UHC Western European History II
The Age of Extremes


"In Zurich in 1915, losing interest in the slaughterhouse of the world war, we turned to art.  While the thunder of the batteries rumbled in the distance, we pasted, we recited, we versified, we sang with all our soul.  We searched for an elementary art that would, we thought, save humanity from the furious folly of these times.  We aspired to a new order that might restore the balance between heaven and hell."
                                                                                                              Hugo Ball

gadji beri bimba glandridi laula lonni cadori
gadjama gramma berida bimbala glandri galassassa laulitalomini
gadji beri bin blassa glassala laula lonni cadorsu sassala bim
gadjama tuffm i zimzalla binban gligla wowolimai bin beri ban
o katalominai rhinozerossola hopsamen laulitalomini hoooo
gadjama rhinozerossola hopsamen
bluku terullala blaulala loooo

zimzim urullala zimzim urullala zimzim zanzibar zimzalla zam
elifantolim brussala bulomen brussala bulomen tromtata
velo da bang band affalo purzamai affalo purzamai lengado tor
gadjama bimbalo glandridi glassala zingtata pimpalo ögrögöööö
viola laxato viola zimbrabim viola uli paluji malooo


Week #11

March 29:  We will then begin to deal with the breakdown of Western Society and the problems of the inter-war years which help bring about the rise of Communist, Nazi and Fascist states.  We will also begin to deal with Germany in the inter-war period and why the Nazis were able to rise to power.  

Read for 5 April:

Watch Merriman's Lecture on Stalinism:

Read for 7 April

March 31We will pay a visit to "Cabaret Voltaire" in Zurich in 1916.  We will meet Hugo Ball, Emmy Hennings, Tristan Tzara, Johnny Rotten and Virginia Woolf, among others and you will participate in a performance with them.