080003 PS Case Study II/III: Censored! Between Official and Underground Art in State-Socialist Central Europe (2025S)

Content
In this proseminar, we will examine the interplay between state-sponsored art in socialist Central Europe and subversive artistic efforts both within and outside the so-called underground scene. Our main focus is on how the authoritarian regimes of the former GDR, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary sought to establish a particular (trans)national cultural narrative through various means - and how oppositional artists resisted through their art forms.

We will cover the period from the early post-war years to the democratic transition in Central Europe. After a theoretical introduction, we will analyze exemplary case studies from different Central European countries. Key themes include the institutional structures of state-sponsored art and their ideological underpinnings; the emergence of subversive cultures as expressions of resistance; artists' strategies for navigating between state cultural policies and subversive practices; and the role of transnational networks and the international dimension of cultural transfer within authoritarian regimes.

Course Objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to
a) situate the socialist era in Central Europe both temporally and geographically, and identify and interpret the various state and subversive actors;
b) extract, connect, and critically analyze information and perspectives on subversive techniques in Central Europe from secondary sources;
c) identify common narratives (socialist realism vs. abstraction; freedom vs. censorship) and critically question them in order to develop independent perspectives;
d) Understand the complexity of individual and systemic dynamics;
e) Independently identify and critically examine contemporary examples;
f) express their own opinions and hypotheses, both orally and in writing, based on the theoretical framework provided.

Teaching and Learning Methods
Students will begin with independent reading, followed by a group discussion of the specialized literature in the course. Methods that encourage active participation from all students will be employed, such as guided reading with specific questions, small group discussions, and subsequent plenary discussions. Additionally, we will visit a cultural institution together and/or engage in a joint discussion with an expert. As per the curriculum, a presentation and the completion of a paper are mandatory. After the oral presentations, students will be trained in both giving and receiving academic feedback, refining their ability to formulate precise questions.