THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
DEPARTMENT OF ART HISTORY, VISUAL ART AND THEORY
VISA 401E 2016
Wednesdays 9:00 – 12:00. AAC-1002
Instructor: Manuel Piña-B
Office location: BC Binning, room 207
manuel.pina@ubc.ca
Office hours: tba
Description
Research-based studio with thematic or disciplinary focus.
Humanity is living through moments of intense turmoil. Volatile political situations, generalized violence, recurring economical instability and ongoing ecological devastation seem to signal the end of ours species existence. At the same time, the accelerating pace of scientific and technological advances herald the end of poverty, endless prosperity and even the overcoming of our mortality in a bright future
“of a cybernetic ecology
where we are free of our labors
and joined back to nature,
returned to our mammal
brothers and sisters,
and all watched over
by machines of loving grace”*
This course will examine the challenges and possibilities for an artistic practice in our current social, political and technological conditions.
We will examine questions such as:
- Role of the arts and artists in moments of mayor historical transitions
- What are the questions that our present is imposing on us?
- What are the new artistic approaches/strategies/aesthetics means that would allow us to depict our present condition?
- What is the art that our present demands from us?
Each session will generally consist of:
- Discussion of previous class ideas, questions and visual responses posted in the website (see ‘weekly contributions’ below)
- Presentation/discussion individual works
- Brief overview of a new topic
Objectives
- The main goal of this course is to provide a context in which participants can reflect on their work//personal projects in relation to current cultural, social, economical conditions.
Course work and evaluation
The focus on this class is not in the creation of large projects but rather to provide a context for students to further invest in their ongoing individual research. Assignments will have an open ended/ tentative quality to them. Rather than definitive/well thought-out artworks, these should be approached as sketches, annotations that will allow you to contribute to the ongoing reflections.
We will adopt an evaluation scheme that encourages to such open investigations: performance will be evaluated primarily on the basis of students commitment to the class and artistic explorations.
Here are the main criteria for evaluation:
- Attendance– The class plan is but a general guide for the course. Many ideas and topics will emerge from class discussions. Missing a meeting can mean missing a valuable unplanned complement to the course.
- Artistic investigation– It is important that you feel free to explore new challenges and ideas. Take chances as any truly open exploration includes the possibility of failing. Trial and error will be the main approach to our projects. Failures are only so if we don’t learn from them. Your work can be partially appropriated (all sources shall be properly cited).
- Participation (comments in class and online). Your questions and comments are your most important contribution to the class. You are required to weekly post to the class website. This includes:
- Class notes (posted during the class or within the day);
- Questions
- Responses to classmates
- Ideas
- Related links
- Timely submissions– conversations will take mainly through (art)works. It is vital that you submit all classwork by the due date.