GERM 274 - Deep Dives into German Culture

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

Topic for 2026/2027b: To Catan and Beyond: Exploring the Wonderful World of German Board Games. Particularly with the international blockbuster Settlers of Catan, contemporary German board games have revitalized the industry. They have done so by highlighting innovative mechanics, strategy, and social interaction while de-emphasizing roll-and-move play, military games, and the early elimination of players. In this Intensive, students immerse themselves in the history of German board games, including such milestones as Reisewitz’s Kriegsspiel (1812), which was used to train Prussian officers in military strategy. This game sets the stage for military games in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries (including the popular board game Risk), a tradition with which contemporary German board games break. Our exploration is guided by a variety of questions: What functions do board games play in society? How can they reflect or playfully undermine broader societal values? How do the mechanics of board games relate to their narrative content? Student projects include designing, producing (in collaboration with Vassar’s Innovation Lab), and testing an original game. Elliott Schreiber.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

All readings, games, and discussions are in English.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS