Arts for Change

Catalog description

Taught by GTU. ARTS FOR CHANGE: Modern and Contemporary Art in Service of Transformation will investigate the belief-shared by many artists-that art making and art viewing can be powerful means for initiating change both individually and societally. Although many cultures throughout history have attributed transformative power to images and objects made with human hands-whether these were intended for ritual or aesthetic purposes, or both-post-Enlightenment Western cultures have had a fluctuating and often conflicted relationship with this idea. Western artists of the modern period have at times rejected it, but more often have espoused it in orientations ranging from the mystical and contemplative to socially and politically engaged activism. They have drawn upon many sources in formulating their varied conceptions of art's transformative efficacy, among them tenets of Christian faith, political philosophies, Romantic aesthetics, esoteric teachings, psychology, and Asian religions. Certain artists, especially since the 1960s, have found ways to merge inward and outward orientations in their work, creating art that speaks directly to such issues as societal inequities or ecological crises from a place of deep spiritual commitment. We will examine the various ways artists (and others) have held such aspirations for art, from the Romantic era until today, uncovering the intellectual history of such visions as well as their application in the work of specific artists and art movements, both as a matter of historical inquiry and as a means to explore what value transformative approaches to art-making may have in our own lives and within our communities. Seminar format; assignments will include oral presentation and research paper. Intended for MDiv and MA/MTS students.