The political implications of modernism: The Brecht-Lukacs debate

The Brecht-Lukacs debate, the controversy over the political implications of modernist art which involved prominent Marxist cultural theorists during the 1930's, represents an instructive episode in defining the relationship of culture and politics. This paper juxtaposes Lukacs' rejection to Brecht's defense of modernism. It first traces the documentary history of the controversy and then examines both Lukacs' theory of realism and Brecht's epic theater. The penultimate section demonstrates the continuing relevance of the debate by outlining its most important sequels, discussing both the later writings of Brecht and Lukacs themselves and subsequent contributions by leading Western and neo-Marxists. The final section attempts to show the links between the questions of cultural autonomy and periodization. In conclusion, the paper argues that Lukacs' rejection of modernism may result from an erroneous continuation of the periodization scheme he sets forth in his evaluation of nineteenth-century culture.