Art and Politics

This course analyses the historical origins and reasons for twentieth-century artistic engagement with the political voice. Special focus will be placed on the cultural revolutions of the past fifty years by looking at what prompted artists to leave their studios and face an unfamiliar audience. Specific movements such as Feminism, pacifism, anti-war movements in the 1960s, the end of the cold war, and Post-colonialism will be studied in depth. The course will additionally look closely at international events like “Culture in Action” (Chicago 1992-1993), public debates, literature such as “New Genre Public Art” by Suzanne Lacy, as well as the latest contemporary experiments, practices, and projects by world-renowned artists and theorists.