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The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2)

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?

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Syllabus

Course Pages

Intensity and the Ordinary: Sex, Death, Aggression and Guilt

With a focus on Civilization and its Discontents, we examine how Freud’s theories tried to expose profound instincts as they appeared in daily life.

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Explores the development of the concept of "the modern" in European philosophy and literature, providing insight into the historical evolution of cultural change

Suitable for learners with a strong foundation in European philosophy and literature, as the course delves into complex theories and concepts

Examines the interplay between modernism and postmodernism, offering a critical lens for understanding contemporary cultural shifts

Addresses philosophical concepts of totality and control, equipping learners with analytical tools for dissecting power structures

Offers insights into the evolution of art and its response to the loss of foundational structures in modern and postmodern eras

Engages with works by renowned thinkers such as Freud, Virginia Woolf, Max Horkheimer, and Michel Foucault, providing exposure to influential perspectives

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Reviews summary

Insights on modern and postmodern thought

According to learners, this course offers a deep dive into complex philosophical and literary concepts central to understanding the modern and postmodern eras. Students found the course content challenging but rewarding, particularly praising the instructor's ability to make difficult ideas accessible. Many highlighted the well-chosen readings and how the course built effectively on Part 1. While some found the workload manageable, others noted it required significant effort, especially for those new to the subject matter. Overall, it's viewed as a stimulating and highly valuable course for those interested in intellectual history and critical thought.

The assigned readings are crucial and well-selected.

"The readings are central to the course and must be done carefully."

"Excellent selection of challenging but rewarding texts."

"Make sure you allocate enough time for the assigned readings."

"The discussions in the lectures really tied into the readings."

The course covers challenging philosophical and literary texts.

"The concepts were sometimes difficult to grasp on the first pass."

"Requires careful reading and re-reading of dense texts."

"This course tackles very complex ideas from philosophy and literature."

"Be prepared to engage with challenging intellectual material."

Provides a profound understanding of modern/postmodern thought.

"Gave me a much deeper understanding of modernism and postmodernism."

"The content is intellectually stimulating and highly relevant."

"Opened up new ways of thinking about culture and identity."

"I gained valuable insights into critical theory thinkers like Foucault."

Builds well on the foundation established in the first part.

"Seamlessly continues the themes from Part 1. Highly recommended to take both."

"It was a natural progression from the first course."

"Taking Part 1 beforehand is essential for understanding Part 2."

"This course really built upon what I learned in the first part."

Learners praised the professor's engaging teaching style.

"The lecturer was brilliant and engaging. He explained complex ideas simply."

"Professor is amazing, makes complicated stuff understandable."

"The instructor's explanations were clear and insightful."

"I found the lectures by the professor extremely helpful in grasping the material."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) with these activities:

Review of Psychology of Personality

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Freud’s theories tried to expose profound instincts as they appeared in daily life.

Browse courses on Personality Psychology

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Re-read notes from an introductory college course on the Psychology of Personality
Review a summary of Freud’s psychoanalysis theory
Watch a video summarizing the foundations of Personality Psychology

To the Lighthouse

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In her modernist novel, Virginia Woolf shows how giving up the search for the “really real” can liberate one to attend to the everyday.

View Orlando: A Biography (Annotated) (Original 1928... on Amazon

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Read a summary of To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Read the first two chapters of the novel

Discuss the characteristics of Postmodernism with a classmate

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Through a consideration of Max Horkheimer & Theodor Adorno along with Michel Foucault, we confront the philosophical effort to escape from totality in order to understand the politics of control.

Browse courses on Modernism

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Find a classmate who is also taking this course
Schedule a time to meet up
Discuss the characteristics of Postmodernism

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Create a Modern Art-style collage

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Explore the characteristics of Modern Art and create a collage of your own using those techniques.

Browse courses on Modern Art

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Find a free online tutorial on how to create a collage in the style of Modern Art
Gather your materials
Follow the steps in the tutorial to create your collage

Attend an exhibition of contemporary art

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Discuss how artists are expanding upon and challenging concepts of Modern and Postmodern art.

Browse courses on Modern Art

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Find an exhibition of contemporary art in your area
Visit the exhibition
Take your time to look at the art and read the descriptions
Talk to other people at the exhibition about the art

Analyze a sample of postmodern art

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Consider how artists are responding to the loss of foundations to produce work that redefines art.

Browse courses on Modern Art

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Find a piece of postmodern art that you are unfamiliar with
Analyze the work using the elements of art and design
Write a brief description of your analysis

Write a blog post about the relevance of Modernism today

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Shows how Modernism is still relevant to art and literature in the 21st century.

Browse courses on Modernism

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Choose a specific aspect of Modernism to focus on
Research the topic and gather evidence to support your claims
Write a draft of your blog post
Revise and edit your blog post
Publish your blog post

Contribute to an open-source project on Modernism or Postmodernism

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Deepen your understanding of Modernism and Postmodernism by contributing to a community of scholars working on related topics.

Browse courses on Modernism

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Find an open-source project on Modernism or Postmodernism
Read the project documentation
Identify an area where you can contribute
Make your contribution to the project
Submit your contribution for review

Career center

Learners who complete The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Philosopher

Philosophers study the fundamental nature of reality, knowledge, and morality. They may work in a variety of settings, including universities, research institutions, and think tanks. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Philosophers because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that philosophy has developed and changed over time. This course can help Philosophers to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Religious Studies Scholar

Religious Studies Scholars study the beliefs and practices of different religions. They may work in a variety of settings, including universities, research institutions, and religious organizations. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Religious Studies Scholars because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that religion has been interpreted and understood over time. This course can help Religious Studies Scholars to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Sociologist

Sociologists study the social behavior and institutions of human beings. They may work in a variety of settings, including universities, research institutions, and government agencies. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Sociologists because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that society has been organized and understood over time. This course can help Sociologists to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Professor

Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. They may specialize in a particular field, such as history, literature, or philosophy. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Professors because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that knowledge has been produced and disseminated over time. This course can help Professors to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their teaching and research.

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Historian

Historians research and write about the past. They may work in a variety of settings, including universities, research institutions, and museums. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Historians because it provides a deep understanding of how different periods of history have been interpreted and understood over time. This course can help Historians to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Cultural Anthropologist

Cultural Anthropologists study the customs, beliefs, and behaviors of different cultures. They may work in a variety of settings, including universities, research institutions, and government agencies. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Cultural Anthropologists because it provides a deep understanding of how different cultures have developed and changed over time. This course can help Cultural Anthropologists to better understand the different ways that people live and think, and to develop a more nuanced understanding of the human condition.

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Public Historian

Public Historians use historical research to inform public policy and decision-making. They may work in a variety of settings, including museums, historical sites, and government agencies. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Public Historians because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that history has been used to shape public opinion and policy. This course can help Public Historians to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information. They may work in a variety of settings, including public libraries, school libraries, and university libraries. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Librarians because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that information has been organized and accessed over time. This course can help Librarians to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Museum Educator

Museum Educators develop and deliver educational programs for museum visitors. They may work in a variety of settings, including museums, historical sites, and nature centers. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Museum Educators because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that museums have been used to educate the public over time. This course can help Museum Educators to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Art Critic

Art Critics evaluate and interpret works of art, often writing reviews or essays that are published in newspapers, magazines, or online. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Art Critics because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that art has been interpreted and understood over time. This course can help Art Critics to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Curator

Curators are responsible for the care and management of collections of objects, such as works of art, historical artifacts, or scientific specimens. They may work in a variety of settings, including museums, libraries, and archives. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Curators because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that objects have been collected, interpreted, and displayed over time. This course can help Curators to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Writer

Writers create written content, such as books, articles, and scripts. They may work in a variety of settings, including publishing houses, magazines, and newspapers. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Writers because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that writing has been used to communicate and persuade over time. This course can help Writers to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Editor

Editors oversee the creation and publication of written content, such as books, magazines, and newspapers. They may work in a variety of settings, including publishing houses, magazines, and newspapers. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Editors because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that texts have been written, edited, and published over time. This course can help Editors to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Journalist

Journalists write, edit, and publish news stories for newspapers, magazines, and websites. They may specialize in a particular area, such as politics, business, or sports. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Journalists because it provides a deep understanding of the different ways that news has been reported and consumed over time. This course can help Journalists to develop a more informed and sophisticated approach to their work.

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Archivist

Archivists organize and maintain historical documents and artifacts. They may work in a variety of settings, including libraries, museums, and government agencies. The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) may be useful for Archivists because it provides a deep understanding of how ideas and values have changed over time. This course can help Archivists to better understand the context of the documents and artifacts they are working with, and to develop a more nuanced understanding of the past.

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Reading list

We've selected 26 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2).

Post-Truth, Scepticism & Power

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This comprehensive reference work provides a wide-ranging overview of the key concepts, movements, and debates in postmodernism.

The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2)

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Insights on modern and postmodern thought

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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