Developments in the two German states from 1968 to the collapse of the GDR, with emphasis on unification and its current impact. Literary reflections on the far-reaching social reorganization represented by unification are only now coming out. We will look at films, short novels, stories, plays, poetry, interviews and essays by writers such as Handke, Braun, Plenzdorf, Schneider, Grass, Hein and Kraus. Political, economic and cultural aspects we will examine are: the relationship between the two Germanies, the situation of women and minorities, alternative culture, the reckoning with the Nazi past. Seminar. All readings in German. Requirements: active class participation, two short papers and a 10-page term paper.