European Identity in a Transcultural World

The following series of workshops taking place online have been organised by the Institute for German and European Studies (IGES) at the University of Birmingham, UK, as part of the DAAD-funded project Teaching German in a Transcultural World.

Workshop one: 18th - 19th January 2023 from 16.00 - 19.00 each day

Talking about Identity (Migration, Migrationshintergrund, De-Nazification, the Green parties in Germany and Europe, representation of ‘identity’ in school books, identity as a construct and identity formation, the construction of ‘Germany’ by other European countries / countries outside Europe)

Lead: Dr Klaus Richter (University of Birmingham, UK)

• Wednesday 18th January, 16.00 - 16.50: Dr Klaus Richter (University of Birmingham, UK), Nationalism, Identity and National Identity: Then and Now

In the introductory session of day one of this workshop series, we will look at how the idea that everyone has a national identity has become entrenched across the 20th century and how this historical knowledge helps us challenge the exclusive nature of national identity. Using the example of the multi-ethnic regions of Central and Eastern Europe, we will look at primary sources – ranging from 19th century peasant memoirs to contemporary Wikipedia entries – that can help learners understand notions of national identity and the contexts in which these emerge, change, and solidify.

We will discuss how these sources can be best used to reflect on processes of self identification and categorisation, on the changing nature of identities, as well as on their fluidity and hybridity.

• Wednesday 18 January 17.00 - 17.50: Donata Puntil (King’s College London, UK), Talking and Doing Identity 
• Thursday 19 January 18.00 - 18.50: Dr Ulrike Garde (Macquarie University, Australia), “Wo kommst Du [wirklich] her?” Using contemporary drama in the German language classroom to critically reflect on fixed identities

This lightning talk introduces Yael Ronen & Ensemble’s The Situation to stimulate discussion about the ongoing use of questions of origin that are based on the notion of a single origin and fixed (national) identities. The talk provides background information about the drama and associated theatre production that premiered at Berlin’s Maxim Gorki Theatre in 2015 to invite an informed discussion about the following topics: How can this prize-winning popular text and its performance invite students to critically reflect on various concepts of identity, together with playfully and creatively exploring notions of fluid identities?

How can the German language classroom provide a space where the relationship between language and (personal and national) identity can be discussed in fresh ways? The talk provides an introduction to the play as well as excerpts that can form the basis for student-led activities.

Workshop two: 1st - 2nd February 2023: 16.00 - 19.00 each day

Reflecting on Power (the concept of ‘power’ in different academic disciplines; cultural imaginaries; language as power, power as and in language; power through terminology; power in the classroom)

Lead: Dr Julian Paenke 

• Wednesday 1 February 16:00 - 16:50: Dr Vera Ahamer (University of Vienna, Austria) Identifying ‘Power’ in DaF teaching material
• Wednesday 1 February 17.00 - 17.50: Dr Ruth Whittle (University of Birmingham, UK) The power of terminology on the ‘Integration’ discourse
• Thursday 2 February 16.00 - 16.50: Dr Julian Paenke (University of Birmingham, UK) Power and notions of Germanness
• Thursday 2 February 17.00 - 17.50: Professor Christopher Pietrioni (University of Birmingham, UK) Working with internalised identifications

Workshop Three: 22nd - 23rd February 2023 from 16.00 - 19.00 each day

Questioning truth (What is ‘truth’; does it still exist?; hidden hegemonies in academic and non-academic discourses [e.g. on race and colonialism]; what do we teach when we do …?)

Lead: Dr Ruth Whittle (University of Birmingham, UK)  

• Wednesday 22 February, 16.00 - 16.50: Dr Charlotte Galpin (University of Birmingham, UK) Gendering Europe: British national identity from EEC accession to EU secession 
• Thursday 23 February, 16.00 - 16.50: Dr Ash Stokoe (University of Birmingham, UK) Power in the classroom (Lightning talk) 
• 17.00 - 18.30 Show and Tell