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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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/jn79rz/art
What's inside
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Public Art and Spatial Politics: Lectures, Guest Presentations, and Quiz
This lesson will lay out some basic definitions and examples of public practice and socially engaged art, especially as they relate to spatial politics. We will examine the critical role that such practices have had in relation to various forms of urbanism and social planning and consider the physical and symbolic mechanisms that separate the global and the local, the urban and the rural, the visible and the invisible, citizens and immigrants, settlers and refugees. The lecture and guest presentations will provide foundation and inspiration for students’ own experiments with spatial politics.
Public Art and Spatial Politics: Projects and Self-Assessments
The prompt, lecture and guest presentations will provide the foundation and inspiration for students’ own experiments. These student experiments were originally peer reviewed projects in the ART of the MOOC series, but have now been made entirely optional and self-reviewed. If you want to do them, we recommend you chose one of the two options (one is more social, the other more individual) and complete the optional quiz after you are done. Your project submissions and the quiz are not graded, so they will not impact your performance in the course.
Fictions, Alternative Structures, and Mock-Institutions: Lectures, Guest Presentations, and Quiz
By definition, social art is a collective endeavor. It might seek to transform larger social structures and economies. Perhaps more modestly, it might offer some alternatives or simply confront immediate challenges. The production of an unusual, creative, or engaged collective body can be its final goal. In this lesson we will learn how socially engaged artists have used the guise or actual form of organizations and institutions such as churches, corporations, banks, government offices, and other social units as the very media of their work. This lesson’s practical components will ask students to invent their own alternative social structures or fictional interventions.
Fictions, Alternative Structures, and Mock-Institutions: Projects and Self-Assessments
Experimental Pedagogy: Lectures, Guest Presentations, and Quiz
Many socially engaged artists are invested in the communication of ideas through education or educational projects. From Freire and Boal to Judy Chicago and Miriam Shapiro’s Womanhouse and the CalArts Feminist Art Program a brief review of experimental or radical pedagogy and its influence on art is hence the focus of this lesson. Using various technologies and social forms, some of these works set out to transform education from within. Others intentionally position themselves as self-organized platforms outside of institutions. Our focus will be on how the production of alternative communities of learning can challenge the hierarchies, professionalization, homogenization, and economy of current education systems. This week’s practical components will invite students to rethink their relationship to education as they chose between small-scale socialization and massive collaboration.
Experimental Pedagogy: Projects and Self-Reflection
The prompt, lecture and guest presentations will provide a foundation and inspiration for students’ own experiments with spatial politics.The prompt, lecture and guest presentations will provide the foundation and inspiration for students’ own experiments. These student experiments were originally peer reviewed projects in the ART of the MOOC series, but have now been made entirely optional and self-reviewed. If you want to do them, we recommend you chose one of the two options (one is more social, the other more individual) and complete the optional quiz after you are done. Your project submissions and the quiz are not graded, so they will not impact your performance in the course.
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
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
Save this course
Save ART of the MOOC: Public Art and Pedagogy to your list so you can find it easily later:
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Reviews summary
Public art course with engaging content
Learners say that this course is engaging, well-organized, and informative. They especially valued the guest speakers, thought-provoking content, and responsive instructors. Additionally, students reported experiencing a significant shift in their perspective on public art. However, a couple of learners mentioned some speed and presentation issues.
Instructors are knowledgeable and responsive to student questions.
"This course was excellent. The content was really engaging, the tutors were very responsive and the assignments were interesting."
"The tutors were very responsive and the assignments were interesting."
Course modules are well-structured and meticulously designed.
"Impressively organized, the course featured meticulously designed modules and instructors of remarkable expertise."
"This course was excellent. The content was really engaging, the tutors were very responsive and the assignments were interesting."
Course includes interesting videos and guest lecturers.
"This course was excellent. The content was really engaging, the tutors were very responsive and the assignments were interesting."
"A lot of interesting content, fabulous guest speakers, and thought-provoking arrangement."
Some learners found the course rushed and lacking transcripts.
"There could have been better efforts to produce a printed transcript of some of the videos that is a correct transcript and not bad close-captioning."
"Also, as someone else said, with the high pacing of the course, one often feels dropped in the middle of a much longer discussion (which one probably is, due to editing constraints), so what should be a solid overview ends up feeling like a break-neck I-missed-something course."
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
Show steps
Gain insights into the social construction of public culture and art.
View
The New Sociology of Knowledge
on Amazon
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Enhance knowledge of public art by collecting and organizing relevant materials.
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Gain practical experience and network with professionals in the field.
Show steps
-
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.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Exercises in spatial boundary exploration
Show steps
Reinforce understanding of spatial politics through practical exercises in exploring boundaries.
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Enhance critical thinking and communication skills through peer feedback and analysis.
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Develop technical skills and contribute to the field by creating a digital resource on public art.
Show steps
-
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.
Review 'The Social Construction of Reality' by Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann
Show steps
Gain insights into the social construction of public culture and art.
View
The New Sociology of Knowledge
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Enhance knowledge of public art by collecting and organizing relevant materials.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Gain practical experience and network with professionals in the field.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Exercises in spatial boundary exploration
Show steps
Reinforce understanding of spatial politics through practical exercises in exploring boundaries.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Enhance critical thinking and communication skills through peer feedback and analysis.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Develop technical skills and contribute to the field by creating a digital resource on public art.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
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.
Teacher
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.
Educator
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.
Social Worker
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.
Urban Planner
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.
Researcher
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.
Writer
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.
Art Critic
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.
Graphic designer
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.
Curator
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.
Museum Director
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.
Art 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.
Gallery Director
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.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/jn79rz/art
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.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of public art, including its history, theory, and criticism, which good supplemental source to the course's own syllabus.
Classic work on critical pedagogy, arguing for a pedagogy that is based on the experiences of the oppressed.
Save
This classic work on education argues that art should be central to the educational process.
This comprehensive handbook provides an overview of the history, theory, and practice of public art in the United States.
Explores how people use and make sense of everyday spaces, which is relevant to the course's focus on spatial politics.
Save
Explores the history and theory of participatory art, which is relevant to the course's focus on socially engaged art.
Save
Examines the ways in which art can be used as a tool for social and political change, highlighting the work of activist artists.
Save
Provides a practical guide to creating more creative and vibrant cities, which is relevant to the course's focus on the relationship between art and urban planning.
Explores the challenges and opportunities facing higher education in the 21st century, which is especially interesting for the course since the ‘ART of the MOOC’ title implies that learners are encouraged to treat the MOOC itself as a public art medium.
Save
This collection of essays provides a historical and theoretical overview of public art, from its origins to the present day.
Explores the future of public education, arguing for a more democratic and equitable system that is committed to social justice.
Save
Provides a critical perspective on public art and education, examining the ways in which these two fields can be used to promote social change.
Save
Explores the relationship between education and liberation, arguing for a pedagogy that is rooted in love and freedom.
Save
Explores the role of the artist in civic culture, arguing that artists have a responsibility to use their imagination to create a more just and equitable world.
Save
Classic work on cultural studies, exploring the relationship between culture and politics.
Collection of essays on public art, exploring the history, theory, and practice of this field.
Save
Explores the relationship between performance, ritual, and identity, arguing that performance powerful tool for social change.
Classic work on the sociology of art, exploring the relationship between art and society.
Save
Explores the relationship between art and social change, arguing that art can be a powerful tool for social transformation.
Save
Explores the relationship between art and activism, arguing that art can be a powerful tool for political change.
Save
Explores the relationship between artists and curators, arguing that artists can play a significant role in the curation of their own work.
Explores the intersection of radical pedagogy and social justice, which is relevant to the course's focus on experimental pedagogy.
Save
Is written as a series of conversations between scholars, curators, and artists, and provides a comprehensive overview of the history and theory of public art.
Save
Collection of essays and artworks by Suzanne Lacy, a pioneer in the field of socially engaged art.
This classic work provides a sociological perspective on the nature and function of art in society, including its role in public spaces.
Save
This practical guide provides step-by-step advice on creating and managing public art projects.
Presents a series of interviews with leading public artists, offering insights into their creative processes and perspectives.
Save
This influential work examines the liberatory potential of education, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and social justice.
Save
Reveals the unspoken rules and values that are taught in schools, and argues for a more critical approach to education.
Untersucht the changing role of the artist in public art, considering the tensions between artistic autonomy and collaboration.
Save
This practical guide to writing provides advice on everything from choosing a topic to revising and editing.
Save
This witty and inspiring guide to writing offers advice on overcoming writer's block and finding your own voice.
Save
This motivational guide to overcoming creative resistance provides inspiration and practical advice for artists of all kinds.
This classic guide to writing provides clear and concise rules for effective writing.
Provides a historical overview of public art, as well as a critical analysis of its theory and practice.
Explores the impact of digital technologies on art and culture, considering the implications for public art.
Provides a comprehensive overview of modern art in America, which is relevant to the course's focus on contemporary art practices.
Explores innovative approaches to teaching and learning, considering the role of art and creativity in the educational process.
Save
Provides a theoretical and historical overview of public art, discussing its origins, development, and different forms.
Save
Explores the different ways that art can be used and understood, which is relevant to the course's focus on the relationship between art and society.
Save
Explores the cognitive and evolutionary basis of language, and provides insights into the nature of creativity and communication.
Provides a comprehensive overview of art history, which is useful for background knowledge in this field.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/jn79rz/art
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Via
Coursera
Institutions
Duke University
Creative Time
Instructors
Pedro Lasch
Nato Thompson
Language
English
Transcripts
Español
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Português
Deutsch
Italiano
中文
العربية
한국어
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Good to know
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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