Wagner and Modernism
ARHA 339
Spring 2012
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
FRST 339, MUSC 285, COL 349, GRST 239, GELT 239 |
This course focuses on Richard Wagner and his complicated legacy to modernism in Europe from the 1860s through the Nazis and beyond. Wagner's work stands at the crux of debates surrounding a modernist aesthetic. Key questions raised by his work are the relationship between poetry, music, dance, and the visual arts; art and religion; art and racism; art and a mass audience; art and politics; synaesthesia; and the relationship between abstraction and figuration.
We will begin by analyzing Wagner's music and writings, and especially his idea of the GESAMTKUSNTWERK. The core of the course, however, will consist of looking at the idea that Wagner represented for artists in France, Germany, and Italy between 1860 and 1950. Artistic movements that we will examine include symbolism, German expressionism, futurism, Fascist art, and Socialist realism. We will also look at the influential writings on Wagner by Charles Baudelaire, Stéphane Mallarmé, Friedrich Nietzsche, Theodor W. Adorno, and Clement Greenberg. Whether for or against Wagner, these writers and theorists decisively influenced artists' views of the composer. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Interpretation, Writing
Interpretation: This course will draw students' attention to the diverse ways in which a single oeuvre -- the writings and music of Richard Wagner -- have been interpreted.
Writing: Students will be asked to write a substantial research paper and to present their arguments to the class for discussion.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ART |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (ARHA-MN)(ARHA)(ARST)(FRST-MN)(FRST)(GRST-MN)(GRST)(RMST) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Wagner on Music and Drama (Da Capo Press, New Ed edition, 1988). ISBN-10: 0306803194 ISBN-13: 978-0306803192
Friedrich Nietzsche, The Basic Writings of Nietzsche, trans. Walter Kaufmann (Modern Library Edition, 2000). ISBN-10: 0679783393 ISBN-13: 978-0679783398
Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. A Book for Everyone and No One. Penguin Classics, reprint edition 1961. ISBN-10: 0140441182 ISBN-13: 978-0140441185
Kandinsky, Concerning the Spiritual in Art. Createspace 2010. ISBN-10: 1453627421 ISBN-13: 978-1453627426
Christine Poggi, Inventing Futurism. The Art and Politics of Artificial Optimism. ISBN-10: 0691133700 ISBN-13: 978-0691133706
Theodor Adorno, In Search of Wagner (Verso; 2Rev Ed edition (August 1, 2005). Paperback. London: Verso. ISBN-10: 1844673448 ISBN-13: 978-1844673445
Articles and book chapters made available through E-reserve
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Examinations and Assignments:
Short weekly response papers, oral presentation, 15 page research paper. |
| Instructor(s): Kuenzli,Katherine M. Times: .M..... 07:00PM-09:50PM; Location: SQU113; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: -3 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: X | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 2 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 1 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
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