Katrin Schreiter
Ph.D. Candidate (ABD)
katrisch@sas.upenn.edu
Education
B.A. equivalent in Ancient, Medieval, and Modern History, Political Science, and North American Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany (2003); M.A. in Diplomatic History, The Ohio State University (2005)
Fields
Modern Europe with a specialization in Modern German History
Research Interests
Material Culture, Design, Production and Consumption, Cultural Diplomacy, International Relations
Dissertation Topic
“Displaying Germany's Cold War:The Political Aesthetics of East and West German Interior Design, 1949-1989”
Dissertation Committee
Personal Statement
I am interested in the ways in which the GDR and the Federal Republic employed material culture to promote their differing socio-political systems. This interest has led me to compare the political and economic utilization of East and West German household aesthetics, in particular the developments in furniture design. At the center of my study are government agencies that engaged in product enhancement, consumer education, and national representations at exhibitions. My dissertation contributes to the literature on Cold War culture and international relations by illustrating how both German states combined cultural diplomacy and trade to gain public support at home and international recognition abroad.
