LFU:online

Expansion and consolidation of specific knowledge in the field of contemporary history by examination of new and uncommon topics, taking into account current tendencies and controversies of research, applying scientific skills (methods and working techniques) and linking with basic content, development of skills for the independent formulation of historical questions.

Biography and autobiography are among the most popular and best-selling genres of historical writing. In this course we will explore (auto)biography as a prism through which history can be understood, in our case the history of Zionism and of the State of Israel. We will analyze the lives of individuals as related to Zionism – a collective Jewish national project. We will ask methodological questions about the role of individuals in history and historiography, about the relationship between the biographer and her protagonist, and the different strategies and aims between autobiographical writing and biographical writing. We will read chapters of biographical literature on individuals such as Theodor Herzl, David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Gershom Scholem and more.

Lecture, reading, discussions

The students are expected to participate actively in the class and to work throughout the semester on a biographical research project, which will be presented in class and submitted as a paper at the end of the semester.​

Although the readings and discussions will be in English, both presentations and final essays could be held/written in German.

A full reading list will be provided at the start of the course.

Online-enrollment required, starting on Feb. 1, 2019