F2537 Richard Wagner: The Music, the Man, the Problem
Class | Registration opens Monday, September 15, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Richard Wagner is celebrated for his groundbreaking music—and condemned for his open antisemitism. Gustav Mahler once said, “In music, there are Beethoven and Wagner, and after them... nobody,” yet Wagner’s legacy remains deeply problematic. This class explores the tension between his artistic brilliance and his disturbing views, including his writings like Judaism in Music and the role of Bayreuth in fostering antisemitic ideologies. We’ll examine Wagner’s influence on 20th-century thought, including his place in the rise of Nazism, while grappling with the question: Can we separate the art from the artist?
In Person - Recorded
Brian Murphy
Brian Murphy is a retired Professor of English and Honors College director at Oakland University. As a former film critic (for London’s FILMS AND FILMING) he helped to create Oakland University’s film program. He is the author of two books, “The Enigma Variations” and a study of CS Lewis, and several plays produced by New York’s Medicine Show Theater.