Art Controversies

Prerequisites: No Prerequisites.

This is a Stamps academic course and will not fulfill studio requirements. Insofar as art instigates cultural change, it provokes controversy and therefore studying the controversies surrounding art provides a unique platform to understanding the arts as it intersects with its public. This course will examine a variety of case studies of art controversies, both historical and contemporary, to deliberate on the aesthetic, legal, philosophical, ethical, political, socio-cultural, economic, and technological questions that provoke controversies as well as strategies that enable artists and communities to navigate these controversies. Students will be engaged in robust discussions and writing position papers on various art controversies including topics like use of animals in art, censorship, copyright, authorship, freedom of expression, ethics of bioart, economics of art markets, public art, obscenity charges, vandalism, and AI-generated artworks.

Frequency: This course is typically offered in the winter term of every academic year, though scheduling may vary according to future term circumstances.