Spring 2014 Special Topics Courses from the Department of Social Science & Cultural Studies
Courses 7:34 PM
Every semester, in addition to its many permanent electives, the Department of Social Science & Cultural Studies features a number of Special Topics (SS490) courses that are focused upon the current topics related to the current research interests of faculty or the result of our students suggesting subjects that they would like to explore more deeply.
For Spring 2014, the selection of Special Topics courses range from the Culture of Food to the Anthropology of the State to Iranian and Indian Cinema. The offerings change each semester but many of them ultimately become permanent courses. Descriptions follow below.
Pratt Institute Admissions
For Spring 2014, the selection of Special Topics courses range from the Culture of Food to the Anthropology of the State to Iranian and Indian Cinema. The offerings change each semester but many of them ultimately become permanent courses. Descriptions follow below.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCE & CULTURAL STUDIES
Special
Topics Courses
Spring 2014
SS 490: Fetishism and the Gift
01 Prof. Matt Carlin NH 111
TH.9:30-12:20
3 credits
This course is designed to introduce
students to the study of political economy. We will take an
interdisciplinary approach to our study through an engagement with
philosophical, anthropological, and sociological texts in order to
become versed in some of the foundational aspects of past and
contemporary economic life. We will study a variety of forms of
production and exchange including the gift and the market economy. We
will also study the relationship between capitalism, modernity, and
urban life with special attention paid to the inherent aesthetic
dimension of consumption that is most clearly identifiable in
commodity fetishism.
SS 490: Anthropology of the State
02 Prof. Matt Carlin NH 111
T.5:00-7:50
3 credits
With contemporary political speak in
the United States saturated with allusions to "big government"
and "individual freedom," it is crucial for us to identify
what these terms actually mean. To participate in such a discussion
brings up a number of questions about contemporary popular politics,
in particular the role of the state. What exactly is the state? Has
the state always existed or is it a comparatively recent historical
invention? Is the critique of "big government" the same as
the critique of the state? When we talk about the state are we
merely referring to a collection of individuals connected by their
particular relations? If so, why do we seem to grant so much power to
the state--fetishizing as if it were an independent institution. In
this class we will take a social scientific approach to these
questions, drawing from classic anthropological and sociological by
A. R. (Anarchy) Brown, Pierre Clastres, Karl Marx, Philip Abrams,
Marshall Sahlins, and David Graeber and others. Particular attention
will be paid to discussing what is at stake when we start talking
about living outside of the grasp of the government and/or the State.
SS 490: Law, War, Empire in Modern
History
06 Prof. Sameetha Agha NH
305 W.2:00-4:50
3 credits
Societies and cultures world-wide have
debated the justification, conduct and ethics of warfare for
thousands of years. The technological and organizational
transformations of war that accompanied the rise of modern empires
continue to propel these questions into our times. A salient example
can be found in the current international debates over drone attacks.
Providing an historical background, including an examination of
classic texts of war such as the Bhagvad Gita, Sun Tzu’s The Art of
War, and writings in the Judeo/Christian/Islamic tradition, this
course explores major themes within the framework of law, war and
empire. These will include “just war”, civilized vs. savage
warfare, military tribunals, treatment of prisoners of war, the use
of torture, genocide and war-crimes, and the impact of new
technologies on warfare and ethics.
SS 490: The
Politics of Food
07 Prof. Josh Karant NH 111
W.2:00-4:50
3 credits
Americans have grown increasingly aware
of the fact that what – and how – we eat has repercussions that
extend far beyond simple sustenance or pleasure. Our meal
choices – be they fast food on the go, or elaborately prepared
locally-sourced feasts – effect not only our own lives, but also
the environment and world in which we live. Yet what does it mean to
eat responsibly or ethically? Does the Big Mac necessarily
herald a physical and spiritual collapse? Are organic,
sustainable foods a viable remedy, or merely an exclusive privilege
of those fortunate enough to be able to afford them? Or is
there some middle ground that recognizes how, in an ideal world, we
should eat and provides concrete, realistic ideas to bring these
dreams to fruition? Using this tension between theory and
practice as our guiding concern, we will examine the political
implications of food in contemporary life. Topics will include
everything from the locavore movement, “slow” vs. “fast”
food, and organic and sustainable foodstuffs, to the ethics of meat
eating, dieting, body image, genetically modified crops, global
hunger, and water supply. This course is writing intensive.
SS 490: Iranian Cinema
08 Prof. Mareena Daredia NH
202 F.12:30-3:20
3 credits
The frequent presence of Iranian films
in esteemed international festivals is a testimony to Iran’s
growing film industry and the Persian filmmakers who make compelling
movies - often times underlining socio-political subject matter as
well as beautifully highlighting the complexities of humanity. This
course attempts to offer an understanding of life and culture in Iran
through its cinema. A variety of films from different genres will be
presented and discussed. Attention will be given to the social and
political contexts from which these works have originated. The
discussion will revolve around themes such as development of Iranian
Art Cinema, Women and Children and Politics and Religion in
Iranian cinema; all along focusing on cinematic productions-its
challenges and its development.
SS 490: Indian Cinema
09 Prof. Mareena Daredia NH
202 F.4:00-6:50
3 credits
This course is an introduction to
Indian cinema, focusing on Bollywood and Crossover films. We shall
concentrate on the evolution of Hindi cinema from the old formula of
melodrama to some of the new paradigms in Bollywood. We will discuss
the role of the changing socio-political background and the changing
audience and analyze some of the new genre of films. We will also
pay attention to the aesthetics of film-making such as, script,
music, shot division, lighting and editing. This is a cinema that has
kept billions around the world rapt for over half a century, so plan
to submit entirely to its pleasures. No prior experience of India or
knowledge of Hindi is required. This class is for students at all
levels. Those who have had no prior experience of Indian Cinema and
culture will get an exposure to a new world-view, and those who have
some prior experience with Hindi films will find and articulate new
ways of approaching and interpreting the films.
SS 490:
Great Port Cities of the World
10 Prof. Francis Bradley NH
111 TH.2:00-4:50
3 credits
The world's great port cities have been
centers of cultural production. Such cities include New York City,
Venice, Amsterdam, and Hong Kong, among others. Each of these
cosmopolitan cities has been a point of incredible interaction as the
meeting places between artists, artisans, merchants, students, and
rebels. From the early modern to the post-modern period, we will take
a look at each of these cities in turn, as points of mobility,
interaction, and conflict, and the embarkation point and destination
for networks of peoples from around the globe.
SS 490: Social Justice &
Participatory Action Research Studio
11 Prof. Caitlin Cahill ISC
101A W.2:00-4:50
3 credits
How do social research and practice
play a role in the struggle for justice? This course is designed to
introduce students, artists, and designers to the theory, methods and
ethics of community-based participatory research and social practice.
Students will gain the necessary skills and knowledge to integrate
community-based research into their artistic practice, scholarship,
and everyday life. We will engage with the history, theory, methods
and ethics of participatory and community-based research and learn
how to work collaboratively and build community partnerships.
Methods we will work with include mapping, photo-voice, participatory
survey design, interviews and focus groups. The class will involve
field trips and hands-on experience engaging in community-based
research.
SS 490: Leonardo’s Notebooks
12 Prof. Paul Dambowic NH
112 F.9:30-12:20
3credits
“A well-lettered man is so because he
is well-natured…” (Leonardo da Vinci, Thoughts on Art and Life)
Leonardo observed all of nature,
invention, the world, climate, geography, and human character with
his drawings and with his writings. This course will study the
Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, and examine how (in addition to his
sketches) his letters, fables, prophetic and scientific writings,
natural history and natural philosophy reveal his methods. We examine
the illustrated books, as well as recent discoveries of newly
attributed paintings and drawings. Leonardo’s investigations
provide a model of creative innovation, a model for students to
explore in research and practice through the study of journals and
sketchbooks.
SS 490:
Invisible Histories of NYC
13 Prof. Ann Holder & Uzma
Rizvi NH 110 W.2:00-4:50
3credits
This course combines both theory and
practice to examine various sites in New York City that have become
historical place-holders for heritage, history and memory. The four
key sites will be the African Burial Ground in lower Manhattan, the
Weeksville historic houses in Brooklyn, the Seneca Village site in
Central Park and NYPL’s Schomburg Library in Harlem. The long-term
goal will be to develop a walking tour that links these and other
less well marked physical sites that in ways that reinvoke/reimagine
the crucial but neglected history of Americans of African,
Afro-Caribbean, and Native American descent in the founding, building
and dynamic growth of New York City. Key themes of the class include
public memory, tangible/intangible heritage, and community
mobilization. The class will interrogate what aspects of history are
remembered, by whom, how and why. Through this questioning, the class
will uncover the processes by which traditional narratives of history
selectively “forget” particulars. Additionally, the class will
document the use of heritage and history in the city and how
re-discovered sites can mobilize community action and spur a remaking
of the past.
SS 490: Life and Society in Russia and
the USSR
14 Prof. Jeff Surovell ISC
101A T. 2:00-4:50
3 credits
In 1991, humanity’s first communist
state—the USSR—collapsed after 75 years of existence. The 15
Republics that made up the USSR were immediately transformed into
independent, generally non-communist and pro-capitalist countries.
Russia, which had been the biggest Republic and the heart of the
USSR, became the “successor” state to the USSR. This course
focuses on the nature of and historical developments in both
societies—including Russia (before 1917 and after the USSR collapse
in 1991) and the USSR, which existed as a communist state from
1917-1991. Students will examine the two societies’ Social
Institutions and Structures (the economy, government, military,
foreign policy) and the Daily Life and Lifestyle of individual
citizens (art, education, cuisine, the media, sports, the general
standard of living and quality of life, etc.). Required activities
for this course include weekly readings supplemented with videos, a
museum trip, and a dinner at a Russian restaurant.
SS 490:
Creative Impulse
15 Prof. Joshua Blackwell NH
305 TH.9:30-12:20
3 credits
Art is not an object, but experience.”
- Josef Albers
Behind the impulse to create is a
search for meaning. Therefore, when we make something (a painting, a
photograph, a dress, an advertisement) we are literally constructing
its meaning. This course will focus on the methods, techniques and
processes of making things and their underlying rationales. How does
the artist’s intimate knowledge of craft inform the way s/he looks
at objects? What are our responsibilities as makers? Does art exist
in a world of its own or can it be used as a tool to think about the
world around us? Divided equally between making, reading, and
analysis, the class will investigate construction from both practical
and theoretical perspectives. Extensive class discussions will focus
on weekly assigned projects ranging from critical responses to texts,
studio projects, and creative problem solving. Critiques will examine
the ways and means of making, from inspiration to final product.
Topics considered include: the value of skill, materials and their
meaning, amateur versus professional, and the differences between art
and design. Considering historical instances such as the Arts and
Crafts Movement in England, the pedagogy of the Bauhaus, and the
interpretation of Minimalism will provide further context for
discussion.
SS 490: Art and Social Activism
16 Prof. Barbara
Esgalhaldo NH 110 M.2:00-4:50
3 credits
In this course, we examine the role of
the artist as social activist from theoretical, artistic, aesthetic,
and practical points of view. We study the interplay between the
artist and social, historical, and political events – past and
present -- and attempt to locate ourselves in the social and
political concerns of our present day lives in meaningful ways. The
emphasis of the course is on the examination, exploration, and
development of the artistic, aesthetic, and political agency of
student’s work. Students read and critically examine written and
visual texts, write, take field trips, and individually and/or
collectively conceptualize and create artwork and/or project(s) that
attempt to create personal and social change.
SS 490: Fashion & Modernism
17 Prof. Joshua Blackwell NH
111 F.9:30-12:20
3 credits
Considering the intertwining of art and
fashion throughout the 20th century, this course examines various
movements and moments including the Ballets Russes, Futurism,
Constructivism, Surrealism, Pop, Op, Conceptualism, and Feminism
through the lens of fashion. Emphasis is on artists as designers and
their particular or peculiar takes on the garment as a means of
perpetuating political and social ideals. For the final project,
students will create original garments.
SS 490:
Imagining NYC
18 Prof. May Joseph ISC 209
TH.9:30-12:20
3 credits
This course explores the history and
context of New York City. Its central focus will be philosophical and
historical inquiries into the idea of the city. Participants will
also read and discuss ideas about the city that have emerged since
the World Trade Center. Using ethnography and fieldwork as tools of
inquiry, students will study emerging concerns, theories, and ideas
about the future of New York City. In the process, we will also
consider current international developments and their implications
for the future of cities. This course will culminate in a series of
creative and scholarly explorations focusing on the idea of the city.
This course is writing intensive and encouraged for junior and senior
students in particular.
SS 490: Food & Cinema
19 Prof. May Joseph DK 308
W.9:30-12:20
3 credits
This course studies African modernity
through and exploration of African Cinema and globalizing African
cities. Using African cinema, students will explore the idea of the
postcolonial city and the impact of migration, immigration, and
travel on urban Africa. Students will also study the question of how
the circulation of people, capital, and commodities affected urban
life in African societies and, in turn, how it is African
cosmopolitanism is transforming spaces within national borders as
well as outside Africa..
SS 490: Modern Conspiracy Theories
20 Prof. Josiah Brownell
NH 110 W.9:30-12:20
3 credits
Conspiratorial worldviews have entered
the mainstream in modern American culture. Viewing major events,
past and present, and even the general flow of politics and history,
as being directed by a (semi) secret cabal is no longer considered to
be expressions of paranoid minds nor is it shunned to the outer
fringes of public political discourse. In the internet age, new
conspiracies are constantly being created alongside older, and until
recently largely forgotten, conspiracies, all of which are spreading
faster and gathering more popular attention than ever before. Why is
this happening now, when the availability of reliable information is
also exponentially greater than it has ever been in the past? What
is the historical, political, and social context of conspiracy
theories? Who believes in these various conspiracy theories, and why
do they find them appealing? And perhaps most importantly, are any of
them true? These are some of the questions which will be explored in
this course.
SS 490: Hip Hop Culture
21 Prof. Josh Karant NH 111
M.2:00-4:50
3 credits
Hip Hop is one of the most influential
cultural movements of the past 30 years, yet its origins are
relatively humble. Drawing upon historical, sociological and
philosophical writings, as well as music and film, we will examine
this phenomenon’s unlikely rise to global recognition. Topics of
investigation will include: Hip Hop vs. Rap; popular culture vs. mass
culture; regionalism and mutability; the civic value of art; the
politics of provocation; and deliberative democracy.
SS 490
Occupy! The Politics of Public Space & the Right to the City
22 Prof. Catlin Cahill NH
305 TH.5:00-7:50
25 Prof. Caitlin Cahill NH
305 TH.2:00-4:50
3 credits
Knowing that rights are not given, but
won in the course of struggle, people around the world are putting
their lives on the line to defend their right to public space. But
what’s so important about public space? From Tahrir Square to our
own Zucotti Park, mass protests raise critical questions about the
relationships among public space, the state of democracy, and our
political economy. In this course students compare public and private
spaces in New York with case studies from around the world, engaging
various documentation methods that include visual digital tools,
interviewing, mapping and ethnography.
SS 490: Doubles, Duplicates, and
Copies: Imitation and Its Discontents
23 Prof. Saul Anton ENGR
311 TH.9:30-12:20
3 credits
The ever-increasing power of media over
the past two centuries has produced an explosion in our powers of
imitation, reproduction, representation and virtualization. An
age-old question has for us now become fundamental: what is the place
of imitation and, more broadly, the image, in human life? This
course surveys a number of important
moments in the history of Western accounts of imitation, duplication,
representation and the copy that will allow us to consider topics
such as: realism in art and language, classical history painting and
its modern avatars, the theory and practice of photography and film,
modern theories of painting and mass spectacle, appropriation,
pornography and the participatory model of contemporary digital media
culture. Spanning a wide range of texts from antiquity to the
present, we will explore the evolution of Western ways of thinking
about the social, moral and political implications of imitation,
reproduction and art in general.
SS 490: Film Festival: Practice and
Theory
24 Prof. Basil Tsiokos NH
111 M.5:00-7:50
3 credits
This course offers the practical tools
and information necessary to successfully organize a film festival,
culminating in Wallabout 2013, Pratt's student-run film festival
showcasing student films. In addition, discussions with film industry
professionals, lectures, and readings will provide insight into the
roles film festivals play in the larger film industry.
SS 490: Bad Memories
3 credits
Pratt Institute
Main Brooklyn Campus
200 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
200 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
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