080009 SE M310 Cultural Practices and Semiosis in Everyday Life (2020S)

In the course of the 19th century, there was no country from which more "Auswanderer" went "nach Amerika" than Germany. One of these millions was Thekla Scholtz (born 1888) from Upper Silesia. At the age of 22, she followed her two brothers to the USA in 1910, where she worked as a domestic servant - and where she met Robert Kiefer. The travelling musician and cabinetmaker also came from Germany, where he returned in 1913, and where he was later drafted into the First World War as a soldier.

An extensive collection of letters, postcards and photographs of Thekla Scholtz and Robert Kiefer and members of their families is preserved. These self-testimonies document their life in Upper Silesia and their mobility in Central Europe and the United States. In the seminar these historical sources will be made available for the first time for scientific evaluation.

Differend learning objectives will be pursued on their basis:

1) Discussion of various aspects of transatlantic migration from 1900 to 1918: The historical context will be developed on the basis of research literature.

2) Dealing with self-testimonies as research sources: To this end, the transcription and organization of the manuscripts will be learned and practiced.

3) Dealing with digital possibilities in transcribing, communicating and networking one’s own research results.

The course takes place simultaneously at five universities as a transnational research seminar. We cooperate with the Universities of Missouri in Kansas City and St. Louis (USA), Hamburg (DL) and Wrocław (PL).

The students will partly work together and practice the competence of giving feedback. The transatlantic exchange among students is a central part of the inovative course.
The language of communication will be English - short written contributions will also be written in English. (Assistance will be offered.)
The sources and lessons in Vienna are in German.