This year marks the 25th anniversary of Germany's reunification. On October 3, 1990, East Germany and West Germany reunited—after four decades of division—to form a single nation.
Please join us for the following special events. All are free and open to the public.
I. Exhibit: The Path to German Unification November 2-13, 2015, UIC Daley Library
II. Gregor Gysi, leader of the German Party 'Die Linke', will speak on Greece and Germany. "Germany VS. Greece? The Battle Over Europe's Future" Monday, November 2, 2:00 pm Institute for the Humanities, Lower Level of Stevenson Hall
III. Panel Discussion with Consul General Herbert Quelle (Germany) and Deputy Consul General Jae Woong Lee (Republic Of Korea): Divided Nations: Past, Present, and Future Tuesday, November 3rd, 3:00 pm Daley Library Room 1-470
IV. Deutschland 83: Film Screening and Panel Discussion 1:00-3:00 PM on Thursday, November 5 Institute for the Humanities, Lower Level Stevenson Hall 1:00 Deutschland ’83 Episode 1 “Quantum Jump” 2:00 Deutschland ’83 Episode 2 “Brave Guy”
2:00-4:00 pm on Friday, November 6 Room 1-470 Daley Library Conference Room 2:00 Deutschland ’83 Episode 3 “Atlantic Lion” 3:00 Deutschland ’83 Episode 4 “Northern Wedding”
V. Film Series: Tuesday, 09/22 at 3:00 pm - Das Leben der Anderen (2006) Tuesday, 10/06 at 3:00 pm - Zurück auf Los! (2000) Tuesday, 10/20 at 3:00 pm - Escape from East Berlin (1962) Thursday, 10/29 at 3:00 pm - Der Tunnel (2001) Tuesday, 12/01 at 3:00 pm - Paul and Paula (1973)
VI. Video Essay/Blog contest: Cold Wars: Old and New
On the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall last year, Mr. Gorbachev made the following statement: “The world is on the brink of a new Cold War. Some are even saying that it’s already begun.” In light of the current Ukraine crisis, such a statement appears obvious, even inevitable. But Cold Wars are not limited to Europe: the divide between North and South Korea originally grew out of the tense atmosphere that characterized Cold War politics. And in May 2015, China accused the US of fostering a Cold War mentality in a Washington report by the US Department of Defense about China’s lack of transparency.
What can we learn about ending the Cold War mindset from the reunification of Germany 25 years ago? Is such a mindset inevitable and inescapable? Or might we be able to avoid such a mindset in our foreign policy today? If so, how?
This video essay/blog contest asks you compare contemporary examples of new Cold Wars with the (apparent) end of the Cold War in Germany 25 year ago and relate what people and countries can do to make a difference today.
Eligibility:
1) All UIC undergraduates are invited to submit a video essay or blog.
2) The video essay can be as short as you wish, but there is a three-minute maximum length for your submission. The blog can likewise be as short as you wish, but there is a 1000 word maximum length.
3) Submissions will be accepted until 5 pm, November 30, 2015.
4) Please send video/blog URL to Dr. Elizabeth Loentz at Loentz@uic.edu
The winning entries will be posted on a Wordpress site linked to our website and on our Facebook page. They will be presented at one of the weekly “Kaffestunden” later in the academic year, and the winners will be recognized at the annual Awards Day. Three scholarship prizes will be awarded: 1st prize $300 2nd prize $200 3rd prize $100
Sponsors:
UIC Germanic Studies
German Information Center USA
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Washington
For more information visit: http://lcsl.uic.edu/germanic/25-years-of-german-unity
