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Lecture Series: "War and Heroism"

2013/14 Winter Semester – About

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This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. In light of this occasion, the Collaborative Research Center 948 “Heroes – Heroizations – Heroisms” has organized the lecture series entitled “Krieg und Heldentum” (War and Heroism) for the 2013/14 Winter Semester.

Each lecture addresses heroic concepts and heroizations as they can be observed in connection with war(s). Drawing on heroic figures and heroizations, the lectures are concerned primarily with the following question: In what ways is war justified or mythicized in certain historical situations? In addition, the lectures will look at symbols, rituals, and mementos that societies use to attempt to make sense of the (inherent) experiences associated with war, such as grief and death.

This lecture series is therefore understood as part of the modern approach to military history, which concerns itself with war(s) more from the perspective of a cultural and social history of violence. In this respect, the lecture series explores new avenues by offering a combination of lectures from historiography, literary studies, sociology, religious studies, classical archaeology and art history.

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