Creating a Capital: Art, Urbanization, and the Aesthetics of Nationhood (1791-present)

Catalog description

This course will teach students to think critically about a category of cultural production often excluded from academic study: public art. We will begin by considering how Pierre Charles L'Enfant's 1791 urban plan formed the backdrop against which public art would come to thrive. Through studies of early monuments and government-backed arts commissions of the twentieth century, students will establish a historical foundation for the exploration of contemporary murals, street art, and site-specific installations. As we approach the contemporary era, we will investigate the close relationship between public art, social activism, and urban regeneration. Each week will focus on a distinct artwork or monument; through the consideration of iconography, materials, scale, creative process, and physical location, students will sharpen their visual analysis skills and develop new modes of thinking about a variety of visual material. Over the quarter, we will develop a working definition of public art and consider how public art in D.C. communicates, shapes, and even contests the nation's identity. This course will involve lectures by the professor, group discussion, guest speakers from the local public art community, museum visits, and on-site learning. This course is offered to students in the Stanford in Washington program in Washington, DC. only.