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The Modern Literary and Artistic Avantgarde in its European Dimension
Literatur und Kunst der europäischen Avantgarden der Moderne
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:02:02
Abstract
The modernist Avant-Garde movements are characterized by a radical rhetoric of apocalypse and rebirth, the genesis of another world and a new mankind. The extension of the “intrinsic logic of the aesthetic form into the social fabric” (H. Ehrlicher), and likewise the intensive examination of the latest technical advancements, new forms of media and their combination, unites them.
Objective
Avant-garde movements are characterized by progressive notions on art, social and political issues as well as by radical criticism on the current circumstances. This is why the specific characteristics of the historic avant-garde of the early 20th century will be a central theme of this lecture: they cannot be separated from the experience of modernity, of the catastrophic course of the First World War, and of the concept of new models of society whose political implementation is a major goal after the end of the war. The lecture is part of the ‘Science in Perspective’ course programme aimed at enabling the students to deal with avant-garde texts and artworks independently, especially in the context of literary and cultural history. They will also explore theoretical positions such as Peter Bürger's assumption that in the course of the historic avant-garde movements "the social subsystem that is art enters the stage of self-criticism". The contemplation of the historic avant-garde is a crucial prerequisite to find scientific answers to the question about the possible effects of art nowadays. Thus, in this lecture the topic is on the one hand tackled from the historic perspective: literary texts and manifests by Heym, van Hoddis, Werfel, Lasker-Schüler, Toller, Marinetti, Ball, Tzara, Huelsenbeck, Hausmann, Apollinaire, Breton, Goll, and others will be read. On the other hand, debates of cultural policy and literary theory which were initiated by the avant-garde will be discussed (texts by Lukács, Benjamin, Bloch, Brecht, Adorno). This lecture examines the modernist Avant-Garde movements by addressing three specific aspects. First, the ambivalent reception of technological innovations, second, the aesthetic programmes which focused on specific developments at the close of the 19th century, and third, political activism and the establishment of a new social model through Avant-Garde movements prior to World War One, and, following the disastrous consequences of World War One, an activism which was accused of being politically ineffective and lacking resilience to totalitarian ideologies.
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- DS , DR , MSC
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Literatur und Kunst der europäischen Avantgarden der Moderne |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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Doctorate Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (More Information at: )