Contemporary Art and More-than-Human Ecologies in the Americas 4219-SD178

Upon completing the course, the student:
Knowledge:
- has an in-depth understanding of selected concepts from ecocritical art history, environmental humanities, posthumanism, decolonial theory, and Indigenous studies
- understands the relationships between contemporary artistic practices and environmental, social, political, and economic processes in the Americas
- is familiar with selected artworks and artistic practices addressing more-than-human relations, climate crisis, extractivism, toxicity, and environmental justice
- understands the importance of local contexts and the historical conditions of colonialism and capitalism for the analysis of contemporary ecological issues
Skills:
- analyzes and interprets contemporary artworks and artistic practices using the methods of ecocritical art history and interdisciplinary environmental studies
- connects the formal and material analysis of an artwork with its social, political, ecological, and geographical contexts
- compares different understandings of relationships between human and more-than-human actors while attending to their cultural and historical situatedness
- critically analyzes academic scholarship and primary sources and uses them to formulate independent research questions and arguments
- presents the results of their analysis and participates in specialized discussion in English
Social competences:
- critically evaluates anthropocentric, colonial, and extractivist ways of representing and exploiting the environment
- is prepared to consider different cultural perspectives and knowledge systems, including those of Indigenous communities
- recognizes the ethical and political dimensions of research on art and contemporary environmental crises
- participates in discussion and collaborative work while respecting different perspectives and positions
Relevant program-level learning outcomes: K_W01, K_W02, K_W03; K_U01, K_U02, K_U03, K_U09, K_U12; K_K01, K_K02.

Attendance, preparation for class, and active participation in discussions – 20 points.
A presentation devoted to a selected artist, artwork, site, or environmental issue – 30 points.
A final analytical research essay based on a selected case study – 50 points.

The attendance and participation grade will be based on regular preparation for class, familiarity with the assigned readings and visual materials, and active involvement in discussions.

The presentation and final essay will be assessed in terms of knowledge of the course material, appropriate use of concepts and methods, quality of analysis and contextualization, critical engagement with relevant sources, and the clarity and coherence of the argument.

Grades: 100-88 points -5; 87-73 points - 4; 72-57 points - 3; 56-0 points - 2.

Braddock, Alan C. Implication: An Ecocritical Dictionary for Art History. New Haven–London: Yale University Press, 2023.
Demos, T. J. Decolonizing Nature: Contemporary Art and the Politics of Ecology. Berlin: Sternberg Press, 2016.
Gómez-Barris, Macarena. The Extractive Zone: Social Ecologies and Decolonial Perspectives. Durham: Duke University Press, 2017.
Haraway, Donna J. Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene. Durham: Duke University Press, 2016.
Patrizio, Andrew. The Ecological Eye: Assembling an Ecocritical Art History. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2018.