Art, Activism & Democracy

Description du cours

Social and political change often begin with some kind of disruption at the level of ‘everyday politics’: whether it’s global school climate strikes or the peace movement at Woodstock, participating in democracy involves more than just voting. In this course students will get a chance to explore some of the ways that art and music are used in social and political change: how artistic practices allow us to express ourselves in subtle, in-direct ways and how they influence society more broadly by engaging emotions through poetic suggestiveness. Some scholars argue that only art allows us to ‘meet’ each other in the way that democracy requires: the ‘mediation’ of music, theatre, poetry or a painting helps us appreciate the complexity of every human being (Beausoleil, 2018). As Walt Whitman said “I contain multitudes”. Through seeing and understanding the multitudes within ourselves and others, art creates the space, receptivity and possibility of change.

Starting with a brief overview of how art and music have been part of social and political change since the ‘60s, the course will introduce students to iconic art and music since this time. There is also a personal, reflective element of the course, allowing students to explore the questions, how and to what extent have you been changed by a piece of visual art, music, or other form? What was it about your experience that was meaningful?

Students will get to participate in activities, role plays, a potential field trip and other experiential ways of learning: this is not a ‘chalk and talk’ or lecture-style course. For example, we may go on a field trip to the Byward Market to take photos related to themes chosen by students (e.g. nature and human connection). We may spend much of class time outside. If possible, we will also use Carleton’s ‘Immersive Technologies’ lab to experience how Indigenous and other artists today are inspiring social and political change through combining traditional storytelling techniques with Virtual Reality and other cutting edge technologies.
Students will also get a chance to express themselves by creating a piece of art that they can take home at the end of the class: a poem, a painting, a song, clothes or jewelry made with something that would have otherwise been thrown away (e.g. bicycle inner-tubes).

With a goal to inspire self-awareness and critical reflection on society and politics as a whole, this course aims to inspire creativity and support students to see art as an essential component of democracy.