INST 3530 - Art-Making and Composing the Self

Hours: 4
Humans make art for many reasons. Reflection, self-expression, and self-invention are among those reasons. We will examine the question of autobiography in art, both its direct and indirect impact. The exploration of the self includes, but is not limited to, the individual; it touches upon the self in many contexts - social, cultural, familial, political, to name only a few. Reflection on one’s past experience serves not only as an exercise in memory, but also as an exercise in making whole, in seeing connections, and in creating or mindfully composing one’s future, both as an individual and as a member of society. This course will have a dominant focus on visual arts, and also may include other arts such as music and theatre. What draws people to create works of all kinds (art, music, literature) as a means of contextualizing both the individual self and the larger communal self? The course will examine the concept of artist within us all - artist not necessarily as a profession or even as an avocation, but rather as representative of the creative fire that helps define us as human. Though no prior art classes of any kind are required, students will create pieces of art in ways accessible to us all, works that like their written work, will reflect their experiences, memories and dreams, both for themselves and for the larger community.

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INST 3530 - Art-Making and Composing the Self