Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, belongs to those European cities that fascinate as unique historical amalgams whose composition defies disciplinary boundaries. The course traces Prague’s history, culture, architecture, the symbiosis of ethnic groups within its walls, and its current spirit. Topics include Prague as: a medieval city; the center of religious reformation; the center of arts and science, but also alchemy and black magic, in the early modern times; an architectural project of the baroque period; a center of the Czech nationalist revival; a center of music; the city of Jews; and last but not least — the showcase of modernism in the twentieth century. We will read literature inspired by Prague, including Neruda, Kafka, and Apollinaire; study visual documents; and watch films including Paul Wegener’s Golem.

Class Format:

All class meetings will be synchronous via BlueJeans. Testing for this course will be asynchronous take-home tests.