DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES
AND CULTURAL STUDIES
MLCS 461 / 561 Cultures of the Avant-Garde
Time and Place: M W F 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM; The Dentistry/Pharmacy Centre, DP 4114; Winter Term • From 9-Jan-2012 to 13-Apr-2012
Course Description:
This course examines how art and literature rebelled against tradition.
We look at the history, artistic practices and theories of several major European avant-gardes from the 1900's to the 1930's.
The focus is on France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.
Futurism, Dada, Constructivism and Expressionism are among the movements studied.
Major literary figures include Apollinaire, Khlebnikov, Kaiser, Marinetti, Maiakovskii, Semenko, and others.
The course makes extensive use of videos, illustrated material and digitized art.
Readings include: manifestoes, poetry, visual poetry, and theory. Questions of typography and book design are also examined.