As a precaution to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Adult Education Seminars Program’s Fall 2020 term will continue to be held virtually. Virtual seminars meet via Zoom video conference and use email and Google Drive folders to share resources and communicate with instructors and participants. For more information about the Newberry’s virtual seminars and these tools, including a Zoom tutorial, please see our Virtual Seminars FAQ page. If you have questions about online learning, please feel free to reach out to seminars@newberry.org.

For more information about the Newberry’s response to COVID-19 please visit www.newberry.org/covid19.

Seminar Description

While Germany suffered psychological trauma, social division, political polarization, and economic dislocation in the aftermath of the First World War, it also experienced a cultural renaissance, which lasted until the Nazi regime came to power in 1933. This seminar will explore the achievements of architects (Walter Gropius), artists (Otto Dix, George Grosz), composers (Kurt Weill), designers (the Bauhaus), and filmmakers (Fritz Lang, F. W. Murnau) during this turbulent period of German history.

Eight sessions. Registration – $280

Frank A. Biletz received his PhD in history from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history. He is currently adjunct instructor in history at Loyola University Chicago and has been teaching seminars at the Newberry since 1994.

Materials List

Required:

• Eric D. Witz, Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy. Princeton University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0691183053.

First Reading:

• For the first class meeting, please read the introduction and first chapter of Eric D. Weitz’s Weimar Germany: Promise and Tragedy.

Registration Information

Online registration opens at 9 am (CDT) on Tuesday, September 1st.

Please note: Due to COVID-19, the Adult Education Seminars staff is working remotely and will be unable to process registration over the phone. For more information about registration, including a guide to online registration, see our Registration Information page. Questions? Please contact seminars program staff via email at seminars@newberry.org.

We offer a 10% discount to members, seniors, and students.

This seminar is part of the Newberry’s Adult Education Seminars Program. Learn more about registering for a seminar, program policies, or teaching a seminar.