Cultures, Politics and Poetics of Time - Einzelansicht

While time may at first glance appear to be nothing but a natural given, it has in fact a long history as one of the most enigmatic and complex subjects of philosophical speculation, scientific scrutiny, and artistic representation but also political struggle. Time itself, in short, is far from timeless: it is rather culturally and historically specific as a construct and as an experiential category. 

In our seminar we will concentrate on the aesthetics and politics of time in one particular historical moment of Western culture, namely modernism (ca. 1871-1945) – a period that is marked by exceptionally innovative experiments in the arts, in politics, and in philosophy, but that is also heavily tied in with the heyday of European colonialism, and with the emergence of fascism.  Time, as we will see in our readings of classic modernist writings by Conrad, Woolf, Joyce and others, is crucially involved in all these developments. 

* Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

* Virginia Woolf, Mrs Dalloway

* Walter Benjamin, "Theses on the Philosophy of History"

* T.S. Eliot, "Four Quartets"

additional material will be made available on moodle

It is intended to hold this seminar on site on a weekly basis under G3/G2 conditions. Whether or not this will be possible is, however, contingent on the dynamics of the pandemic and the concomitant regulations and restrictions. Updates and further information will be made available here as soon as possible.  

3 CPs for:

* regular attendance and active participation; 

* response paper (1500 words) to be submitted by March 31.