Fall 2018

Investigate the nature of creating form using collaging techniques in both paper and clay. Paper collaging will be used to construct drawing/surfaces that will relate to forms to be made using ceramic slab techniques. The class will be working through a series of quick exercises throughout the term; each designed to explore the possibilities of interpretative actions and

Composers who sing (or would like to), singers who compose (or would like to), songwriters who would like to stop singing alone, writers who would like to hear their writings sung (and maybe sing some too) and anyone who's always wanted to learn how to shape music for a vocal group---this class is for you. We will compose, rehearse and then perform our own repertoire in several

This course provides an introduction to literature from 1990 to the present by Asian Pacific Islander American writers. This course does not comprise a historical survey of Asian American literature, which dates from the 19th century; instead, we will focus on recent Asian American writing, which has greatly expanded in both subject matter and modes of expression during the

Montaigne considered conversations as the “most fruitful and natural exercise for our minds.” Conversations became indeed a favorite exercise in French salons, most notably around Madame de Rambouillet (17th century), Madame du Deffand (18th century), and Madame de Staël (19th century). This natural penchant for causeries not only permeated the whole society, it also

This course is an introduction to programming interactive and graphic experiences for the web browser. Using the Javascript library p5.js, we will get to know the basics of writing script and learn how to use them to implement dynamic sites and web applications. Together we will learn to break down interaction into logical steps, how to articulate those steps using the

This course examines production methods and career strategies for emerging artists, especially those working across genres. Specifically, we will focus on fundraising via donations, grants, commissions, day jobs and other sources; strategic planning, especially when looking at socially-engaged practice; written and verbal communications; working with venues; promotion and press

How do you know what is credible on social media news feeds? This seven week course introduces the emerging field of Algorithm Accountability as it is applied to natural language processing and interactive journalism systems. Using application programmer interfaces, students, regardless of prior programming knowledge, will develop the expertise to experiment with (1)

Digital technologies have fundamentally shifted how social justice movements operate. "Organizing without organizations" and "laptop activism" are no longer novel or fringe activities. The social media tools we rely on to gather in public can also be antagonistic toward individual participants. This course explores the digital tools and data archives that inform modern

Data in a computer is simply patterns of bits, often represented as ‘1’s and ‘0’s. But what that data represents ranges from complex text (poetry, dialog, exposition, debate) to rich graphics in 2 or 3 dimensions, either still or animated, and increasingly as physical sculpture, robot choreography, mixed media, and augmented reality. Data visualization is the study of how to

Money in politics, disrespect for the Constitution, low voter turnout, attacks on the press, the office of the President...Is the American Democracy under siege? What are the signs that it is or isn’t? If it is, what signs should Americans be looking for? Can it survive? What is a true democracy and where does it exist in the world? This series will bring together artists,

Digital technology is changing our understanding of what it means to be human, and rewriting our definitions of life, the body, love, death, and other concepts and embodied experiences. Through engaging contemporary narratives like The Circle and Black Mirror, we will explore the theory of technogenesis—the idea that humans have always coevolved with their tools. We will read

“Have you eaten yet?” This common Chinese greeting is just one of many common phrases that shows the centrality of food to Chinese culture. In this course, we will focus on the theme of Chinese food and dining culture as an entrée into the study of Chinese language and culture. As Chinese grammar is very simple with no verb conjugation, no plural, no gender, no articles or

We will address the process of discerning a text’s dramatic potential and realizing that potential in performance by developing and implementing a directorial approach through analysis and rehearsal techniques. The term is divided between exercises and rehearsal of individual projects. The work of the course will culminate in a director’s approach essay, a rehearsal log, and a

“The modern man who tattoos himself is either a criminal or a degenerate.” —Adolf Loos, Ornament and Crime To decorate is to adorn, embellish, ornament, trim, garnish, furnish, enhance, grace, brighten, festoon, burnish, gild, bedazzle or prettify. Western culture has tended to regard decoration with suspicion, classifying it as “excess.” This studio course will consider the

Extreme fluctuations in rainfall and temperature may bring about drought and flood conditions in a region, but, the experiences of these natural extremes are not similar for all regions of the world. Neither are their effects similar for all people living in an affected region. Why are the disaster experiences spatially different? Why are the disaster exposure effects unequal

The study of minerals and rocks is fundamental to earth science as well as understanding and developing solutions for most environmental problems. All products consumed by people are either directly removed from the earth or grown in a medium consisting largely of earth materials. The nature of the earth materials in any region has great bearing on how human activities will

Economic inequality is not only a matter of uneven distribution of resources, income and wealth amongst people, but, more importantly, that of asymmetries in their access to options, opportunities and advantages. Why do some people have better quality of life than the others? Why do some people have better chances of achieving favorable outcomes in their life than the others?

Earthʹs life‐supporting environmental systems are controlled by a complex interplay between geologic and biological processes acting both on the surface and deep within the planetary interior. This course will explore how earth materials and physical processes contribute to a healthy environment, and how humans impact geologic processes. Topics covered will include: earth

The course welcomes playwrights and other writers, choreographers and visual artists, and could be applicable to students in Sociology and American Studies. We’ll look at the work of artists like video maker Phil Collins, conceptual and performance artists including Paul Chan, Ernesto Pujol, Lola Arias and Ralph Lemon. We will also use the course as a way to ask questions about

This is a studio class for any discipline intended to deepen the understanding of your own moving body. We will be studying kinesthetic anatomy by approaching the material through visual, cognitive, kinesthetic, and sensory modes. Class time will be divided between discussion of anatomy and kinesthetic concepts, and engagement with the material experientially through movement

This course will investigate the material nature of clay as a medium to create three-dimensional forms. Students will explore the material aspects of clay such as dryness, wetness, mass, scale and incorporating mix media. We will be using a variety of mechanical processes that include extrusion, slab rolling, slip casting and traditional hand building techniques. In doing so,

In this introductory course, students will expand their understanding of electroacoustic music by creating their own sonic narratives. The topics will include soundscape composition, 3D sound recording, surround sound (5.1), site-specific sound work, and electromagnetic field listening. There will be an emphasis on production and experiential learning through exercises and

A faculty directed production is to be determined. Mostly likely it will be a contemporary playwright and include live music either centrally or peripherally; music direction by Kerry Ryer-Parke and stage direction by Kirk Jackson, with a target performance date of early November. This course is for students cast or otherwise assigned production responsibilities and represents

The Christians, by Lucas Hnath, explores difficult questions surrounding faith and revelation, community and personal responsibility. Set in a contemporary American mega-church, fractured by dispute over salvation and damnation, the play operates as a series of contradictory arguments with no single argument deemed the winner. Not unlike any family break-up, whether the family