Literature Classes
NYC
6 classes with availability
Thomas Mann: The Magic Mountain
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 30 Irving Pl, New York, NY
Delve into Thomas Mann's literary masterpiece, 'The Magic Mountain,' at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research. This course invites exploration into the profound themes of love, loss, time, and the human condition against the backdrop of prewar Europe. Analyzing Mann's work alongside medical journals, reviews, and lectures, participants will ponder questions of health, the evolving nature of time in modernity, and the pursuit of enchantment in a rapidly changing world.
Nov 16th
6:30–9:30pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Gothic Feminism: Repression, Transgression, and Rage (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY
Explore the Gothic genre as a vehicle for feminist thought, delving into themes of repression, transgression, and rage through madwomen, ghosts, witches, and monsters. Examine key feminist concepts related to capitalism, reproduction, race, sexuality, and freedom by reading fiction, poetry, and theory. Engage with works by authors such as Toni Morrison, Silvia Federici, Angela Carter, and more, to uncover the powerful intersections of Gothic tropes and feminist discourse.
Oct 19th
6:30–9:30pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Pop Art: Culture, Consumption, and the Postmodern
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore how a groundbreaking artistic movement reshaped ideas about culture, politics and consumer society. Examine influential artists, key historical moments and the shift from modernism to postmodernism through critical discussion and visual analysis. Gain deeper insight into the lasting impact of art on contemporary culture and thought.
Sep 16th
6:30–9:30pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Gender, Sex, and Performance: an Introduction to Judith Butler
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Embark on a comprehensive exploration of Judith Butler's groundbreaking theories on gender, sex, and performance. From their seminal work in Gender Trouble to their latest insights in Who’s Afraid of Gender?, delve into Butler's complex examination of identity and politics. Gain a nuanced understanding of Butler's influential contributions to feminist and queer theory, challenging conventional notions of gender and sexuality.
Sep 16th
6:30–9:30pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Why did Plato Write? Philosophy, Dialogue, and Dialectic
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Examine the relationship between dialogue, writing and philosophy through a close study of influential classical texts. Explore how competing traditions shaped the legacy of Socratic thought while analyzing themes of language, education, friendship and representation. Engage in thoughtful discussion of ideas that continue to influence philosophical inquiry today.
Oct 22nd
6:30–9:30pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Gershom Scholem: Mysticism and the Philosophy of History
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Delve into the rich intellectual legacy of Gershom Scholem. Explore his profound insights into Jewish mysticism and its intersection with contemporary politics and the Jewish historical condition. Uncover Scholem's influential philosophy of history, rooted in kabbalah, messianism, and a deep engagement with language, literature, and nationhood.
Nov 22nd
6:30–9:30pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
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Signal and Noise: An Introduction to Statistics
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 247 West 37th St, New York, NY
How do numbers relate to the world? What insights can we derive from data? How do we separate signal from noise? This course is an introduction to statistical thinking and its applications to data analysis at a level accessible to a broad audience with no prior statistical background. We’ll learn and make intuitive the fundamental methods and concepts of data quantification: linear regression, logistic regression, probability distribution,...
Kant’s Critical Aesthetics
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 75 Broad St, New York, NY
Art was anything but peripheral to Kant’s philosophical project. In judging a thing to be beautiful, Kant maintained, we bridge “the great gulf” of nature and human freedom, and prepare ourselves to “love something, even nature, without interest”—that is, exercise moral judgment. Immensely influential in its time, the so-called “third Critique” inspired and gave energy to both German Idealism, which attempted to provide a rational...
Feminist Science Fiction
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 3009 Broadway, New York, NY
The world is not usually imagined for the benefit of women. What can feminist science fiction tell us about these oppressive arrangements and how the world might be otherwise? What makes a work of science fiction feminist? From utopia to dystopia, satire to space opera, in what ways does science fiction hold up a mirror to difficult realties? This course offers a selective introduction to critical themes in twentieth and twenty-first century...
Jorge Luis Borges: Mysticism, Fiction, and Politics
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 612 W 116th St, New York, NY
Jorge Luis Borges’ fiction is uniquely powerful for its captivating amalgam of political, mystical, and metaphysical themes. In this course, an introduction to Borges’ most canonical works, we’ll read his great short story collections Ficciones and The Aleph, as well as the essay collection Other Inquisitions—bearing in mind, as we proceed, the literary themes and social concerns that pervaded the most formative decade...
U for You: Joyce's Ulysses for New Readers (and Re-Readers)
Irish Arts Center See all classes by this school @ 726 11th Ave, New York, NY
Dive into Joyce's Ulysses with renowned scholar Jonathan Goldman, unraveling its complexities and discovering its humor and humanity. Whether you're a seasoned reader or new to Joyce's work, this immersive experience promises to enhance your understanding and appreciation of this literary masterpiece.
Literature B2/C1/C2 (Advanced/Expert)
French Institute Alliance Française See all classes by this school @ 22 E 60th St, New York, NY
Immerse yourself in the rich world of French literature with this advanced course, exploring classic and contemporary works by Jean-Baptiste Andrea, Annie Ernaux, Boris Vian, and more. Through in-depth analysis and discussion, you'll gain a deeper understanding of literary themes and styles, enhancing your language proficiency while discovering the cultural and philosophical significance of these masterpieces.
Camus and The Stranger
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 417 Lafayette St, New York, NY
Camus and The Stranger: From Existentialism to Post-Colonialism When Albert Camus visited New York seventy years ago, he was greeted as one of Europe’s foremost writers and existentialist philosophers. Widely embraced by the city’s literary and cultural establishment, Camus’s newly-translated book, The Stranger, was read as a vehicle for exploring key existentialist themes. The novel, which tells the story of a Frenchman living in Algeria...
Playing to Win: an Introduction to Game Theory
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 247 West 37th St, New York, NY
From zero-sum games and the “prisoner’s dilemma” to rational actors and the Nash equilibrium, game theory has grown from a bold conjecture into a deeply influential mode of analysis in political science, economics, psychology, business, mathematics, and even military strategy. Based on a theory of simple card games developed by John Von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern, game theory seeks to use these game situations to model human, computer, and...
Crisis and Capitalism
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 275 Madison Ave, New York, NY
Do capitalist societies have an inherent tendency toward economic, social, and political crises? Political economists have, over the course of the past 250 years, offered different frameworks to understand the existence of crises within capitalism: from Adam Smith’s “general glut” (when production exceeds demand) to Marx’s belief that the contradictions inherent in capitalism will lead to its eventual demise and the Keynesian attempt...
On the Heights of Despair: an Introduction to E.M. Cioran
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 200 East 38th Street, New York, NY
Delve into the mind of philosopher Emil Cioran, as he explores themes of despair, doubt, and skepticism in a world without God. Join this thought-provoking course and discover Cioran's aphoristic style and its connection to his unconventional philosophy. Explore his life, influences, and the meaning of existence in this engaging exploration of a philosopher of unremitting despair.
Journals and Diaries: Life, Privacy, and Literature
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 208 West 13th Street, New York, NY
Delve into the intimate world of writers' diaries, where life and literature intertwine. This course explores how authors from Virginia Woolf to Sheila Heti use diaries to navigate creative processes, confront personal struggles, and resist linear storytelling, offering unique insights into the craft of writing and the anxieties of memory and legacy.
Compulsory Heterosexuality: an Introduction to Adrienne Rich (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 208 West 13th Street, New York, NY
Examine the provocative legacy of Adrienne Rich through her poetry and feminist theory, exploring her impact on gender, sexuality, and liberation. This course delves into Rich’s vision of lesbian feminism, critiques of heterosexual norms, and the political tensions surrounding motherhood, education, and power. Read her work alongside key feminist voices and critics.
Louis Althusser: Ideology and Repression (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 275 Madison Ave, New York, NY
Unpack the power of ideology through the influential lens of Louis Althusser. Examine the interplay between repressive and ideological state apparatuses, and explore how social orders reproduce themselves. Engage with key commentaries to understand Althusser’s enduring impact on radical theory and political struggle.
Fredric Jameson: Art, Postmodernism, and Utopia (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 75 Broad St, New York, NY
Delve into the intricate world of Fredric Jameson, where history, culture, and ideology intersect in profound ways. This course explores key themes like postmodernism, utopia, and Marxist criticism through readings from Jameson’s major works and influences. Engage with literary forms, architecture, cinema, and more to challenge and expand your understanding of cultural production.
Reviews for Literature Classes in NYC
Literature Classes in NYC are rated 4.5 stars based on 40 verified reviews from actual CourseHorse.com purchasers.
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Shakespeare with Leo Schaff - The Winter’s Tale
Leo does a great job in explaining the play,highlighting the important parts and making the play exciting. -
Shakespeare with Leo Schaff - The Winter’s Tale
Excellent coverage of the play and personally very engaging. -
Shakespeare with Leo Schaff - The Winter’s Tale
Well researched and very well presented. Just enough back tracking to explain the text. Sufficient "acting" voices to handle the text. -
Signal and Noise: An Introduction to Statistics
Excellent class. Excellent instructor. Raphaële breathed life into stats. Very fun class! -
Nabokov's Lolita: American Morals & Aesthetic Bliss
Great class and great discussion led by the professor.