Brooklyn Institute for Social Research
Classes in NYC
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.
11 classes with availability
Mikhail Bulgakov: The Master and Margarita (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 45 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY
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.
Oct 21st
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Wed. Oct 21st, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Annie Ernaux: Shame and the Politics of Memory
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 81 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY
Examine the work of a Nobel Prize-winning author whose writing transforms personal experience into a powerful exploration of memory, class and gender. Through close readings of key texts, you'll explore themes of identity, politics and autobiography while considering the evolution of contemporary autofiction and literary voice.
Nov 17th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
3 Seats Left
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Tue. Nov 17th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Thomas Bernhard: The Arts Trilogy
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 75 Broad St, New York, NY
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.
Oct 20th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Tue. Oct 20th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Critical Theory and the Now: An Introduction to the Frankfurt School
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 75 Broad St, New York, NY
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.
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)
Thomas Mann: The Magic Mountain
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 30 Irving Pl, New York, NY
Delve into Thomas Mann's literary masterpiece, 'The Magic Mountain,' at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research. This course invites exploration into the profound themes of love, loss, time, and the human condition against the backdrop of prewar Europe. Analyzing Mann's work alongside medical journals, reviews, and lectures, participants will ponder questions of health, the evolving nature of time in modernity, and the pursuit of enchantment in a rapidly changing world.
Nov 16th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Mon. Nov 16th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Andrea Dworkin: Sex, Power, and Politics (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY
Explore the polarizing legacy of Andrea Dworkin, a fierce critic of pornography and patriarchy, whose work ignited feminist debates and continues to provoke reflection in the #MeToo era. Delve into her writings, speeches, and radical ideas to uncover insights into feminism's evolution and its liberation ideals.
Oct 21st
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Wed. Oct 21st, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
King Lear: Madness, Soveriegnty, and Crisis (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY
Explore Shakespeare’s portrayal of political instability, power, and social upheaval through close reading and historical context. Examine philosophical influences from Montaigne and Machiavelli alongside theories of monarchy in early seventeenth-century Britain. Consider how the play’s themes of sovereignty, community, and political fracture remain relevant today.
Nov 19th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Thu. Nov 19th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Stoicism: a Philosophical Introduction (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY
Explore the ancient philosophy of Stoicism and its ideas about tranquility, ethics, politics, and human nature. Examine influential writings from Greek and Roman thinkers while considering questions of happiness, justice, freedom, and self-improvement. Reflect on the enduring relevance of Stoic thought in modern life.
Nov 16th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Mon. Nov 16th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Andrei Tarkovsky: the Poetics of Cinema (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY
Explore the distinctive cinematic language of Andrei Tarkovsky through four landmark films and selections from his writings. Examine how memory, spirituality, nature, art and symbolism shape his work while considering Soviet film culture, philosophy and visual art. Reflect on the enduring questions of creativity, humanity and artistic expression.
Nov 17th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Tue. Nov 17th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
Queer NYC: After Stonewall (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 304 Bond St., Brooklyn, NY
Explore the history of queer life and activism in New York City from the 1950s through the era of marriage equality. Examine Stonewall, community organizing, the AIDS crisis, and the evolving politics of gay rights through influential writings by queer activists, artists, and scholars.
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)
The Subway: Urbanism, Infrastructure, and Social Life
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ Online, New York, NY
Explore the intricate relationship between urbanism, infrastructure, and social life through the lens of the New York City subway. Investigate its historical, sociological, and economic impact, from its role in urban expansion to its influence on everyday life and politics. Delve into the subway's cultural representations and envision the kind of life it enables and could enable.
Nov 17th
6:30–9:30pm ET
Meets 4 Times
$355
25 Seats Left
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Tue. Nov 17th, 6:30–9:30pm ET
(12 hours over 4 sessions)
More classes to explore
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Architectural Experiments: Revolutions in Design
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 15 E 40th St , New York, NY
Explore how architecture has served as a vessel for radical imagination and collective aspiration across two centuries of social transformation. From utopian phalansteries to the avant-garde visions of Red Vienna and anti-functionalist collectives, this course examines how the built environment can embody dreams of a world beyond capitalism.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Machiavelli: Power and Politics (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 75 Broad St, New York, NY
Explore the strategic, power-based approach of Machiavelli's The Prince and its profound impact on modern political theory. Delve into his major works, including The Discourses on Livy and Mandragola, and examine the interpretations of thinkers like Gramsci and Althusser. Uncover how Machiavelli's ideas challenge the interplay between morality and politics and their relevance to contemporary political discourse.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Late-Capitalist Architecture
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY
Explore the intersections of architecture and late capitalism. Delve into the material, formal, and ideological dimensions of architectural manifestations under financialized capital. Analyze how architecture reflects and responds to the instabilities and crises of contemporary life, offering insights into collective political agency amidst commercial imperatives.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Reading the Iliad
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY
Delve into Homer’s epic to explore themes of heroism, violence, rebellion, and the fragile bonds between humans, gods, and culture. This course invites a close reading of the Iliad to uncover its strangeness, poetic force, and lasting relevance. Examine how oral tradition shaped the text and how its ancient conflicts still echo today.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Gothic Feminism: Repression, Transgression, and Rage (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY
Explore the Gothic genre as a vehicle for feminist thought, delving into themes of repression, transgression, and rage through madwomen, ghosts, witches, and monsters. Examine key feminist concepts related to capitalism, reproduction, race, sexuality, and freedom by reading fiction, poetry, and theory. Engage with works by authors such as Toni Morrison, Silvia Federici, Angela Carter, and more, to uncover the powerful intersections of Gothic tropes and feminist discourse.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Emanation and Return: an Introduction to Neoplatonism (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY
Explore a philosophical tradition that unites metaphysical inquiry with spiritual practice, centered on the teachings of Plotinus. Examine key ideas on the nature of reality, the soul and its ascent toward unity. Engage with influential texts and their impact on major religious and philosophical traditions. Gain insight into philosophy as both a discipline and a way of 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!
Ruins: Beauty, Feeling, and Catastrophe (In-Person)
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY
Step into the allure and complexity of ruins as aesthetic objects, conceptual phenomena, and spatial practices in this thought-provoking course. Examine the cultural, political, and historical significance of ruins and how they appear across literature, art, and architecture. See the transformative power of ruins and their relationship to preservation, environmental destruction, and adaptive reuse.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
George Eliot: Daniel Deronda
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 81 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY
Explore a richly layered Victorian novel that weaves together themes of identity, society and belief. Through guided discussion, examine its complex characters, historical context and lasting critical debates. Gain insight into how its ideas on class, gender and religion resonate with modern readers.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Literature and Catastrophe: Mann, Musil, and Broch
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research See all classes by this school @ 1016 Beverley Rd, Brooklyn, NY
Examine how writers, philosophers and artists grappled with the devastation and uncertainty left in the wake of the First World War. Through literature, political thought and cultural criticism, explore the shifting ideas that reshaped modern intellectual and artistic life. Gain insight into how themes of identity, language and historical collapse continue to influence contemporary thought and creative expression.
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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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
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Don DeLillo: Underworld
