Nietzsche on Art, Poetry, Music: Origins and Influences

In this intensive reading course we will examine the widespread influences of Nietzsche’s philosophy of art, poetry, and music on European and Eurasian philosophy and culture. We will explore both Nietzsche’s inheritances from ancient Greek thought and contested legacies for culture and politics across Europe and Eurasia in the Twentieth Century. Readings will be selected from Nietzsche’s primary works (The Birth of Tragedy, Thus Spoke Zarathustra and others) as well as the creative output of his intellectual disciples and detractors. We will begin with an analysis of selected works from ancient Greek tragedy and philosophy that most influenced the philosopher, and then turn to a close study of Nietzsche’s own writings. We will conclude by exploring philosophical, musical, and artistic works inspired by Nietzsche’s ideas.