Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/modern-postmodern-1
Have you ever found yourself pondering the very essence of ‘modernity’? What does it truly mean to be progressive, to be ‘hip,’ and how have these concepts shaped our understanding of cultural change? Coursera’s ‘The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 1)’ offers a compelling journey into the philosophical and literary roots of these ideas, tracing their development from the late 18th century onwards.
This course, a segment of a larger semester-long exploration, dives deep into European intellectual history. It begins with foundational thinkers like Immanuel Kant and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, examining how their philosophies grappled with the burgeoning concept of modernity and progress. We delve into Rousseau’s ‘Discourse on the Origins of Inequality,’ exploring the intricate relationship between the pursuit of knowledge and the politics of inequality – a theme that resonates powerfully even today.
The syllabus then guides us through the transition from Enlightenment ideals to revolutionary fervor, with Karl Marx taking center stage. Here, the course confronts concepts of alienation, class struggle, and revolution, moving from abstract ideas to concrete societal upheaval.
Mid-course, we shift our focus to literary reflection with Gustave Flaubert’s ‘Madame Bovary.’ This section masterfully uses the novel to explore convention, societal stupidity, and the role of art in the aftermath of failed revolutions. Following this, the course situates Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking work within the context of English Enlightenment traditions, examining how we began to reimagine the world without a predetermined goal for change.
The final weeks are dedicated to the profound insights of Charles Baudelaire and Friedrich Nietzsche. Through their work, we see an aesthetic embrace of intensity, a shift away from the search for an ultimate ‘really real’ truth. The course also includes a fascinating, albeit brief, survey of painting during this era, highlighting how advanced art began to focus on the canvas’s surface rather than striving for hyper-realism.
While ‘Part 1’ lays a robust foundation by exploring the rise of modernism, it sets the stage for ‘Part 2,’ which promises to delve into the emergence of postmodernism. If you’re interested in understanding the intellectual currents that have shaped our contemporary world, from philosophy and literature to art and societal progress, this course is an exceptional starting point. It’s intellectually stimulating, historically rich, and offers a critical lens through which to view our own ‘modern’ existence.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/modern-postmodern-1