HART314 Eco-Crises in Design/Art History 3CR

In this class you will study contemporary artists working with the new conditions of social and cultural experience caused by climate change. We begin with readings by a historian and writer to learn about the implications of climate change for long standing ideas of man’s relation to nature. Following these readings are art historical interpretations of contemporary eco-artists in relation to precedents in land art, performance, activist art, and photography. The concluding readings of the course explore new ways of thinking about human relations to non-human animals and materials. Visiting lectures by an art historian and an artist will be opportunities to ask questions about their ideas and practices. We will take a field trip to a sound art project at the Arnold Arboretum to experience this site, and reflect upon how an artist and botanist worked collaboratively to produce it. One aim for this class is for you to use the research you do for this course, particularly for your paper, to develop a resource for the MassArt community on climate change issues in contemporary art and design: we will work as a group to set up a web site and/or a print publication. [Formerly titled Climate Change in Cont. Art]

Prerequisites: HART101

Lecture

Fall