At the Crossroads: The Birth of Modernism in Early Twentieth-Century Vienna and Berlin will draw from a historical perspective, following the significant individuals, events, and movements that ushered in Modernism. Students will experience the works of pioneers such as Arnold Schoenberg, the creator of true atonal music. Adolf Loos, and his theories of reductionism. And the significant impact of Walter Groipus and the “School of Building”, aka the Bauhaus. Throughout this course, students will be asked to reflect on spatial, visual, musical, and other performance pieces, and read period publications that simultaneously engage us, while challenging us in their radical, unorthodox, or experimental approach.

Traveling abroad in May of 2021, students will visit to Vienna and Berlin to explore the question, “What does it mean to live a modern life?” Visits to museums, course related tourist sites, and concert performances are planned. The specific selection will be based on the available exhibits and performances at time of travel. However, places of interest in Vienna include The MAK (Museum of Applied Arts), The Wein Musuem, Wiener Konzerthaus (Vienna Concert Hall), and the Hofmobiliendepot (Imperial Furniture Collection). Students will then travel to Berlin to explore other places of interest potentially including The Jewish Museum, the Brohan Museum (Museum of Art and Design), and the Berliner Philharmoniker.

This course is most appropriate for students with creative interests, regardless of major.

The academic course associated with this program is IAD/MUS 398 and 399: At the Crossroads for 4 total credits. Students will elect to receive IAD or MUS credit. It will be taught by Professors Bill Furman and Zachariah Zubow.

SPRING course/MAY travel

This is an OPEN program.
*all itinerary items are tentative and subject to change