The Wave is a movie based on real circumstances: A history teacher in the USA tried to answer the questions of his students: Why was it possible that the national socialists could move a whole nation to war? Why did the Germans not stop the killings in the concentration camps and why did most of them not know what was happening there? Is a dictatorship like the one of Hitler in Germany possible again in modern times?
To answer these questions the teacher made an experiment to show the students what a dictatorship is about. However the project went wrong and the story moved around the world. At first a movie was made in the 80’s in the USA for television, later a novel was written by Morton Rhue and last year a German movie was produced with Jürgen Vogel in the male main character role. The movies and the novel caused a lot of discussions about the National Socialism in Germany in the 1930’s and 40’s and about the possibility of autocracies in general. This movie shows what is needed to develop a dictatorship and how people change during this process.
In the USA German history is not taught very detailed, therefore many students have a lot of questions when it comes to the topic of the Second World War. As well as the students in the 80’s, students of today can not imagine how Hitler came to rule Germany and to kill so many people. Even German students often do not understand the fanaticism of the generations of their grandparents for that system. Hence there is a need for explanation in both countries. Therefore an e-mail project between a German class and a US class could help to answer the questions and to remove prejudices of both sides concerning the National Socialism.
This paper presents an idea for a Transatlantic E-mail exchange about the National Socialism on the example of the movie The Wave. Both classes use the movie as the basis for their discussions with the task to find out if a dictatorship like the one of Hitler is possible in our times. The project should last 6 weeks in which the students work with the e-mails twice a week and for each transaction with the other side have different tasks. At the end a reader should be produced with the discoveries the different groups made.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The Story of The Wave - Historical Background
- 3 Didactics
- 3.1 Movie Didactics
- 3.2 Learning Networks
- 4 E-mail-Project The Wave
- 5 Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The objective of this paper is to present an idea for a transatlantic e-mail exchange between German and US students focusing on the movie "The Wave" to explore the possibility of a dictatorship like Hitler's in modern times. The project aims to facilitate understanding of National Socialism and dispel prejudices on both sides.
- The possibility of dictatorship in modern times.
- The methods and effects of autocratic regimes.
- The role of media and propaganda in shaping public opinion.
- Intercultural communication and exchange.
- The use of film in education.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the film "The Wave" and its real-life origins, highlighting its relevance in exploring the rise of dictatorships and the challenges of understanding National Socialism for students in both the US and Germany. The chapter proposes a six-week transatlantic e-mail project using the film as a basis for discussion and analysis, aiming to foster intercultural understanding and critical thinking about the nature of autocracy. The project's structure, tasks, and expected outcomes are briefly outlined, setting the stage for the subsequent chapters' detailed exploration of the project's didactics and implementation.
2 The story of The Wave - historical background: This chapter provides a detailed synopsis of the 2008 film "The Wave," directed by Dennis Gansel. It traces the narrative from Mr. Wenger's unconventional teaching style to the escalating events within his class as they create "The Wave," a group mirroring the characteristics of a totalitarian regime. The chapter highlights the transformations of individual students, particularly Tim and Marco, showcasing how they are drawn into the group's extremist behaviors. The chapter emphasizes the film's depiction of the seductive nature of power and the rapid descent into violence and chaos, underscoring the film's central themes of conformity, obedience, and the dangers of unchecked authority.
3 Didactics: This chapter focuses on the pedagogical framework underpinning the proposed e-mail project. It begins by discussing the value of using film in education, particularly for developing intercultural competencies and critical media literacy. The chapter emphasizes that films offer a multi-sensory learning experience that enables students to engage with complex themes while developing their critical thinking skills. It argues that the use of "The Wave" facilitates the exploration of challenging historical and social issues through an engaging and accessible medium.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
National Socialism, dictatorship, autocracy, The Wave, film didactics, e-mail project, intercultural communication, propaganda, conformity, obedience, totalitarianism, critical media literacy.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Transatlantic E-mail Project Using "The Wave"
What is this document about?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a paper proposing a transatlantic e-mail project for German and US students. The project uses the movie "The Wave" as a basis for exploring themes of National Socialism, dictatorship, and the dangers of unchecked authority. The preview includes a table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What is the main objective of the e-mail project?
The primary objective is to facilitate a cross-cultural exchange between German and US students, using the film "The Wave" to discuss the possibility of dictatorship in modern times, understand the methods and effects of autocratic regimes, and dispel prejudices.
What are the key themes explored in the project?
Key themes include the possibility of dictatorship in modern times, the methods and effects of autocratic regimes, the role of media and propaganda, intercultural communication, the use of film in education, conformity, obedience, and the dangers of unchecked authority.
What is the role of the movie "The Wave" in the project?
"The Wave" serves as the central focus of the e-mail exchange. Students will analyze the film's narrative, characters, and themes to understand the historical context of National Socialism and its relevance to contemporary society. The film's engaging nature facilitates discussions on complex historical and social issues.
How is the project structured?
The project is structured as a six-week transatlantic e-mail exchange. The document outlines the project's structure, tasks, and expected outcomes across several chapters, detailing the project's didactics and implementation.
What are the key chapters and their content?
The document is divided into chapters covering an introduction to the project and the film; a detailed synopsis of "The Wave" and its historical context; a discussion of the pedagogical approach, including the use of film in education and intercultural communication; and a conclusion. Each chapter offers a summary within the document preview.
What are the pedagogical approaches used in this project?
The project utilizes film didactics, emphasizing the value of film as a multi-sensory learning tool for developing intercultural competencies and critical media literacy. The project aims to foster critical thinking skills and engagement with complex historical and social issues.
What are the expected outcomes of the project?
The project aims to foster intercultural understanding, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of National Socialism and the dangers of authoritarianism among participating students.
What are the keywords associated with this project?
Keywords include: National Socialism, dictatorship, autocracy, The Wave, film didactics, e-mail project, intercultural communication, propaganda, conformity, obedience, totalitarianism, and critical media literacy.
- Quote paper
- Doreen Bärwolf (Author), 2008, "The Wave" as an exchange project, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/156445
