In July 2024, Professor Henk de Berg was the Researcher in Residence at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Bavaria. On the invitation of Claudia Lillge, Chair of English Studies at that University, he shared his expertise in political communication. Among the topics he explored were the rise of Trumpism, the election strategy of the Alternative für Deutschland party and the importance of ‘framing’ (the use of narrative schemes and structures) in politics.
De Berg looks at similar topics with our Sheffield students in the first-year module “Resist! The Art of Protest in Berlin and Amsterdam”, led by Dr Henriette Louwerse. This module focuses on the impact of protest movements in the broadest sense with a special focus on two European capitals at the forefront of protest and alternative lifestyles. For 'Resist' De Berg analyses left-wing and right-wing protest movements in Germany and the Netherlands, such as the 1968 student revolution, the Green movement and the Dutch populist politicians Pim Fortuyn and Geert Wilders. The module focuses in particular on the visual, so photography, film, paintings, art installations, posters, music videos, etc.
The 'Resist' module is open to all students in the School of Languages and Cultures and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.