Who is the victim? The woman who was brutally murdered? Or rather her husband, who killed her, and whose intolerable moral torment inflicted by her during many years of marriage is revealed? Responsibilities shift and blur.
The stories of Ferdinand von Schirach (*1964) are profoundly disturbing and challenge our moral values. This lawyer specialising in criminal law succeeds in showing us that, placed in the same circumstances, victims of the same of the same twists of fate, we could have committed the same crimes.
The collections of short stories Verbrechen/Crimes (2009) and Schuld/Coupables (2010), based on cases from his archives, take us right to the heart of the mechanics of criminal cases and the psychology of those who commit them.
The language is simple, harsh and calculated, yet the stories lose none of their humanity.
In Germany alone, sales of Ferdinand von Schirach's books reached over a million copies in February 2012. In 2022, ‘Nachmittage’ also topped the sales charts. In several other countries, these works are best-sellers.
As well as the recent autobiographical texts (Kaffee und Zigaretten, 2019) and fascinating stories, you will be able to discover their various adaptations: two mini-series for German television ZDF (2015 & 2013).
As well as the recent autobiographical texts (Nachmittage, 2022) and fascinating stories, you will be able to discover their various film adaptations: two mini-series for German television ZDF (2015 & 2013).
The creative aim of this course is, inspired by Ferdinand von Schirach's short stories, to write (in pairs) a short story based on a news item of your choice.
I look forward to seeing your little masterpiece!
Assessment: 3 marks
- Active participation in course discussions
- Two written assignments:
A short story based on a news item of your choice (at least 4000 characters)
A review of an adaptation of a short story (2000 characters)
Coordinator: Christine VELAN
Period: Autumn & Spring
Number of hours : 30
ECTS credits : 3
- Teaching coordinator: Knörzer Heidi
- Teaching coordinator: Velan Christine