CCST 227: Art and Soul Of Social Change

Art, Activism and New Media in Popular Resistance

Class Time: Wed. 4-6:50pm, (PST)


This course will be taught remotely, through Zoom.

Synchronous attendance is required for all Zoom sessions of the course.

Office hours: Wed. 6-7pm, or by appointment

Video Chat/Zoom Waiting room,

Contact email: ckhan@calarts.edu

Class Website: http://ahimsa.critstudies.calarts.edu/

Please Visit Class Website each week for readings and study Questions.

 

 

Weekly Schedule and Readings

Most readings are linked on line, others will be provided as PDFs

Please Read before coming to class

 

Section I,

September, 16th. – October, 7th. 

In this section we will focus on why the arts are an important locus for social change work and why increasingly it is the case locally, nationally, and globally. We work through the theory of Non-violent social change and explore the key concepts of Ahimsa, the Artivist and AEffecy, Social Change and Social Movements.

I

Week I: September, 16th

Opening discussion, Course Requirements and expectations. 

Introduction to key terms and issues;

Why Art for Social Change

Required Readings:

How do artists in different media address social issues?

1.     Why Art and  Aeffecy for social change?

2.    What is Art for Social Change?

3.    A sampling of artistsÕ works focused on human rights, inequality, gender, and social justice.

4.     Toni Morrison, Sonia Sanchez, Ta-Nehisi Coates Discuss Art And Social Justice

5.     The Work of Suzanne Lacy

Please Watch

  1. The Art of Protest
  2. National Museum Of African American History and Culture

 

II

Week II: September, 23rd

 Introduction to key terms and issues: 

Required Readings:

  1.  Artivist and Aeffect
  2. Nikkolas Smith;The Artist,  Art,  Activism and Social Justice
  3. Sandrina Brukhardt;Role of art in Social Change

 

III

Week III: September, 30th

The Logic of Nonviolance; Social Movements and Social Justice.

Please Watch before Coming to Class:

1.    A force More Powerful, Episode I

Required Readings:

1.    GhandiÕs Philosophy of Non-Violence

2.    Bruce Hartford, Nonviolent Resistance & Political Power

3.    Howard Zinn, The Artist and Citizen

4.    Howard Zinn,The Power of Nonviolence, Introduction & 5-7 , The trial of Scott Nearing, 42-44, and Gandhi:45-46

Suggested Video Clips to watch

á      Why We Fight

á      The Cost of War

á      The Top Ten Most Influential Resistances/revolts

 

 

IV

Week III: October 7th

StudentÕs Class Presentations; Assignment 1.

 

V

Week IV: October 14th

Civil Rights today

Music As A Tool Of Protest And Social Change

  1. Anthems and Ballads that fueled the Movement
  2. How Music Changed the course of History
  3.  

VI

Week V: October 21st.

BLM, Racism and Social Justice, and Social Media

1. Connie Walker, The racist roots of American policing: From slave patrols to traffic Stops

  1. Artivist' Nikkolas Smith Combines Art And Activism

Please Watch;

  1. What Matters- Black Lives Matter

Please Listen,

  1. Patrisse CullorÕs on the founding of BLM,(Ep 4) podcast

 

VII

Week VI: October 28th.

  1. Formenting, Negotiating and Accomplishing Social Change
  2. Settlement for Breonna Taylor

 

 

Week VII: November 4th.

Assignment II Class Presentations.

Class will discuss the two questions below giving some concrete examples based on the readings provided.

  1. Why Art Has the Power to Change the World?
  2. Alya Khemji, Why Art has the Power to Change the World
  3. Why We Make Art?

 

 

Week VIII:  November 11th.

Photography, social change and human rights.

Readings:

  1. Subhani Kiran, Photos as Witness
  2. James Nachtwei; My Photographs Bear Witness

 

 

Week IX:  November 18th.

 Immigration in the united States and Policy

1.     Migration is beautiful; Favianna Rodriguez

2.       Art power and Imagination

 

 

Week X:  November 25th Thanksgiving Break

 NO Class

 

Week XI: December 2nd.

Dance to Change the World

  1. The Power of Dance for Social Change

2.     Dance For Social Justice

3.    My Revolution Lives in this body

  1. Revolutionary Walls:  Bahia Shehab: A thousand times no

 

 

 

Week XII: December 9th

Technologies of Protest: Public Square and Social Change 
"Surveillance and Sousveillance" 

Readings;

When the Watched Become the Watchers"

Keep an Eye on Hasan Elahi

  1. Public Sousveillance of Police Misconduct

 

 

Week XII: December 16th

Final Presentations and final reflections