CELEBRATING THE BALAGAN 3: ISRAEL’S SOCIETY REFLECTED IN FEATURE FILMS (ONLINE)
The Hebrew word balagan can be translated into mess, chaos.
This course will discuss the texture of contemporary Israeli society, based on an analysis of Israeli movies. Until the 1980s, Israeli society pursued a social ideal that derived from European-Socialist-Zionist dominance and the (real or virtual) experience of the Holocaust. Social unity and uniformity were forged by different institutions and organizations (army, kibbutz-movement, trade unions).
Recent cultural multiplicity and the ideological-political diversity emerged after the Zionist, European and socialist ideal, whether together or separately, have ceased to serve as a basis for national consensus.
After a general presentation of historical facts, the course will explore the different ethnic, cultural, ideological, and religious sectors in Israeli society. Starting out with the identity of second-generation Holocaust survivors, the course will introduce the students to the fascinating, yet problematic reality of a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society that needs to negotiate its national consensus anew.
The course is given in collaboration with the Center for Jewish Cultural History, Paris Lodron University, Salzburg and Paideia – The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden.
Course structure
Each lesson consists of an introduction, watching a movie (90-120 minutes) and discussion.
Prior knowledge
The course is given in English.
No prior knowledge about the subject is needed. Both participants that have taken the courses Celebrating the Balagan 1 and Celebrating the Balagan 2 and those new to the topic are welcome to apply.
To apply for this course, you need basic computer skills and knowledge of how to use the digital platform Zoom. The school offers Zoom manuals and a training opportunity before the start of the course.
Course material
Course material is included. Additional reading may be recommended by the teacher and is to be acquired by the participants. The teacher will inform you of this, if you get accepted to the course.
About the teacher
Louise Hecht was recently the Lilli and Michael Sommerfreund guest professor at the Hochschule für Jüdische Studien in Heidelberg, Germany. She studied Judaic Studies, German and Spanish literature at the University Vienna, Austria. She holds a PhD in Jewish History from The Hebrew University, Jerusalem (summa cum laude) and a habilitation in Jewish Cultural History from the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg. Her teaching and research focus on cultural and intellectual history, gender studies, printing culture and popular culture in Israel.
Photo: from the movie “Children of the Sun”
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Course information
Times
Wednesdays 17:00-20:30 CET
Course start
Wednesday 22 October
7 sessions
Teacher
Louise Hecht
Application deadline
Sunday 22 June