Political Science 391AP - S-Art & Politics

As a student in Art & Politics we will think about how the worlds of politics and art intersect and/or collide. Themes will include: what is the role of "the artist" in contemporary political life? Given recent contentious protests worldwide, how might we reassess the relationship of the arts to social movements as well as its relationship to democracy and political change more generally? What is the definition of "political" art and in what ways does the artistic medium affect or even represent the political message? How does art function as public discourse and/or resistance in fields like immigration, war, gender/sexuality and more? In this unique course, we will examine forms of artistic expression from spoken word poetry and film to graffiti art and theater as well as explore critical analyses by political theorists and artists alike. Most importantly, we will consider together how thinking of the arts as politics shifts our sense of what it means to think and act politically. This course has been designed for students of politics across the humanities and social sciences.

Open to Seniors, Juniors & Sophomores only.