School: Years 11–12 (Grundkurs)
List of entries
The painting Nighthawks by Edward Hopper is often described as timeless and univeral. It shows three customers and a waiter in an all-night diner, but none of these ‘night owls’ portrayed here appear to talk to each other. The fluorescent lighting, which was a new development in American restaurants in the 1940s, as well as […]
“It will happen. … maybe you’re just not listening to the poetry right.” In this spoken word poem, the speaker conveys experiences of her sexuality being dismissed; wrapped up in the metaphor of “don’t worry the poem will get good“. The performance can act as an introduction to discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, identity, sexuality, stereotypes, […]
American Pictures is a collection of approximately 22,000 photos revealing racism, segregation, social hierarchies and white supremacy. The powerful pictures of Danish photographer Jacob Holdt were not taken with an artistic intention but rather to capture the hardship and brutal reality of America in the 1970s. Holdt’s work portraits life in ghettos ranging from poverty, homelessness […]
The cartoon “War Against Climate Change” by Chriss Riddell, published in The Guardian on December 20, 2009, critically investigates the devastating effects of climate change in the near future and the denial of responsibility by older generations. Based on the scenery, a grandfather sits in an armchair with his granddaughter on his lap and his grandson sitting […]
The cartoon “Do What I Say, Not What I Do” by Patrick Chappatte, published in The New York Times on December 8, 2005, critically investigates environmental pollution and the reluctance of industrial countries to make a change. Based on the scenery, a stout American with a drinking bottle saying “Oil” suggests to an Asian businessman that: “To […]
This ecocritical, animated short film for children, young adults and other ages, which was adapted from Tom Rivett-Carnac’s children’s book by the same name, shares an empowering message: “No time for sorrow, we are building tomorrow.” Following a young girl, the story explores how mankind rediscovers nature during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, which, […]
The cartoon “American Dream Helper” by Steve Greenberg, published in the Marin Independent Journal in November 2001, critically investigates a contemporary version of the American Dream and outlines that the pursuit of happiness can only be achieved in reality, if one just adds enough money. Based on the scenery, a woman longing for a life of material […]
This Irish novel is about social difficulties in mid 20th century Ireland, emigration, and cultural identity. The book follows Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman who is not cannot find work. Thus, she decides to immigrate to the United States as she, too, heard of the American Dream. After some initial difficulties, she falls in […]
This post-modern autobiographical novel mainly focuses on mental health, addressing suicide and psychological treatments. Esther Greenwood is a young woman in the 1950s aiming for an academic career. When she is almost raped during an internship far away from home, she becomes mentally unstable. Her mental health declines further as she loses her perspective of […]
“The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?“ This teenage novel on identity construction, gender fluidity, internet blogging, peer pressure and coming out follows the story of Riley Cavanaugh, a nonbinary teenager, who neither fully identifies as a boy or a girl. […]
Simon Spier is a 16-year-old high school junior with an affinity for musical theatre. Lately, he’s been flirting online with a boy he only knows as “Blue”. He isn’t out of the closet; and plans on keeping it that way for the foreseeable future. This choice is taken from him when a classmate starts blackmailing […]
“I had been brought up not to think about the Others in terms of where they came from or who they were, to ignore all that—they were just Others.” This dystopian novel tells the story of a world broken by climate change, divided by man. James always knew he would have to become a Defender. […]
This novel on the devastating impact of a tropical storm follows the life of a working-class family in southern Mississippi. As a family of five, 15-year-old Esch along with her three brothers and her father live in poverty, often not knowing when their next meal will be. Despite this, her brother Skeetah finds joy in […]
This award-winning young adult novel about isolation, identity construction, being different and coming out as transgender, follows 17-year-old J, who lives with his parents in New York and does not identify as a female. To cover his body, J wears long baggy pants, large T-shirts and also keeps his hair short. Experiencing peer pressure at […]
This is a film navigating ideologies, manipulation and the big question of free will. In a world full of crime, the project PreCrime by a specialized police department in Washington DC seems to offer a convenient solution. “Criminals” are arrested and convicted before commiting the crime they are accused of, based on predictions of psychics […]
18-year-old Georgia is about to start college and has never been in love. Sure, she’s read and fantasized about it, but real-life love? – Nowhere in sight. And so Georgia sets out on the college adventure of figuring out who she is and what she’s actually looking for. When she comes across the terms asexual […]
Two American boys, two very different circumstances. Rashad, a black 16-year-old student, is mistakenly accused of shoplifting in a convenience store. The arrest leads to Rashad being beaten by police officer Paul Galluzo. And although the assault is witnessed by Quinn, who sees Paul as a father-figure, the football player struggles with accepting the brutality […]
This alarming play about homophobia, discrimination and hate crime is based on the brutal murder of the gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard on October 6, 1998. Told from many perspectives, which are taken from actual interviews with relatives, friends and neighbours of Matthew Shepard, Thee Laramie Project investigates the case and its aftermath capturing the […]