HUM 385: Selected Topics: What is Modernism?

Course Description:

The concept of modernism is perhaps one of the most perplexing in the humanities in general, and art history in particular. It has only become more enigmatic and, indeed, controversial since the emergence of the discourse of “post-modernism” in the 1980's. The aim of this course will simply be to pose the question: “What is modernism?” In seeking to answer this question the course will draw upon the historical concept of modernization found in the writings of Marx and Weber, the philosophical concept of modernity found in the writings of Kant and Habermas, and, of course, in examples of European and North American works of modern painting, sculpture, music, etc.

Required Texts: