CURPR618 GE: Art and Politics

This course will explore the often-difficult relationship between contemporary art and curatorial practice and mainstream socio-cultural politics in the United States, with a particular emphasis on issues relevant to California and the American West. The course will follow both a series of contemporary case statements and articles from daily newspapers that elucidate the complexities of the challenges of pursing a career as a visual arts worker in the early 21st Century. Typical past topics have included these questions: Do curators, artists or collectors run California art museums? Why it matters to you, and how you might fashion your career in response to changing dynamics. Is 2008 the end of the "boom market" for contemporary art? Will the melt down of the mortgage and financial markets significant affect your career choice as a visual artist or curator? How can you prepare for potentially tough times ahead? How do you maintain artistic integrity and a personal style as the commercial world increasingly demands conformity and marketplace aesthetics. The curriculum will consist of weekly readings and discussions on emerging topics of interest related to the fault lines of emerging visual culture, and the enduring and changing roles of curators and artists in this environment. A series of short articles related to current discussion topics, class participation in discussions will round out the course requirements.