- Designing Power in the United States

Catalog description

Examines how the mass-produced material world (graphic design, advertising, objects, etc.) in mostly modern and contemporary United States can shape our experiences in intentional and unintentional ways. You will learn about power dynamics in education to prepare you to teach about topics such as racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia, and more in relation to the material world (topics can include Black Power, video games, maps, postage stamps, and more). You will be responsible for teaching some of the class material; your class session will be open to the Skidmore community. The course unfolds over three stages. Stage 1: I provide background in and moderate discussion on several topics, including power in teaching and learning, why group work is an effective learning technique, Nazi use of material culture to exert power (the Nazis were the orginators - and preeminent practitioners - of multi-media exertions of power), the resistance found in material objects to Nazi power, and how American mid-century modern design reinforced sexist and racist power dynamics. The sections on Nazi and mid-century modern design serve as models for you to reflect on when you prepare to teach your classes on American topics (stage 3). Stage 2: You prepare to teach with my support. This includes reading and discussing texts on effective teaching and group work developing a teaching plan on American material culture. You will master your topic, decide what your peers must know about it, how best to convey that information, what kind of homework to assign, and what kind of deliverable your peers will provide. Stage 3: You teach course material.