The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2)

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/modern-postmodern-2

Introduction

## Course Review: The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2) on Coursera ### Course Overview "The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2)" is an intellectually stimulating course offered on Coursera, designed to explore the nuances of modernity and its evolution into postmodernity. By delving into European philosophy and literature from the late 18th century onward, the course invites participants to ponder profound questions about the nature of cultural change and the criteria used to evaluate it. Through a series of focused discussions and analyses, students will grapple with whether we remain in a state of modernity or if we have indeed transitioned into a postmodern era. ### Syllabus Breakdown The course syllabus is thoughtfully constructed, encompassing a variety of critical themes and texts. Here’s a closer look at the distinctive modules that make up the curriculum: 1. **Intensity and the Ordinary: Sex, Death, Aggression and Guilt** This module encourages students to engage with Freud’s seminal work, *Civilization and its Discontents*, examining how primal instincts manifest in everyday life. This exploration sets the stage for a deeper understanding of psychological processes in modernity. 2. **Intensity and the Ordinary: Art, Loss, Forgiveness** Through Virginia Woolf’s *To the Lighthouse*, participants explore a central theme: the liberation found in abandoning the pursuit of absolute reality. This session highlights the beauty of the ordinary and emphasizes the potential for art to reflect lived experiences. 3. **The Postmodern Everyday** In this segment, the course revisits thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Ludwig Wittgenstein to analyze forms of life and language games, posing essential questions about the role of foundations in engaging meaningfully with the world. 4. **From Critical Theory to Postmodernism** Students will be introduced to influential philosophers like Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, and Michel Foucault. This module unpacks the tension between totality and fragmentation, vital for understanding contemporary politics and power dynamics. 5. **Paintings II** A brief yet insightful look into modern art as a reaction to the dissolution of foundational concepts, this section invites reflection on how artists navigate the challenges of postmodernity. 6. **Postmodern Identities** This module explores the dynamics of identity formation in a world devoid of absolute foundations through the works of Judith Butler and Slavoj Žižek, highlighting the complexities and performances associated with identity. 7. **Late-term Review** A comprehensive review of the course material consolidates the various thinkers and themes explored in both Parts I and II, offering a cohesive understanding of modern and postmodern thought. 8. **Postmodern Pragmatisms** This concluding module examines the resurgence of pragmatism, emphasizing a return to philosophy as a tool for addressing real human problems amidst postmodern playfulness. 9. **Extra (Optional) Writing Assignment** An optional writing assignment provides an opportunity for deeper engagement and encourages students to synthesize their learnings. ### Course Experience The format of "The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2)" promotes an active learning environment, fostering discussions around existential questions while challenging preconceived notions of culture and identity. The combination of philosophical texts with literature ensures a well-rounded and immersive experience. ### Recommendation I highly recommend this course to anyone intrigued by philosophy, literature, and cultural studies. It caters not only to students of academia but also to anyone with a keen interest in understanding the evolution of ideas that shape our world today. Whether you are looking to deepen your knowledge of modern and postmodern thought or wish to engage critically with challenging texts and ideas, this course offers an enriching experience that is both intellectually rigorous and accessible. In conclusion, "The Modern and the Postmodern (Part 2)" is a profound journey through the complexities of cultural thought that encourages learners to actively question and reflect upon the state of our contemporary world. Dive in, and prepare to expand your understanding of what it means to be modern—or postmodern—today!

Syllabus

Course Pages

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.

A reading of Virginia Woolf’s modernist novel To the Lighthouse shows how giving up the search for the “really real” can liberate one to attend to the everyday.

We go back to Ralph Waldo Emerson and forward to Ludwig Wittgenstein to consider how forms of life and language games need to foundation to be compelling.

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.

A very brief consideration of how artists are responding to the loss of foundations to produce work that redefines art.

We examine short pieces by Judith Butler and Slavjo Zizek to understand how identities get formed (and performed) in a world without foundations.

Review of all the thinkers we have studied in Parts I and II of the class, along with some complementary material.

After postmodern playfulness, or alongside it, we see the resurgence of the pragmatic impulse to return philosophy to real human problems.