In collaboration with the Anhaltische Gemäldegalerie, this course delves into the realms of power and money within Dessau's rich art history and cultural heritage, featuring spectacular forgeries and high-profile art thefts. https://gemaeldegalerie.dessau-rosslau.de/ During this elective, we will design interactive board games in project teams.

A murder mystery dinner (Krimidinner) is an interactive game where participants take on the roles of characters in a fictional crime story. Combining elements of role-playing, storytelling, and detective work, the aim is to uncover the perpetrator of a crime. Such games create an immersive experience emphasizing performative interaction and communication among players.

The course begins by playing a murder mystery dinner to analyze how a whodunit story is structured. During visits of the Gemäldegalerie, you will learn about Dessau's art history, with a focus on art crimes. Subsequently, each project team will develop a criminal case for the game box. Who had to die, and why? In order to facilitate the development of a compelling and plausible story, you will have the opportunity to receive guidance from a distinguished crime author. This author will deliver a guest lecture and provide feedback on initial drafts. Each student will develop believable and multifaceted characters, who play a crucial role in the story: perhaps a thieving art collector, a dedicated conservator, a controversial patreon, a curious provenance researcher, or an eccentric heir… They all have motives for the crime investigated. But only one of them is a murderer.

This seminar is suitable for students interested in storytelling, creative writing, the narrative structure of a whodunit, character development, game theory, theatrical elements, art crimes and art history.