The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 1)

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The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 1)

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About this course: This course examines how the idea of "the modern" develops at the end of the 18th century in European philosophy and literature, and how being modern (or progressive, or hip) became one of the crucial criteria for understanding and evaluating cultural change. Are we still in modernity, or have we moved beyond the modern to the postmodern?

Created by:  Wesleyan University
  • Taught by:  Michael S. Roth

Commitment 3-5 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.7 stars Average User Rating 4.7See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive t…

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When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan

  • Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
  • Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.

About this course: This course examines how the idea of "the modern" develops at the end of the 18th century in European philosophy and literature, and how being modern (or progressive, or hip) became one of the crucial criteria for understanding and evaluating cultural change. Are we still in modernity, or have we moved beyond the modern to the postmodern?

Created by:  Wesleyan University
  • Taught by:  Michael S. Roth

Commitment 3-5 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.7 stars Average User Rating 4.7See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Wesleyan University At Wesleyan, distinguished scholar-teachers work closely with students, taking advantage of fluidity among disciplines to explore the world with a variety of tools. The university seeks to build a diverse, energetic community of students, faculty, and staff who think critically and creatively and who value independence of mind and generosity of spirit.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Course Pages



“The Modern and the Postmodern Part I” covers the first half of a full semester course on European history, literature and philosophy. We begin with Immanuel Kant and Jean Jacques Rousseau and conclude with Friedrich Nietzsche and Charles Baudelaire and a very quick look at painting at the time they wrote. Although in the final week themes of postmodernism begin to emerge, a discussion of how modernism becomes postmodernism is at the heart of Part II of this course.


2 readings expand


  1. Reading: Syllabus
  2. Reading: Course Logistics


Philosophy, Modernity, and Intellectual History
Why is philosophy relevant to modernity? Through reading Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant, we examine philosophy as a reflection on modernity and progress.


2 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Reading: Philosophy and Modernity -- Kant
  2. Video: Philosophy, Modernity, and Intellectual History I
  3. Video: Philosophy, Modernity, and Intellectual History II


WEEK 2


What is Enlightenment?
Using Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origins of Inequality, we study how the pursuit of knowledge is related to the politics of inequality.


4 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Reading: What is Enlightenment?--Rousseau
  2. Video: What is Enlightenment? I
  3. Video: What is Enlightenment? II
  4. Video: What is Enlightenment? III
  5. Video: What is Enlightenment? IV


WEEK 3


From Enlightenment to Revolution
Karl Marx is our focus here as we move from a consideration of ideas to a confrontation with alienation, class struggle and revolution.


5 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Reading: From Enlightenment to Revolution--Marx
  2. Video: From Enlightenment to Revolution I
  3. Video: From Enlightenment to Revolution II
  4. Video: From Enlightenment to Revolution III
  5. Video: From Enlightenment to Revolution IV
  6. Video: From Enlightenment to Revolution V

Graded: First Writing Assignment

WEEK 4


Modernism and Art for Art's Sake
We read Flaubert’s Madame Bovary as a reflection on convention, stupidity and art in the wake of the failures of mid-19th century revolution.


4 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Reading: Modernism and Art for Art's Sake--Flaubert
  2. Video: Modernism and Art for Art's Sake I
  3. Video: Modernism and Art for Art's Sake II
  4. Video: Modernism and Art for Art's Sake III
  5. Video: Modernism and Art for Art's Sake IV

Graded: Second Writing Assignment

WEEK 5


Re-imagining the World
We situate Charles Darwin’s great achievement in the context of the English Enlightenment traditions and reimaging the world without a goal for change.


4 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Reading: Re-imagining the World--Darwin
  2. Video: Re-imagining the World I
  3. Video: Re-imagining the World II
  4. Video: Re-imagining the World III
  5. Video: Re-imagining the World IV


WEEK 6


From Struggle to Intensity
Through an examination of Charles Baudelaire and Friedrich Nietzsche, we focus on an aesthetic embrace of intensity instead of search for the “really real.”


6 videos, 1 reading expand


  1. Reading: From Struggle to Intensity--Baudelaire and Nietzsche
  2. Video: From Struggle to Intensity I
  3. Video: From Struggle to Intensity II
  4. Video: From Struggle to Intensity III
  5. Video: From Struggle to Intensity IV
  6. Video: From Struggle to Intensity V
  7. Video: From Struggle to Intensity VI

Graded: Third Writing Assignment

WEEK 7


Paintings
A Quick Survey of how advanced painting moved toward a consideration of the surface of the canvas and away from a quest for the most realistic representation of the world.


2 videos expand


  1. Video: Paintings I
  2. Video: Paintings II
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