Welcome to Our Department!
Our mission is to teach German and Russian, and to research and teach the rich cultural history and present of the people who speak these languages, no matter where they may live. About a decade ago, the Report of the Presidential Humanities Commission of the University of California noted that the humanities “can help … students learn how to negotiate our culturally diverse contemporary world in ways that are both knowledgeable and sensitive.” We believe that studying past and present cultures—with all their contradictions and complexities—can influence our lives in the present, and that studying foreign languages, films, literatures, philosophy, and visual arts can help us better navigate our own globalized world. We passionately believe that studying foreign languages in particular is and remains vital in our hyper-connected world, both professionally and for our own personal growth and enrichment.
Sven Spieker, Chair, Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies
GSS News & Events
Thursday, October 8, 5.30-7pm. Oktoberfest with the Deutsch-Klub. Everybody is welcome! See the flyer for more information.
Friday, October 9 - Saturday, October 10. Inaugural Critical AI Studies? International conference, hosted by UCSB's Center for the Humanities and Machine Learning and co-organized by Prof. Fabian Offert (GSS). The conference will explore the emerging field of critical AI studies and consider the place of the humanities in the age of artificial intelligence. The conference will conclude with a keynote address by historian of computing Stephanie Dick (Simon Fraser University). The complete schedule is available on the conference website. All are welcome to attend. (Venue: Henley Hall)