Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0117 - Modernity and the Avant-Gardes

This course is an examination of the emergence, development, and dissolution of European modernist art, architecture and design. The course begins with the innovations and collisions of early twentieth century art, created in consort with the growth of modern urbanism, industrial production, colonialist politics, and psychological experimentation. We end with the cooptation of modernist radicalism in the wake of World War II. Distinctions between the terms modernist, modernity, modernism and the avant-garde will be explored as we unpack the complex equations between art, politics, and social change in the first half of the twentieth century. Covering selected movements and groups (such as Expressionism, Cubism, Dadaism, Surrealism, l'Esprit Nouveau, Bauhaus, De Stijl, Constructivism and New Objectivity) this course will consider themes such as mechanical reproduction, nihilism, nationalism, consumerism, utopianism, and questions of primitivism and difference as they are disclosed in the making and reception of modern art and architecture.

Culture, Humanities, and Languages Writing and Research Students are expected to spend 6-10 hours per week on work and preparation outside of class time.