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Generational Identity and the Wende: Institutional Influence and the Last Generation of the GDR

Jackson, Jill H.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1591777141244554

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Humanities (MHum), Wright State University, Humanities.
Political and cultural institutions of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) shaped generational identity before and after Germany’s Wende, or reunification. This thesis considers two memoirs, Zonenkinder and Meine freie deutsche Jugend, which were published after reunification and written by members of the GDR’s last generation. Contextualizing their memoirs in the context of the GDR’s political culture illustrates the degree to which memories are mediated by external factors and how in the confrontations with external assessments, portrayals emerge that focus on peculiarities rather than unifying features. Depictions of significant moments from the formative years of these authors demonstrate how social memories provide a unique way of communicating. Furthermore, these memoirs illustrate how historical representations may be exclusionary and the consequences of historical narratives that are narrowly linked to ideology. This study also reveals the benefit of memory discourse as it relates to commemorative celebrations and determining future models of national identity.
Elfe Dona, Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair)
Donovan Miyasaki, Ph.D. (Committee Co-Chair)
Renate Sturdevant, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
69 p.
Germanic Literature; Modern Language
German reunification; memory formats; commemoration; GDR institutions

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jackson, J. H. (2020). Generational Identity and the Wende: Institutional Influence and the Last Generation of the GDR [Master's thesis, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1591777141244554

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jackson, Jill. Generational Identity and the Wende: Institutional Influence and the Last Generation of the GDR. 2020. Wright State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1591777141244554.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jackson, Jill. "Generational Identity and the Wende: Institutional Influence and the Last Generation of the GDR." Master's thesis, Wright State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1591777141244554

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

wright1591777141244554
268
© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.