After a wonderful stay in France, we have safely made it across the border (two, in fact!) to Germany. Our train from Paris to Cologne made a stop in Brussels, Belgium, which, according to some of our students, means they can now say they have visited Belgium as well--one more country for the list! Although we had a few travel hiccups along the way, we are all enjoying Germany so far. After a brief stop in Cologne, we are now in Berlin, where we are staying at the historic Park Inn, which is the second-tallest building in the city. Those of us lucky enough to have rooms on the higher floors have amazing views of the city. After checking in, we had a quick walking tour of the neighborhood, focused on Alexanderplatz, named for Tsar Alexander I of Russia at the end of World War II. We are in what was the Soviet sector, later East Berlin under the Federal German Republic. There is a lot to see very close to the hotel, including the Urania World Clock, the Fernsehturm TV tower--Germany's highest structure--as well as Rotes Rathaus, Berlin's town hall. Despite our busy schedule, we have found time for academic content as well. It is impossible to visit Berlin without confronting the difficult history of World War II and the Nazi regime, so we began by learning about German history in the late modern era. This was a natural transition after visiting Versailles and discussing Napoleon's conquests. Dating back well beyond the Franco-Prussian War, which is where our discussion began, these two neighbors engaged in sustained conflicts which led directly to the Second World War. Students have an exceptional amount of prior knowledge to contribute--they barely need instructors! We sought to explore new angles to topics that most students know quite well; we looked at the W.H. Auden poem Refugee Blues to bring a human element to the refugee crisis that preceded the Holocaust. This was good preparation for our first full day in Berlin, which included a visit to the German History Museum, the Brandenburg Gate (see below), and several memorials to victims of the war. At this time (about 5:30 on Wednesday in Berlin), we are resting up before dinner and a classical music concert titled "Beauty Against Violence," a theme which we have and will continue to explore through our time in Europe. On a similar note, we have an additional student reflection, below, from our recent visit to the Louvre. Thank you to Riley Kuh for this contribution! -Will & Amanda Art, History and Art History Art is one of my favorite things in the world, and the Louvre (along with Versailles!) embodies my favorite style of art: Romanticism. Paintings such as Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix and The Coronation of Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David are some of the most incredible recollections of history, in my opinion, and further my love for history and the art depicting it. Much of the art in the Louvre is impressive--no, ALL of the art in the Louvre is impressive. But many of the most impressive paintings and sculptures are not nearly as known as, say, the Mona Lisa. The courtyards are filled to the brim with perfectly chiseled sculptures, and the halls are lined with countless paintings. Everybody can find something they like. For myself, it was the passionate paintings of historical moments, or paintings that personified a movement. Paintings of generals, battles, revolutions, and strife are romantically depicted in the halls near the Mona Lisa. These paintings are subject to countless passersby, many of whom just visited the Mona Lisa which, some might say, is a bit underwhelming, give its reputation. These paintings are some of the most incredible pieces of art in the world, yet many simply overlook them. Quite a thought!
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