GERM 82.05 Found in Translation: Humor in German Literature
Humor is a funny thing—especially in German. Many German novels, plays, poems, and other texts show a sense of humor, ranging from amusing entertainment to social satire to documents of quasi-philosophical detachment. This seminar explores several such fictional, poetic, dramatic, and other texts, including some recently written by its instructor. It also links such texts to the practice of translation and thus treats not only literary issues but also lexical, semantic, cultural, and other related topics. Theoretical approaches to translation will likewise be considered. Assignments include analyzing and attempting new translations as well as engaging in (humorous!) creative writing.