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ART of the MOOC

Public Art and Pedagogy

Pedro Lasch and Nato Thompson

Students of this course may try their hand at their own public art interventions, or simply focus on learning from the theory of public practice and its recent history. Designed by artist and Duke professor, Pedro Lasch, and co-taught by Creative Time artistic director, Nato Thompson, this course presents public culture and art in their radically reinenvented contemporary forms. The lectures link major developments of recent decades to wider topics like spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education.

Also included are guest presentations from key thinkers and practitioners, like: Tania Bruguera, Claire Doherty, Tom Finkelpearl, Hans Haacke, Shannon Jackson, Suzanne Lacy, Rick Lowe, and many more. As the ‘ART of the MOOC’ title implies, learners and participants are encouraged to treat the MOOC itself as a public art medium. This happens mostly through the course’s practical components, local project productions, global exchanges, and critical feedback.

While no prior art making experience is required, projects also offer challenging options for advanced learners.

For other course offerings or language versions in this series, just search 'ART of the MOOC' in the Coursera catalog.

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Syllabus

Introduction to Public Art and Pedagogy

This short module provides an overview of the course's structure, working process, global community, and overall guidelines. Make sure to read it right away and refer back to it when needed.

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Introduces students to public art practices and their significance in contemporary society

Provides a platform for students to engage in their own public art projects

Features guest lectures from renowned artists and practitioners in public art

Taught by experienced instructors with extensive knowledge and expertise in public practice

Examines the intersection of public art with social and political issues

Encourages students to explore the use of public spaces as a medium for artistic intervention

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Reviews summary

Exploring public art and pedagogy

According to learners, this course offers a unique and thought-provoking exploration of public art and experimental pedagogy. Students often appreciate the inspiring lectures and guest presentations by prominent artists and thinkers, which provide deep theoretical context and exposure to significant historical works in public practice and socially engaged art. While some may find the concepts challenging or abstract at times, many value the opportunity to consider art's role in spatial politics and social structures. The course's design, including the optional projects, encourages treating the MOOC itself as a public art medium, offering flexibility for engagement, though the projects may require significant effort.

Projects allow flexibility, require effort.

"The optional projects are great for engaging practically, but definitely demand dedication."

"Appreciate that the projects are optional now; it makes the course more accessible."

"While optional, tackling a project helps solidify the theoretical learning."

Offers a unique perspective on art's role.

"This course opened my eyes to new ways of thinking about art and its place in the world."

"I've never encountered a course that covers public art and pedagogy in this specific way; it's quite original."

"It provides a fresh and unique lens through which to view contemporary art practices."

Provides robust theoretical and historical base.

"The lectures provided a strong theoretical foundation in public art history and practice."

"I gained a solid understanding of the historical context and key concepts thanks to the course material."

"Covers significant developments and links them to wider social topics effectively."

Features insightful talks from key artists.

"The guest presentations were a highlight, hearing directly from leading figures in the field was invaluable."

"Loved the lineup of artists and thinkers; their contributions were truly inspiring."

"Guest speakers added immense value and different perspectives to the core lectures."

Forum activity varies, could be stronger.

"The potential for global exchange was exciting, but forum activity seemed inconsistent."

"Hoped for more robust discussion in the forums to connect with other learners."

"Peer interaction wasn't as lively as expected for a course on social practice."

Content can be abstract or challenging.

"Some of the concepts were quite abstract and took time to fully grasp."

"I sometimes struggled with the theoretical depth and making practical connections."

"Requires careful attention and reflection, as it's not always straightforward."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy with these activities:

Review 'The Social Construction of Reality' by Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann

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Gain insights into the social construction of public culture and art.

View The New Sociology of Knowledge on Amazon

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Read the book and highlight key passages.
Summarize the main arguments of the book in a written review.
Identify examples from contemporary public art that illustrate these arguments.

Compile a Portfolio of Public Art Resources

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Enhance knowledge of public art by collecting and organizing relevant materials.

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Search online and in libraries for articles, books, and websites about public art.
Collect images, videos, and other media that illustrate different aspects of public art.
Organize your materials into a portfolio that you can reference for future projects and research.

Attend a Public Art Workshop or Festival

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Gain practical experience and network with professionals in the field.

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Research upcoming public art events and identify one that aligns with your interests.
Attend the event and participate in activities, demonstrations, or workshops.
Network with artists, curators, and other attendees.

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Exercises in spatial boundary exploration

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Reinforce understanding of spatial politics through practical exercises in exploring boundaries.

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Identify a public space and observe its physical and social boundaries.
Create a map or diagram of the space, marking the boundaries.
Interview people in the space about their perceptions of the boundaries.
Write a report summarizing your observations and analysis.

Peer Critiques and Reflections

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Enhance critical thinking and communication skills through peer feedback and analysis.

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Select a piece of public art or a social intervention that you find interesting.
Write a brief analysis of the work, discussing its strengths and weaknesses.
Share your analysis with a peer and engage in a discussion about the work.

Interactive Digital Map of Public Art

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Develop technical skills and contribute to the field by creating a digital resource on public art.

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Identify a specific type or theme of public art that you want to focus on.
Research existing artworks and gather data on their location, artist, and description.
Create a website or use an online mapping platform to display the data in an interactive and engaging way.

Career center

Learners who complete ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Public Artist

A Public Artist creates art that is intended to be experienced by the public in a public space. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy would be highly valuable. It provides a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the role of art in society.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Artist

Teacher

A Teacher helps people to learn and grow. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy would be highly valuable. It provides a foundation in experimental education. Beyond this, it can help develop the critical thinking and communication skills needed to be an effective teacher.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Educator

Art Educators teach visual arts to students of all ages. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy may be useful. It provides a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the role of art in society and for developing effective teaching methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educator

Urban Planner

An Urban Planner develops plans and policies for the use of land in urban areas. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy may be useful. It provides a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the social and physical dynamics of urban areas and for developing effective planning policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Social Worker

A Social Worker helps people to cope with personal and social problems. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy may be useful. It provides a foundation in everyday social structures, spatial politics, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the challenges faced by people in different communities and for developing effective social work interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Art Critic

An Art Critic reviews, analyzes, and writes about visual art. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy may be useful. It introduces learners to key thinkers and practitioners in the field of public art and provides a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the role of art in society and for developing critical writing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Critic

Graphic Designer

A Graphic Designer creates visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy may be useful. It introduces learners to key thinkers and practitioners in the field of public art and provides a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the role of art in society and for developing the skills needed to create visually appealing and effective designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer

Researcher

A Researcher gathers information and analyzes data to answer questions or solve problems. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy may be useful. It introduces learners to key thinkers and practitioners in the field of public art and provides a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the role of art in society and for developing research methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Researcher

Writer

A Writer creates written content, such as articles, books, and scripts. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy may be useful. It introduces learners to key thinkers and practitioners in the field of public art and provides a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the role of art in society and for developing the writing skills needed to effectively communicate about public art.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Gallery Director

A Gallery Director is responsible for the overall operation of an art gallery. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy may be useful. It provides a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the role of art in society and for developing the skills needed to manage an art gallery.

See salaries and explore the career path for Gallery Director

Curator

A Curator is responsible for planning and managing exhibitions in museums, galleries, and other public spaces. A course on public art and pedagogy would be helpful for this role as it would provide a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. This course would be especially helpful for someone interested in curating public art exhibitions or working in community-based arts organizations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curator

Museum Director

A Museum Director is responsible for the overall operation of a museum. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy may be useful. It provides a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the role of art in society and for developing the skills needed to manage a museum.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Director

Art Director

An Art Director oversees the visual aspects of a project, such as a film, television show, or magazine. For this role, the course ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy may be useful. It provides a foundation in spatial politics, everyday social structures, and experimental education. These concepts are essential for understanding the role of art in society and for developing the skills needed to create visually appealing and effective projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Reading list

We've selected 42 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy.

Dewey for Artists

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Provides a comprehensive overview of public art, including its history, theory, and criticism, which good supplemental source to the course's own syllabus.

ART of the MOOC

Public Art and Pedagogy

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Exploring public art and pedagogy

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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