Critical Social Inquiry 0104 - Changemaking in Urgent Times:Art and Politics

In this class students will dive deep into the LC questions and investigate theories and practices for community change, with emphasis on praxis (the relationships(s) between theory, practice, and reflection). Students will become conversant in critical change theories to consider how to create liberatory spaces, sustainable and just futures, and use art and politics to create community change. Toward this end, the course will engage critical theories of change across disciplines centering social, political, environmental and economic movement building that is actionable. Additionally, through a weekly lecture series, accompanying common readings, small group discussion, and project work students will examine social justice / social change theories and practices of community change using a framework of context, history, meaning, and possibility to examine theories and work toward enacting practices of community change through policy advocacy, activism, art-making, writing, research, etc. Wednesdays 4-5:20 pm will be an LC learning event and Fridays 10:30-11:50 am will be discussion groups with 16 students where all will work on collaborative project development. Friday Discussion sessions and project work will center the Arts and Politics question: How can art and politics intersect to challenge dominant narratives and create new visions for community? Keywords:Urgent Questions, Social Justice, Theory, Community Change, Project-Based Learning

Art and Politics Students should expect to spend 6-8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time