Aesthetics of the Oppressed

Catalog description

Taught by SKSM. Aesthetics of the Oppressed (AO), formulated by radical educator Augusto Boal, refers to the full spectrum of cultural and artistic activities that a community develops to resist, challenges and transform oppression. Based on the foundations of Theater of the Oppressed (TO) and the Pedagogy of the Oppressed, AO recuperates the power of art and theater "to liberate both oppressor and oppressed" and "recover our deepest humanity" trough creativity, art, dialogue, and education. This workshop-based course builds on Theater of the Oppressed (RSED 4036), while integrating writing, spoken word/poetry, visual arts, movement arts, music, architecture & sculpture to develop a fluid, liberatory poesis & praxis between and across different art forms. There will be a focus on deepening the techniques/practices as practitioner/facilitator/educator/activist, refining the aesthetics and artistry of the work, while expanding the range, depth, and scope of theoretical analysis and political action and engagement. Participants will be required to do a community engagement project in TO/AO. Relates to SKSM Thresholds 4 & 8 and MFC Comps 1 & 6. [25 max enrollment; Auditors excluded]