Art & Protest

This course offers the opportunity to reflect upon the relationship between art and activism by applying, in students' own creative work, critical tools and methods generated by contemporary theory and social history. While art is often perceived as unrelated to and independent of politics and social history, this course will examine how these underlying contexts affect aesthetics. Many artists have resisted traditional and conventional approaches to art in order to inform us of the existence of other perspectives, histories and voices. Through creative projects and the exposure to other artists' works, readings and films, this course will explore the realities within which images are made. Some of many questions for contemplation and discussion include: What is taste and how is it acquired? Who is responsible for the writing of our history? What is the relationship between money and art history? To what extent do artists simply parrot traditional values in their work? What outlets are available for activist artists? Have alternative aesthetics and radical activities challenged the writing of mainstream representation? How can artists define a political/activist position, and what responsibility do they bear in making images?

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