Queerness and Disability in Contemporary Art, Culture, and Activism

Exploration of artistic practice and movements in contemporary art as they relate to the intersection of disability and queerness; the politics of representation and embodiment; and current debates around the rhetorics of disability and LGBTQ+ civil rights. This course pays special attention to the roles that artistic production and/as activism play in countering hegemonic forms of governance. Substantial attention will be spent on alternatives to the western dominance of visuality as a primary modality in contemporary art. Students will produce writings and creative projects as platforms to discuss technology, history, sex, gender, disability, illness, and social justice. Weekly case studies, field trips, and contemporary art projects under investigation will include an overview of queer and disabled artists working with media that include: painting, sculpture, photography, performance, interactive media, public art, and community-based projects with/for LGBTQ+ communities, youth, women, and those living with disability, trauma, and mental illness.