Applications are invited for a PhD bursary in the field of GDR Studies (see project outline below).
The PhD will be supervised by staff in the School of Modern Languages (Dr Anna Saunders) and the School of History (Dr Alexander Sedlmaier); the successful candidate will become part of a lively interdisciplinary research environment in the College of Arts and Humanities, and will benefit from involvement in the AHRC Network ‘After the Wall’, as well as a growing body of research specialists in the field of Memory Studies.
The PhD bursary provides an annual allowance of £5,000 (full-time or part-time pro rata) and an annual research allowance of up to £1,500 (for approved expenditure). Fees are payable by the awardholder. Applicants are not expected to teach or act as Research Assistants, but may apply to do so if vacancies occur. The successful awardholder will commence this project by 1 December 2009 at the latest.
Applicants should have a Masters degree in a relevant field of study and a good working knowledge of German.
Description of Project:
Annual celebrations of the foundation of the GDR became an integral part of the state’s existence, with every five and ten year anniversary being used to bolster the self-image of the regime. Ironically, public memory of the GDR today continues to live on through round anniversaries of its major dates: the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 and its ‘fall’ in 1989. Although much scholarly attention has been paid to anniversary celebrations of the GDR during its existence, little work has yet been carried out on commemorative acts of public remembrance since its demise.
This project proposes to examine the remembrance and reconstruction of the GDR through anniversary commemorations since German unification in 1990. It will involve the examination of political debates, anniversary publications of governmental and historical institutions, as well as the construction of exhibitions and monuments in honour of specific anniversaries. The project will aim to trace the changing nature of the representation of the GDR since its demise, and thus to shed light on the nature of memory politics and the construction of united German identities since unification.
Queries prior to a formal application concerning this research project may be addressed to: Dr Anna Saunders (a.saunders@bangor.ac.uk) and Dr Alexander Sedlmaier (a.sedlmaier@bangor.ac.uk).
Application: An application for this bursary should consist of a covering letter (no more than 1000 words); a brief curriculum vitae (no more than 2000 words) to be sent to Ms Moira Tait (m.tait@bangor.ac.uk) by noon on 24th August 2009.