Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures University of Toronto

We are delighted to announce the recipients of this year’s Undergraduate Awards in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures. These awards recognize outstanding achievement in German Studies, including academic excellence, language proficiency, and leadership in community engagement. Please join us in congratulating the following students for their exceptional contributions and accomplishments. Leadership & Community Engagement in German Studies Award Aditi Kolluru As President of the German Studies Student Union in the academic year of 2024-25, she has led the executive committee with dedication – overseeing budgeting, administration, and student initiatives that promote German culture and community. Previously, as the Union’s Director of Communications, she managed all outreach and publicity to ensure wide engagement with departmental events. Beyond German Studies, Aditi serves as the Representative for the Hart House Finance Committee on the Board of Stewards, the highest governing body of Hart House, where she contributes to planning events and promoting financial literacy. Her commitment to leadership, volunteerism, and building connections across communities makes her a truly deserving recipient of this award. Excellence in German Studies Award Brian Finn Brian is a dedicated and accomplished student in German Studies, known for his academic excellence and creative engagement with the field. ... Read More »

The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures is excited to announce the three new undergraduate awards: Leadership & Community Engagement in German StudiesGerman Language Prize Excellence in German Studies These awards provide an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students to gain recognition for their hard work, dedication, and passion for German Studies. We encourage all eligible students to apply or discuss the nomination process with their instructors. Application/Nomination Deadline: March 21, 2025Award Recipients Announcement: April 4, 2025 For more information about each award, please click the link below. Leadership & Community Engagement in German Studies (by application)German Language Prize (by nomination from course instructors)Excellence in German Studies (by application) Feel free to contact us at german.undergradadmin@utoronto.ca for any questions. Read More »

You are warmly invited to an academic lecture by Prof. Christiane Arndt, Associate Prof. in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Queen’s University. Lecture Title:Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Gardening in Recent LiteratureDate: Thursday, March 13, 2025Time: 4:00 PMLocation: Department Library, Room 323, 3rd Floor, Odette Hall About the Lecture:In response to recent ecological and societal crises, literary texts might not initially appear as an obvious solution. Yet auto-fictional texts that explore material practices such as gardening are trending. By engaging with themes like racism, colonialism, and ecological activism, these works engage with gardening in a narrative framework that has the potential to probe the complex interplay of identity and societal narratives.Central to the discussion are analyses of works by Camille Dungy, Jamaica Kincaid, and Lola Randl, which illustrate diverse interactions between gardening and writing. These texts explore issues of racism, colonialism and ecological activism, and thus exemplify how gardening provides a lens through which to explore the dynamic between material practices and narrativity.The discussion is theoretically informed by insights from material culture theories, particularly those of Donna Haraway and Tim Ingold. Exploring how material practices are narrated within an anthropological framework underscores the transformative potential of integrating narrative ... Read More »

You are warmly invited to an academic lecture by Prof. Tobias Hof, DAAD Associate Professor for German Studies and History at the University of Toronto. Lecture Title:‘Völkisch Visions’: The Artist Johann Bossard, National Socialism, and the Legacy of an IdeologyDate: Thursday, February 27, 2025Time: 4:00 PMLocation: Charbonnel Lounge, Elmsley Hall About the Lecture:The term ‘völkisch’ has reemerged in German public discourse, fueled by the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland. But what lies beneath this ideology? Through the lens of artist Johann Michael Bossard (1874–1950) and his Gesamtkunstwerk in the Lüneburg Heath (built 1911–1950), the talk explores the origins and worldview of the völkisch movement. It examines not only its ties to and distinctions from National Socialism but also the remarkable endurance of völkisch networks long after the end of World War II. About the Speaker: Tobias Hof is DAAD Associate Professor for German Studies and History at the University of Toronto. He was previously the 2022/2023 Hannah Arendt Visiting Chair at the Munk School for Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, DAAD Visiting Professor at the History Department at UNC Chapel Hill and a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis. He received his Ph.D. from the University in ... Read More »

The iPRAKTIKUM futurGenerator program offers German learners the opportunity to apply their skills in a real-world setting through internships with partner organizations across Germany. Since 2019, more than 25 students have participated in this enriching experience—18 in Freiburg, 8 in Berlin, and 1 in Leipzig. Through hands-on work and cultural immersion, they have gained valuable professional insights and deepened their connection to German language and society. In this spotlight, we share the stories of past participants and how this program has shaped their academic and career journeys. Rudy Yuana 3rd-year student who interned with Agrikultur e.V. through iPRAKTIKUM. Rudy is now pursuing a research paper on how agroecological practices can strengthen food security in the face of uncertain global trade.  Renee Asoro4th year student Renee Asoro appreciated the flexibility that the iPRAKTIKUM futurGenerator summer internship program provided which allowed her to set her own goals and have enriching and unforgettable experiences outside of her placement.After completing her futurGenerator internship with Die Agronauten e.V. in Freiburg, Germany, Renee went on to complete the DAAD Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE) program in Bonn. Renee credits her iPRAKTIKUM experience for encouraging and preparing her to pursue further research and education opportunities in ... Read More »

The iPRAKTIKUM futurGenerator program offers German learners the opportunity to apply their skills in a real-world setting through internships with partner organizations across Germany. Since 2019, more than 25 students have participated in this enriching experience—18 in Freiburg, 8 in Berlin, and 1 in Leipzig. Through hands-on work and cultural immersion, they have gained valuable professional insights and deepened their connection to German language and society. In this spotlight, we share the stories of past participants and how this program has shaped their academic and career journeys. Rudy Yuana 3rd-year student who interned with Agrikultur e.V. through iPRAKTIKUM. Rudy is now pursuing a research paper on how agroecological practices can strengthen food security in the face of uncertain global trade.  Renee Asoro4th year student Renee Asoro appreciated the flexibility that the iPRAKTIKUM futurGenerator summer internship program provided which allowed her to set her own goals and have enriching and unforgettable experiences outside of her placement.After completing her futurGenerator internship with Die Agronauten e.V. in Freiburg, Germany, Renee went on to complete the DAAD Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE) program in Bonn. Renee credits her iPRAKTIKUM experience for encouraging and preparing her to pursue further research and education opportunities in ... Read More »

For Maxx Calame, a first-year student and self-proclaimed vampire connoisseur, enrolling in GER194H Our Vampires, Ourselves was a defining factor in choosing the University of Toronto. This captivating course, taught by Professor Erol Boran, delves into the cultural and historical significance of vampires, examining how these immortal figures reflect societal fears, desires, and transformations. With a syllabus that spans classic and contemporary vampire tales—Dracula, Carmilla, True Blood, Twilight, and more—students explore the ever-evolving nature of these creatures. “Vampires change with the times, but very often they’re presented as out of time,” says Professor Boran, highlighting the paradox that keeps vampires endlessly fascinating. The course offers students the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions, analyze literary and cinematic depictions of vampires, and consider how these figures serve as mirrors of our own experiences. Whether students arrive as long-time enthusiasts of vampire lore or as newcomers to the genre, GER194H promises a fresh and compelling perspective on these legendary beings. Read more about this fantastic course in A&S News by Cynthia Macdonald. Read More »

For Maxx Calame, a first-year student and self-proclaimed vampire connoisseur, enrolling in GER194H Our Vampires, Ourselves was a defining factor in choosing the University of Toronto. This captivating course, taught by Professor Erol Boran, delves into the cultural and historical significance of vampires, examining how these immortal figures reflect societal fears, desires, and transformations. With a syllabus that spans classic and contemporary vampire tales—Dracula, Carmilla, True Blood, Twilight, and more—students explore the ever-evolving nature of these creatures. “Vampires change with the times, but very often they’re presented as out of time,” says Professor Boran, highlighting the paradox that keeps vampires endlessly fascinating. The course offers students the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions, analyze literary and cinematic depictions of vampires, and consider how these figures serve as mirrors of our own experiences. Whether students arrive as long-time enthusiasts of vampire lore or as newcomers to the genre, GER194H promises a fresh and compelling perspective on these legendary beings. Read more about this fantastic course in A&S News by Cynthia Macdonald. Read More »

The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures is pleased to announce the publication of Alternative Temporalities: The Emancipatory Power of Narrative, co-authored by Teresa Valentini, Angela Weiser, and John Zilcosky. About the Authors:John Zilcosky is professor of German and Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto. He has won the MLA’s Scaglione Book Award and the Humboldt Foundation’s Bessel Research Prize. Zilcosky is a 2013 fellow of the US National Endowment for the Humanities and a 2022 Guggenheim Fellow. Teresa Valentini is a recent PhD graduate from the Centre for Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto and the recipient of the two-year Faculty of Arts and Science Postdoctoral Fellowship Award at the University of Toronto. Her recent articles have appeared in Forum for Modern Language Studies, the James Joyce Quarterly, and Quaderni di Italianistica. Angela Weiser is a writer and editor and holds an MA in Comparative Literature from the University of Toronto. Her projects include research assistance for the book Cloth that Changed the World: The Art and Fashion of Indian Chintz (Yale and Royal Ontario Museum, 2020) and corresponding exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum. About Alternative Temporalities: The Emancipatory Power of Narrative: Alternative temporalities have often emerged as a reaction to the normativizing force of time, ... Read More »

You are warmly invited to an academic presentation by Astrid Klee, PhD candidate in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.Presentation Title:Representations of Mental Illness in the Patient Cases of Emil Kraepelin’s Einführung in die Psychiatrische Klinik (Introduction to Psychiatric Practice)Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025Time: 4:00 PMLocation: Odette Hall, Room 323About the Speaker: Astrid Klee’s research is a starting point for reassessing the descriptions of normative behaviour and deviance from norms within the context of psychiatric cases and how these preconceptions extend into current language use. Scientific language is used to convey a sense that what is written is incontrovertible fact, and this research not only provides insight into the use and manipulation of language in cases of insanity but also re-evaluates perceptions of otherness within culture. Presentation Description:In her dissertation project, Klee demonstrates how an examination of patient cases presented in Kraepelin’s Einführung in die Psychiatrische Klinik not only reveals the logic of Kraepelin’s development of a system of categorization, it also reveals a subtext of cultural and personal preconceptions.Emil Kraepelin (1856-1926), whom some consider to be the father of modern psychiatry, is credited with developing the psychiatric classification system that is still used today. The latest version of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and ... Read More »