Think Big: Global Issues and Ecological Solutions

Catalog description

What are the most stimulating solutions to global climate change? If we were given an imaginary 'client' with an unlimited budget and colossal power, what should we design? The resounding formula for green thinking is broadly interpreted in three meta-themes; apocalyptic, technological, and traditional. Each category promises solutions and/or interpretations of our current environmental calamity. We explore critical philosophical, artistic, and scientific positions in each meta-theme that will help elucidate this dilemma. Students will read, evaluate, and synthesize projects and texts from great minds such as William Cronon, Bill Mckibben, Bruce Mau, Mike Davis, Marshall McLuhan, Bjorn Lomborg, David Orr, Paul Virilio, Naomi Klein, Laurence Buell, and others. The final project is the production of a mock Madison Ave. advertising campaign that promotes urban 'sustainability'.