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?
Offered By
Wesleyan University
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
120 minutes to complete
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
2 readings
Syllabus10m
Course Logistics10m
1 hour to complete
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 (Total 24 min), 1 reading
2 videos
Philosophy, Modernity, and Intellectual History II9m
1 reading
Philosophy and Modernity -- Kant10m
Week
21 hour to complete
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 (Total 61 min), 1 reading
4 videos
What is Enlightenment? II15m
What is Enlightenment? III14m
What is Enlightenment? IV16m
1 reading
What is Enlightenment?--Rousseau10m
Week
33 hours to complete
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 (Total 60 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
5 videos
From Enlightenment to Revolution II12m
From Enlightenment to Revolution III9m
From Enlightenment to Revolution IV12m
From Enlightenment to Revolution V13m
1 reading
From Enlightenment to Revolution--Marx10m
Week
43 hours to complete
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 (Total 59 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
4 videos
Modernism and Art for Art's Sake II14m
Modernism and Art for Art's Sake III14m
Modernism and Art for Art's Sake IV17m
1 reading
Modernism and Art for Art's Sake--Flaubert10m
4.8
138 ReviewsTop reviews from The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 1)
It was a fabulous journey, and brought me so much nearer to the great minds of the 18th and especially the 19th century, reading original texts, and listening to Prof Roth's wonderful interpretations.
One of the best professors i've ever come across! If the teacher is so passionate about the subject material as well as conveying the ideas, the course will be excellent. This is one of those courses.
About 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
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