This discussion-based course explores how art, culture, and media both reflect and shape political and ecological realities. Students will examine the relationships between artistic production, environmental impact, and systems of power, with a focus on how creative work can imagine—and influence—possible futures.
Through short readings, music, and selected media, students will engage with movements such as solarpunk, cyberpunk, Afrofuturism, and analogue revival. These frameworks will serve as entry points for analyzing how artists respond to colonial histories, environmental challenges, and technological change.
Grounded in Global Thinking, Social Justice Concepts, and Environmental Awareness, students will:
Investigate how art and media engage with issues of power, inequality, and ecological responsibility, using research to deepen understanding of complex topics.
Analyze sources critically, considering perspective, context, and intent, and connecting ideas across texts, media, and cultural movements.
Engage in thoughtful discussion about justice, environment, and representation, practicing respectful dialogue across differing perspectives.
Examine the environmental impact of production and consumption, and consider how creative practices can contribute to more sustainable and equitable futures.
Students will work toward attainments such as conducting and synthesizing research from multiple sources, discussing social and environmental issues with care and clarity, and making connections between cultural production and broader global systems.
The course will include short written and discussion-based assignments throughout the block, culminating in a final project that brings together students’ research, analysis, and perspective.
Cell Phone Policy:
Students may use their cell phones during class as a tool to engage in learning relevant to the class.