CU/AH/HS 353 - Arts and Nations: National Genres In East-Central European Music, Literature, and the Visual Arts

The realization of the concept of the nation and nationalism in most Central and East-Central European countries from the 18th to the 20th century was supported and accelerated by, as well as reflected in, art and art-forms. The study of art in this region helps us to understand the emergence of what we call “nations” today. The national language, poetry, music, painting, sculpture, architecture, and a host of other artistic genres have impacted the philosophy and politics of nation-building, nationalism, and nationalist movements throughout the regions in question. It is through the study of artistic expression in this period that the fabric of national and nationalist thinking can be meaningfully approached and understood.

This course focuses on “national genres” such as the national opera and folklore, national painting and film, and national historiography and the historical novel, which have both created and expressed national cultures. As Central and East-Central European nations are deeply embedded in their languages, cultures, and cultural symbolism, this field of study is essential to the historical appraisal of the region. Additionally, different types of media and their spheres of influence during this period shall be discussed critically. Providing a general cultural background to Central European studies in Vienna, the course will foster an understanding of nationalism as it has developed in the modern history of Central and East-Central Europe.

Furthermore, this semester is an introduction to East-Central Europe, theories of identity construction, and the role of art for identity construction. Students will learn how to analyze art in relation to identity construction and to contextualize this with the history of East-Central Europe. Additionally, students are encouraged to compare the national genres in East-Central Europe to the US in the past and present in order to illustrate the contemporary relevance of this topic on a global scale. Thus, this course is especially recommended to students who wish to gain and practice their analytical skills in historical work.

This course is offered as the second semester of a two-part course. Both are structured to address concepts, historical figures, and cultural artifacts from the 18th to the 20th centuries. This course, in both one-semester and two-semester formats, will serve as an introduction to the most important cultural differences among various Central and East-Central European countries, ethnic, national and religious groups. Special emphasis will be placed on what we may identify as the “national idiom,” such as language, folk poetry, and folk music (semester 1); as well as “national genres” such as national opera and folklore, national painting, and film, and national historiography and the historical novel (semester 2): media which both create and express national cultures.