16910
Seminar
Playgrounds
Gregor Hens
Kommentar
Topic: Whereas play, according to Dutch cultural historian Johan Huizinga, is foundational to human culture, children’s playgrounds are primarily a modern and urban phenomenon, and Berlin is a perfect place to study them. The city boasts some 1850 public playgrounds in all, as well as a plethora of other spaces dedicated to children’s play and physical education. The history of playgrounds is varied and interesting, closely following developments in areas such as social and political life, child development, art/design and, of course, pedagogy. Specifically, it intersects in productive ways with progressive social and pedagogical movements of the late 19th century ('Lebensreform') and various models of anti-authoritarian education of the mid-twentieth century. Some of the more unusual adventure and construction playgrounds of the 1960s are still in operation in Berlin today.
Program: We will consider the issues surrounding playgrounds from a multi-disciplinary perspective, consulting research in fields as varied as landscape architecture, sociology and philosophy. We will discuss the goals and functions of playground design and analyze a wide range of spaces in and around the city. Some of the questions we might ask: What kinds of activities are suggested by playground design and siting? What are the implicit pedagogical assumptions? What is the urban context? What other social functions do playgrounds suggest?
Can I take this course? The seminar will be conducted entirely in English, participants should have at least B2 proficiency. There are no further prerequisites, and the course is open to Erasmus students from all fields. Students should be prepared to visit and document, on their own time, a number of different sites in and around the city.
Requirements: To earn five ECTS credits, you will need to attend a minimum of ten meetings, including the first and final sessions of the semester (April 14, 2025 and July 14, 2025); carefully read the assigned texts; participate in seminar discussion; submit and present one midterm project (5 pages); and take a written exam on the final day of class.
Schließen
12 Termine
Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung
Mo, 14.04.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 28.04.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 05.05.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 12.05.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 19.05.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 26.05.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 02.06.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 16.06.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 23.06.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 30.06.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 07.07.2025 10:00 - 12:00
Mo, 14.07.2025 10:00 - 12:00