2009 marks the 20th anniversary of a chain of events that occurred across the Eurasian continent in 1989 and ultimately led to the end of communism in Eastern Europe. Among these events were the Polish parliamentary elections of June 4th, the Tiananmen Square Uprising in the same month, and the opening of the Berlin Wall on November 9th. There are a number of activities on campus that are happening in recognition of these events:
Poster Competition
Film Series
1-Credit Course
Juried “Revolutions of 1989” Art and Research Poster Competition
All WSU students are invited to participate in a juried contest by submitting artistic and research projects reflecting the historical events of 1989. Participants can concentrate on one event or country, or put the events in a broader context (e.g., protests in China's Tiananmen Square, or developments in the Soviet Union).
Two types of projects are being solicited:
a. An artistic interpretations of events. Creative uses of all media are encouraged.
b. Research-based posters, where the author's ideas are delivered with the help of text, charts, images, etc.
The size of the posters should be 22x28 or 24x36.
Projects (or images of them) must be submitted in digital form by November 9. Finalists will be asked to submit their original work by November 13 for public display in the Undergraduate Library. More details about how and where to submit will be announced at the beginning of November.
Students in GER 2020 who submit posters for the contest can receive up to 1% extra credit added to their final grade. The amount of extra credit will reflect the quality of the work.
If you have any questions, please write Alina Klin at ad7484@wayne.edu
Film Series: Cinematic Reflections of Communism and Its Aftermath
In October and November, an interdisciplinary group of WSU faculty will present a series of documentary and feature films dealing with communism and its aftermath in China, Germany, Hungary, Korea, Poland, and Russia. Students in GER 2020 who attend films can receive extra credit as per the course extra credit policy.
All films will be shown in 368 Manoogian and will start at 5 p.m.
Early Communism and the Ideal of the Worker
Oct. 13: Trace of Stones, East Germany, 1966; presented by Lisabeth Hock, CMLLC/German
Oct. 15: Sunseekers, East Germany, 1958; presented by Kirsten Thompson, English/Film Studies
Love, Loss, and Politics
Oct. 20: Little Moscow, Poland, 2008, Presented by Kenneth Brostrom, CMLLC/Russian
Oct. 21: Little Vera, Russia, 1988 Presented by Aaron Retish, History
Communism and Protest in Asia
Oct. 27: Documentary 5.18: The May 18 Kwangju Democratic Uprising and Memento Memory-10F6; presented by Katherine Kim, Philosophy
Oct. 28: The Gate of Heavenly Peace, USA, 1997; presented by Alex Day, History
Postmodern Appropriations
Nov. 3: Taxidermia, Hungary, 2006; presented by Steve Shaviro, English/Film Studies
Nov. 4: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Canada, 2001; presented by Fran Shor, History
State Control and State Collapse
Nov. 10: The Lives of Others, Germany, 2006; presented by Felecia Lucht, CMLLC/German
Nov. 11: Perestroika, USA, 2009; presented by Laura Kline, CMLLC/Russian
Choices, Possibilities, and Concepts of Freedom
Nov. 17: Blind Chance, Poland, 1981; presented by Kevin Deegan-Krause, Political Science
Nov. 18: Generation 89 and diaries.pl, Poland; presented by Alina Klin, CMLLC/Polish
Students who attend all of the Tuesday or all of the Wednesday showings in the above series can receive course credit. More information is available on the syllabus for GER 3700/POL 3700/RUS 3700/SLA 3700/UKR3700/HIS 3995