The purpose of the seminar is to promote the interdisciplinary study of historical, political, social and cultural aspects of modern and contemporary German affairs and to advance their understanding among scholars in the US and Canada. The program is open to faculty and recent PhDs in germane social science and cultural studies fields. This year's seminar will be led by Professor David Levin at the University of Chicago and will explore the relationship between performance and media in both creative and conceptual approaches to German culture.

The seminar has two main objectives: to explore recent theories in performance studies and media studies and to consider how that work enables us to rethink performance in a cross-section of genres (including dance, opera, cinema, and theater). Concepts and experiences of performance will also be interrogated along two axes: the history of performance and the performance of mediality.

Participants working on German performance cultures or media cultures of any historical period are welcome to apply.

Applications are due by March 1, 2011. For additional information on stipends and fees, eligibility criteria, seminar content, and application instructions, please see the DAAD Web site at http://www.daad.org.