Transcultural History of the Modern Age

Study Type

graduate

Admission semester

Summer and Winter Semester

Focus

Cultural History, Europe, Modern Age, Culture, Science Culture, Central and Eastern Europe, Business Cultures, Conflict and Violence History

Annotation

Europe faces a double challenge in the 21st century: internally, European societies are working towards a mutual understanding of cultural self-images and on the better compatibility of different economic and political systems – within and outside of the European Union. Externally, they have to reposition themselves in a hitherto unknown dynamic of global interdependencies. Fracture and conflict lines that have long been overlooked are currently emerging again in both processes. Dealing with these problems requires a sound understanding of their historic backgrounds, which this degree course opens up from a cultural studies perspective. The degree course problematises Europe and the modernity emanating from Europe as formations that have emerged from both common features and diversity since the early modern period. This diversity had an enriching effect, but also led to conflicts: political, economic, social and religious disputes and interpretive clashes. Their often violent resolution is a specific feature of European history, from the process of colonial expansion to present-day conflicts. At the same time, exchange with other regions of the world and the cultural diversity within the continent have also produced particularly dense tangible and intangible interdependencies. Without them, one cannot understand the political and economic upheavals that began around 1800 and the dominance of Europe that lasted well into the 20th century. Against this background, the degree course also enables an understanding of the disasters of the 20th century and current political, cultural and economic crises. To achieve this, this degree course not only imparts genuine historiography skills, but also incorporates approaches from literature and art theory as well as philosophy. From a transcultural perspective, it focuses on the exchange processes between different European and non-European cultural constellations. This perspective makes it possible to address European constructions of one's own history, which has become culturally foreign in many ways, and to cross the boundaries between disciplines and scientific cultures. The degree course is problem- and research-oriented. It strengthens key competencies and imparts relevant interdisciplinary knowledge that opens up career paths in various directions. In project seminars, it also imparts practical knowledge, usually in cooperation with non-university institutions such as archives, memorials, museums, international NGOs or exhibition organisers. Frankfurt (Oder) and its German-Polish environs as well as nearby Berlin form a historical landscape in which the temporal strata of the recent past are closely layered in their legacies. The degree programme thus opens up relevant career prospects, e.g. in museums, archives, libraries, in historical research, in adult education and political education, in the foreign service, in companies and local authorities, in associations, foundations and parties and in the media sector in general.

Admission modus

Without admission restriction

Admission requirements (Link)

Fees

Fees (Link)

no tuition fees, only a semester contribution including semester ticket for local public transport