Brooklyn Institute for Social Research
Classes Online
The Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, established in 2011, offers liberal arts education and research opportunities to local communities while supporting young scholars. With a mission to engage various intellectual traditions, the institute aims to provide accessible education and foster active, engaged citizens.
7 classes with availability
Gershom Scholem: Mysticism and the Philosophy of History
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Delve into the rich intellectual legacy of Gershom Scholem. Explore his profound insights into Jewish mysticism and its intersection with contemporary politics and the Jewish historical condition. Uncover Scholem's influential philosophy of history, rooted in kabbalah, messianism, and a deep engagement with language, literature, and nationhood.
Nov 22nd
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Sun. Nov 22nd, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Thomas Mann: The Magic Mountain
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore Thomas Mann’s modernist masterpiece through a close reading of its complex themes and philosophical questions. Examine the tensions between life and death, science and mysticism, and progress and tradition. Engage in thoughtful discussions about the novel’s characters, symbolism and historical context.
Nov 18th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Wed. Nov 18th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
What is Participatory Democracy? Theory, Activism, and Power
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Delve into the complexities of participatory democracy, exploring its diverse interpretations and potential for societal transformation. Through readings and discussions, you'll engage with classical and contemporary thinkers, examining how civic participation can reshape political power and address social inequalities. Consider whether participatory democracy offers a genuine alternative to existing systems.
Nov 17th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 5 Times
$355
3 Seats Left
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Tue. Nov 17th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(15 hours over 5 sessions)
Museums: a Critical Introduction
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore how museums became influential spaces for preserving, interpreting and presenting art, culture and history. Examine the political, ethical and cultural forces shaping these institutions, including colonialism, repatriation and curatorial authority. Develop a critical perspective on museums and their role in shaping knowledge and cultural narratives.
Nov 18th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Wed. Nov 18th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Ruth Wilson Gilmore: Race, Capitalism, and Incarceration
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore Ruth Wilson Gilmore’s influential work on race, capitalism, incarceration, and prison abolition. Examine how carceral systems shape social expectations and ideas of freedom, justice, and responsibility. Consider alternative approaches to justice beyond retribution and imprisonment while engaging with critical questions about society and liberation.
Nov 22nd
2–5pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Sun. Nov 22nd, 2–5pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Bach: Music and Transcendence
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore the complex life and enduring musical legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach. Examine the beliefs, emotions and religious convictions that shaped his compositions, from sacred works to major instrumental pieces. Discover how the intellectual and spiritual conflicts of his era influenced Bach’s distinctive musical voice and lasting appeal.
Nov 22nd
2–5pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Sun. Nov 22nd, 2–5pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Tragedy and Decolonization: From Pessimism to Emancipation
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Explore how tragedy and decolonization intertwine through literature, theory, and political struggle. From the Haitian Revolution to contemporary liberation movements, examine how writers and thinkers like Césaire, James, Fanon, and Soyinka reimagined tragedy to confront history, violence, and the pursuit of freedom.
Nov 18th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
24 Seats Left
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Wed. Nov 18th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
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The French Revolution and its Aftermath: Left and Right
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Examine the French Revolution as a pivotal moment that redefined modern political thought and continues to shape global ideologies. This course explores the Revolution's philosophical legacy, its contested interpretations across the political spectrum, and its influence on concepts like democracy, sovereignty, and revolution itself.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Critical Theory and the Now: An Introduction to the Frankfurt School
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Examine influential ideas that shaped modern critical thought through the writings of leading twentieth-century philosophers and social theorists. Explore concepts connecting culture, politics, history and art while considering their relevance to contemporary society. Engage with thought-provoking texts that encourage deeper analysis of today's world.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Hysteria, Dreams, and Psychoanalysis: an Introduction to Freud
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Delve into the foundational ideas of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis, from his exploration of the unconscious mind to his revolutionary theories on dreams, hysteria, and everyday behavior. Discover how Freud's insights continue to shape our understanding of identity, agency, and the complexities of human civilization.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Why did Plato Write? Philosophy, Dialogue, and Dialectic
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Examine the relationship between dialogue, writing and philosophy through a close study of influential classical texts. Explore how competing traditions shaped the legacy of Socratic thought while analyzing themes of language, education, friendship and representation. Engage in thoughtful discussion of ideas that continue to influence philosophical inquiry today.
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Mikhail Bulgakov: The Master and Margarita
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Examine a landmark work of twentieth-century literature through themes of censorship, morality, faith and artistic freedom. Explore how fantasy, satire and allegory challenge political power while raising enduring questions about truth, love and conscience. Gain deeper historical and cultural insight through thoughtful discussion and close reading.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Thomas Bernhard: The Arts Trilogy
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school
Examine a powerful collection of modern literary works that explore art, memory, grief and isolation through an uncompromising narrative style. Engage with philosophical and historical perspectives while analyzing recurring themes of ambition, friendship and artistic integrity. Ideal for readers interested in literature, critical theory and intellectual discussion.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Solarpunk: Theory, Fiction, and Radical Futures
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Explore a radical vision of the future where nature and technology align, challenging the pessimistic outlook on climate change. Immerse yourself in the art, theory, and speculative fiction of solarpunk to reimagine a world of decommodified energy and human liberation. Join us on this intellectual journey towards a harmonious coexistence of technology, nature, and human life.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Leo Strauss: Philosophy Between the Lines
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Dive into the provocative ideas of Leo Strauss, exploring his critique of modernity, liberalism, and Enlightenment rationality. Engage with his concept of the “theologico-political predicament” and the tension between religion and philosophy. Examine Strauss’s esoteric reading methods and his enduring influence on political thought across ideological spectrums.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Kierkegaard: Either/Or
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Explore a thought-provoking examination of human existence through contrasting approaches to life, choice, and identity. Engage with complex ideas on authenticity, commitment and selfhood through guided discussion and analysis. This course invites reflection on how personal values shape the way we live. Discover new perspectives on meaning, responsibility and becoming.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Herman Melville: The Confidence-Man
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Embark on a riveting exploration of trust, deceit, and existential uncertainty in Herman Melville’s masterpiece. Join us as we dissect The Confidence-Man, delving into its satire of capitalist modernity and probing questions of faith, knowledge, and societal norms.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
All Shock No Therapy: the Political Economy of Post-Soviet Russia
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Trace the post-Soviet transformation through the lens of political economy. Follow the arc from shock-therapy reforms through the rise of oligarchs and into today's authoritarian systems, drawing on key texts and primary sources. The course shows how history, economics, and power intersect to shape the crises now unfolding across the region.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Vienna Secession: Art and Revolt
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Take a closer look at a groundbreaking artistic movement that challenged tradition and reshaped modern culture. Examine how painters, architects, and designers used symbolism, ornament, and form to redefine art's role in society. See why this vision of aesthetic freedom still shapes modern debates around design, identity, and innovation.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Albert Camus: From Existentialism to Postcolonialism
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online Classroom
Explore enduring literary works that confront the human condition through themes of absurdity, freedom and responsibility. Engage with critical perspectives that examine their philosophical depth alongside historical and colonial contexts. Through guided readings and discussion, uncover how these texts remain relevant to contemporary issues such as identity, justice and global crisis.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Reviews of Brooklyn Institute for Social Research
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George Eliot: Daniel Deronda
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Late-Capitalist Architecture
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Reading the Iliad
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Solarpunk: Theory, Fiction, and Radical Futures
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Herman Melville: The Confidence-Man
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Architectural Experiments: Revolutions in Design
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Emanation and Return: an Introduction to Neoplatonism (In-Person)
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Kierkegaard: Either/Or
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Ruins: Beauty, Feeling, and Catastrophe (In-Person)
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Leo Strauss: Philosophy Between the Lines
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Hysteria, Dreams, and Psychoanalysis: an Introduction to Freud
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Leo Tolstoy: Anna Karenina (In-Person)
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The Subway: Urbanism, Infrastructure, and Social Life
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Vergil’s Aeneid: Myth, Empire, and Ruin
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Vergil’s Aeneid: Myth, Empire, and Ruin
First, I was really out of my element. I was lost from the start! I found the reading difficult….and I think I had the wrong book. Second, the discussions were tedious and baffling. The “class” was filled with Aeneid groupies who tried one-upping each other at every turn; I didn’t get anything out of that except being annoyed that everyone was trying to impress each other with their academic prowess. It just was the wrong class for me. I’m sure the students I’m referring to loved it! But it was really beyond me. And that’s on me. -
Mining: Industry, Ecology, and Capitalism
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James Joyce: Ulysses
It was not easy, but I didn't expect it to be. I got some very useful insight into the book, which will help in my second reading. I will be looking for more classes taught by Professor Porte. -
Hannah Arendt: The Human Condition
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Proust in Time: The Prisoner
pretentious, and unwelcoming professor -
Henry James: The Portrait of a Lady
