critical concepts regarding transnational and postcolonial perspectives in weekly readings of excerpts of selected travel narratives.

We will meet in weekly seminar sessions online via ZOOM. Since some of the participants are required to submit a research paper, we will use parts of our seminar discussions to the development of topics, the formulation of a thesis statement, as well as considerations about the methodological approaches of writing such a paper. A reader with selected secondary text materials will be made available for download on Stud. IP. You may wish to check the sections "Information" and "Schedule" further details such as requirements, weekly schedule, select bibliography and modes of assessment. You will need access to Stud.IP and a laptop or tablet with sound and audio capabilities.

Requirements and Assessment
• Interest in the topic discussed and ideally a regular attendance and informed participation in class discussion (not part of your formal assessment);
• in-depth knowledge of the selected reading material,
• homework assignments,
• group projects and presentation of research paper proposals;
• research-based term paper.
The requirements as formulated above may vary depending on your overall degree program.

In this course we shall analyse and discuss the transnational quality of Shakespeare's dramatic work. Taking his tragic comedy The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596-1598) as the primary example, we shall have a close look at the theatrical representation of the Venetian society, particularly the conflict between the moneylender Shylock and the merchant Antonio. Against the backdrop of the dominant racial stereotypes and prejudices of the 16th century, the course is going to address diverse modes of transnational discourse.

requirements:
• active participation
• in-depth knowledge of the reading material
• oral presentation (handout) or
• research in progress and final paper

Please note that prior enrolment via Stud.IP is mandatory.

text:
Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. The Arden Shakespeare. London: Bloomsbury, 2010.

This course welcomes students who wish to complete the following modules:
M.A. E-SC: OrMO (Orientierungsmodul 1. Semester)
M.A. E-SC SpecMo (Spezialisierungsmodul 3. Semester);
M.A. TnL Vertiefungsmodul und Profilmodul Literatur
Academic Exchange students

This course is now taught online due to temporary shortages in seminar room allocations. Narratives of Travel and Mobility have a long-standing history and are increasingly popular in terms of text production and commercial success, encompassing a fascinating diversity of literary forms, modes and itineraries. As a repository for factual and fictional accounts of mobility and cross-cultural exchange, however, these narratives have long been underestimated for their potential to contribute to a broad range of cultural, political and historical debates that seek to reassess the role of travel writing as a "vehicle for geographic, ethnographic and sociological knowledge." (Thompson 4). This seminar discusses diverse themes and characteristics of historic and contemporary travel narratives, including postcolonial travel accounts and refugee writings and thus aims to map contemporary critical concepts regarding transnational and postcolonial perspectives in weekly readings of excerpts of selected travel narratives.

We will meet in weekly seminar sessions online via ZOOM. Since some of the participants are required to submit a research paper, we will use parts of our seminar discussions to the development of topics, the formulation of a thesis statement, as well as considerations about the methodological approaches of writing such a paper. A reader with selected secondary text materials will be made available for download on Stud. IP. You may wish to check the sections "Information" and "Schedule" further details such as requirements, weekly schedule, select bibliography and modes of assessment. You will need access to Stud.IP and a laptop or tablet with sound and audio capabilities.

Requirements and Assessment
• Interest in the topic discussed and ideally a regular attendance and informed participation in class discussion (not part of your formal assessment);
• in-depth knowledge of the selected reading material,
• homework assignments,
• group projects and presentation of research paper proposals;
• research-based term paper.
The requirements as formulated above may vary depending on your overall degree program.