DANC 150 Contemporary Art Practices

3 credits 45.0 hours
100 level undergraduate course

In this course, the ever-expanding field of contemporary art will be explored to include dance
and performance through the lens of practice. Students will learn to look for and recognize
shared aesthetic values and relationship within and across varying disciplines. How can we think
about practice as the place and the space for working through an idea? What are the
relationships of practice to the studio? What are the relationships between practice, the studio and
process for an artist working today? How do these varied practices and processes contribute to
conversations about contemporary art and performance today? How can practice become a
“meeting ground” for discussion across varying disciplines? Students will immerse themselves in
screenings of video work and seek out as many pertinent performances/exhibitions as possible
throughout the course. We will also read selected texts & blogs. Class sessions will include
visiting artists and speakers who help deepen and bring into focus varying points of view and overlapping perspectives. Required readings and film viewings will conclude and collide with classroom discussion.

This course is not repeatable for credit.
This course can fulfill a discipline history elective, critical studies elective, or general elective requirement.