ART 223 - Action: Art, Politics, Counterpublics

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

In this interdisciplinary studio course, we explore action as a category of art practice. What does it mean to take action, either individually or collectively? What does it mean to refuse to take action? Through a series of projects, students explore various modalities: performance, video, site-specific intervention, and collaborative practice. Student work is informed by an examination of contemporary and historic examples. Through readings and discussions, we explore Dada, Productivism, Feminist film and performance, Happenings, institutional critique, Indigenous performance, and work connected to political and social movements (the Black Panther Party, United Farm Workers, ACT-UP). Training in camera operation, sound recording, video editing, and multimedia installation provide a technical foundation for our work, and trips to exhibitions and visits by contemporary artists provide a conceptual scaffolding. John Hulsey.

Prerequisite(s): ART 102-ART 103 and permission of the instructor.

Two 2-hour periods.

Course Format: CLS