Acts of Resistance Spring 2020: Self Portrait

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Self Portrait

My portrait is not yet complete and that is something I would like to emphasize until I finish it completely but will speak about what I have so far and what will be added. With the piece there is a box containing my different faces. We all go through many different face as we grow and go through changes from our experience. Outside of the box is currently empty but right now my faces are what is closed off and kept away from the contents to be added. The only thing in this thin box of string is myself and the contents to be added outside will be cultural items. This is because of the seperation I feel from my both my backgrounds. I feel a disconnect with others in America and also in Sicily as they have a mentality of he is “he is one of the Americans”.

(Again I would like to emphasize it is not yet complete the items on the outside will be added)

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Please join us for our class session TODAY on 4/29 at 10am

https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/6e98b4145b764a5ba6a4860d2f0b594a

++++IMPORTANT!!!CLASS STARTS at 10 am on 4/22 and 4/29

FINAL PROJECTS due 4/22:

Your art and activism projects must use the methods and ideas we earned in class of engaging an audience to raise awareness about your chosen topic. Your projects must live in the world outside of our class and be available to an audience.

For your final you must create a written post about your project and present the project in a brief presentation "pitch" to the class in our online session.

WRITTEN POST ~700 words, 3 quotes from the class readings, 5 inspirational artists/projects and 10resources that informed the project.

Create a written POST for your final project on the class blog that explains your project and includes a link (embedded) to the project. Due to our social isolation and lockdown, engagement is likely virtual. In the event your project does not exist virtually and cannot be linked. Explain how an audience can access it.

Prepare a succinct and exciting summary of the project that is clear and makes the class want to look further at your project and potentially share the project, promote it and even get involved. You must connect your project to the class readings and include 3 quotes from the class readings with citations. Explain how these ideas connect to or inspired your project.

In your writing summary please be sure to answer:

*What is your project? Why you have chosen this topic and form of outreach?

*What is your message for the audience? How did you reach an audience (ie "publish" the project)? How did the audience engage with the project? What feedback have you received?

*How does this project fit into your professional aspirations and your portfolio?

*What artists or other projects have influenced or inspired your own project? List 5+ artists that connect with your project with brief explanations of why they connect or inspired your own project.

*List 10+ resources that informed or inspired your project in a resource list at the end of your project summary.

(ONLINE) CLASS PRESENTATION Be prepared to present your projects to the class in ~3 minute presentations in our online session. Visuals are a must. You will use the post your create to present to the class. Feel free to post many images to your post and the link to your project so we can open your project as you explain it. For those who create videos, you can choose what section of videos you will play (if longer than 3 minutes) to try to stick to the 3min time limit. You may choose to create a slide presentation to better explain your project during your presentation. These should be short and must also be online and linked from the final project post. Remember you are ”pitching” the project to the class. Prepare a clear and exciting presentation. Practice what you will say!

+++++Final Project posts must be completed and posted to the blog by 11:59 on 4/22 to receive full credit.+++++

15 minute meeting with the professor If you have not already had a one-on-one meeting with the professor, you must schedule one by 4/20. This is mandatory.

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Due Wednesday 4/15

Art, Activism and Pandemic -- Optional (+5% extra credit) *Due 4/29 on the blog

We are living through a historic global pandemic. It is important to be safe and well and do our part to help in any way that we are able. It may also be helpful to reflect on ourselves, our society, our culture and use this time to think about how we can and will do better after this time.

Draw on your your writing in your journals, on our class readings, and on the research for your semester project. How has this crisis allowed you to reflect on art and activism in a new way? Chose 2-3 artists, projects or artist collectives that have inspired or feel connected to your project and that help reflect on the current crisis. Choose at least one artist from our book. How does this artwork feel connected or helpful in the present? How have the artists used their artwork to create advocacy, critique and awareness? What is the message? How does the work address an audience? Describe the artists and artwork and why it inspires you. How do these works help inspire you project and your own journey through this pandemic? Connect to the readings by citing at least two quotes that connect to your analysis.

~600 words, 2+ quotes from the readings, 2+ images (with captions) and works cited at bottom.

GROUP PRESENTATIONS due on the blog on or before 4/15 as video or audio/slide presentations. Groups 3,4+5 will present - IN THE ONLINE CLASS SESSION- on 4/15. You must attend the session to receive credit with your group! You can also choose to present live in class. Only one person in the group can present slides or video from their computer but others can also speak during this display.

Keep a journal (daily or almost daily) of your thoughts feelings and the news you are collecting. Write about your project too. It will help you focus and develop your ideas as you do your research too. I am also doing this!

Give feedback to each other on the projects by leaving comments on blog posts (please comment on at least two student projects...go back further in the blog feed to make sure you see all of the projects.) Be generous with your time if you can! Do more than two if you have the time. You will be surprised how it will help you with your own ideas too!

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Due Wednesday 4/8

Link to the online class session 4/8 at 11am in BB: https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/9fb508e2206b42cc997360e1bddedb91

HAND IN YOUR MIDTERM PROPOSAL (and video presentations) IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO - you are in danger of receiving a failing grade for the course if I do not receive a midterm proposal by 4/8 - posted on the blog! See details in previous messages below.

15min MEETING with Professor: Make an appointment with me (4/8or 4/11) using the Calendly app link https://calendly.com/dcacoilo/30min?month=2020-04 This is required.

GROUP PRESENTATIONS due on the blog on or before 4/15 as video or audio/slide presentations. Groups 3,4+5 will present - IN THE ONLINE CLASS SESSION- on 4/15. You must attend the session to receive credit with your group! You can also choose to present live in class. Only one person in the group can present slides or video from their computer but others can also speak during this display.

READINGS:

Chapter 3 Ready to Wear pgs 97-108 Interventionists

Chapter 4 Seeing Through the Haze of Social and Cultural Capital pg 83-106

2 quotes for each chapter

Watch videos linked below (from 4/1) if you have not already!

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LIST OF NEWS SOURCES - read, listen, watch reputable journalistic sources. See this list, send me things to add and explore new places to get reputable news -- you may be surprised what new habits you may form that are helpful.

Update on 3/25:

I made some clarifications and adjustments on requirements for the course - see below for the main points and what is due to successfully pass the course.

Thank you to all the students who attended the online session. It is so comforting to hear and "see" all of you. I feel empowered by your projects and cannot wait to see how these unfold. You are all inspiring! Stay strong, do the research and stay safe! :)

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For this week -- Due 4/1:

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Email me at dcacoilo ((at)) gmail ((dot)) com to schedule a 15min phone call/video chat about your project sometime in the coming week.

WATCH these videos this week to help you think about activism in this moment:

5 Things Art Taught Me About Activism | Kyle 'Guante' Tran Myhre | TEDxUMN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zex8K6h_jk&t=23s

Art is a weapon for social change: Dr. Tammy L. Brown at TEDxXavierUniversity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o6kbRBFLdI

Marina Abromovic

2012 at MoMA The Artist is Present

https://vimeo.com/72711715

--- more Videos of conceptual/performance art that might help you push into slightly more conceptual performance activist space:

Marina Abramovic

what is performance art?

http://www.youtube.com/user/MoMAvideos#p/search/3/FcyYynulogY

body as medium

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUrwdqwzqMU&feature=relmfu

Trailer for documentary, Artist is Present

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcmcEZxdlv4

Yoko Ono

short from PBS The Art Assignment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoU0E_ab36Q

her performance “Cut Piece” with commentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYJ3dPwa2tI

Adrian Piper

Video about her piece Mythic Being 1973

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bly5tUZI1I

Her project Calling Card 1986

http://www.grandarts.com/past_projects/2009/2009_11_05.html

HIGHLY RECOMMEND WATCHING THIS ONE!!

a really awesome student project about Adrian Piper's earlier work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKPtKrKvXyo&t=288s

(Optional) Readings:

Chapter 3 Ready to Wear pgs 97-108 Interventionists

Chapter 5 and 6 Seeing Power in Spaces pg 107-146

Seeing Power

STAY SAFE! STAY HOME!! Reach out to me if you need.

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REQUIREMENTS TO PASS THE COURSE

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-Midterm: Complete the project proposal and video presentation for Midterm -- Give each other feedback in comments on the midterm proposals or video posts

BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT 3/25

-Final project: Work as hard and as thoughtfully as possible to create a final project that is meaningful to you and you are proud of and want to share.

-Keep a private journal (daily or almost daily) of your thoughts, feelings and the news you are collecting. Write about your project too. It will help you focus and develop your ideas as you do your research too. I am also doing this! You CAN SHARE some it on the blog or on our twitter handle but it is absolutely NOT REQUIRED.

-Group presentations: work together offline to create a "performance" that can be shared on the blog. You can record a zoom session, use Google docs, etc

No more additional writing assignments (posts) due You will be writing in your journal and you must post a writing summary with your final project but posts 2 and 3 (essays) have been cancelled.

-Participation grade (extra)

++Attend the video sessions weekly

++Twitter: share articles, information and updates on Twitter #actsofresistanceAIP (extra credit)

++Watch the videos that I post and use the books and the readings on the syllabus to help shape your project. Readings are highly encouraged to help your project but are no longer mandatory. Keep up if you can though it will help shape you projects.

See adjusted syllabus

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Update 3/18 2pm

Thank you all who attended the classroom meeting on Blackboard. It felt really good to see you all and hear from many of you. We will continue to use Blackboard for the meetings and will work out other details as we go. Keep checking here for updates.

LIST OF NEWS SOURCES

Stay informed of the developing news!! Spend time reading reputable sources as much as possible. Do not fall into social media circles that may be full of misinformation and less important or outright false stories. Be mindful of your media diet. I am working on a list of sources. Please click to see what I have already shared Please comment on the post or email me to add sources or to comment with questions or other thoughts. The important thing to remember is to read trusted journalism as much as possible as these sources will present facts over agenda or misinformation as their mission.

Midterms proposals are due on the blog asap and no later that next Wednesday by 10am. See below for the details that were posted for that assignment. For the presentation portion of the midterm - please upload a 2-3 minute video OF YOU presenting your idea (as you would present in class). The benefit to the video is you can edit, practice and even use visuals and props. None of this is necessary however, just record a video of you presenting your idea for your semester project. You can ask questions and for advice too.

Semester projects will be due on the blog at the end of the semester. We will speak more about this next week. Please adjust your projects to match the times we are living in. Stay flexible but use this opportunity to make something meaningful about what we are experiencing.

Groups that have not presented yet will work collaboratively online to create something and post to the blog. Please make a plan to meet online/email/group chat to discuss how you can create something as a group without meeting in person. Suggestions include using a shared google slide presentation or working together to edit a video. be practical but creative.

Remaining writing assignments I would like everyone to begin journaling about what is going on. Write down your experience, your feelings and what is happening day-to-day as much as you can. There is no form to this exercise, write whatever you want. Reflect on the crisis, the stress, fears and concerns, memories and epiphanies as well as hopes and solutions you imagine that may come from this moment.

First questions to consider as part of your journal this week: What sort of things have come to light in this crisis about our society that you feel were treated as less urgent before? Are you hopeful? What are you hopeful will change for the better from this crisis?

Weekly readings I will be posting readings and videos (adjusting the syllabus somewhat) to keep us learning from artists and activists. I encourage you to read and watch as much as possible to contribute to discussion and hopefully it can help us process what is going on from different historic perspectives. Keep your semester project in mind each week and work to create something informed and useful for you in these times.

Grades more grades will be posted to Blackboard in the coming days. ie Group presentations that have already happened and the museum writing assignment.

I am wishing the best for all of you. Check back here for more info as the days unfold. Be safe and isolate as much as is possible. Prepare for longer and stricter isolation that may be required soon. Hand washing and distancing work. Be vigilant, be compassionate and kind to yourself and others. SEE YOU IN ONLINE CLASS NEXT WEDNESDAY at 11am!

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Update 3/17

Wednesday 3/18 class will be held on Blackboard Collaborate Ultra at 11am. Please attend! If you have technical issues or other reasons why you cannot attend (of course there are many) please send me an email at:

dcacoilo [[at]] gmail [[dot]] com

DIRECTIONS: Log on to Blackboard. Inside of our course page go to "Course Tools" in the left side menu and select Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. Then join our class session called "Acts of Resistance first online class meeting" turn on audio and video (if you are comfortable with that). This will be our first meeting so we can catch up and check-in. We will be working together to figure out the tech. Please try to attend!

I hope that you are all well and finding safety and support during this time. I look forward to connecting with all of you tomorrow and brainstorming ways we can help each other.

UPDATE: COVID-19 has required self quarantining as much as possible. If you can please stay home! Unless you must go out for work or other absolutely necessary reasons - do not go out!

Stay home. Take hygiene measures seriously, restrict contact with everyone. This virus is here and it is real. Take extreme caution and be safe. Distancing yourself from others will save lives.

As for class: I am planning for ways that we can finish the semester under these new circumstances. We will still watch videos and learn from the work of artists to inspire our own explorations of activism and art. My hope is that we can still use this time of crisis however possible to learn about art and hopefully it will help us find some meaning in all of this chaos. First and foremost take take of yourselves and your families.

Keep checking the blog for updates. I will be communicating with you via the blog. Check frequently.

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Due Wednesday 3/18

MIDTERMS proposals NOW DUE 3/25

-Presentations WILL NOW BE SUBMITTED AS VIDEOS ON THE BLOG 3minutes We will discuss this in the online class tomorrow.

-Proposals (800words plus a resources/research list) must be posted to the blog before 3/25

-Proposals must also be summarized (somewhat streamlined for the web) with some images/sketches and link to any powerpoint and posted on the blog

Many of you have lots to research and many decisions to make. Please research your topic, look at many examples of other things made to address this topic: movies, websites, books, articles. Find as much as you can in order to help you carve out exactly what you want to make your project about and How you will share this information with your audience.. FOCUS your idea as much as possible. Think carefully about why YOU want to make this project, who are you making it for (your audience or perceived audience), what is the message or purpose, what other art or activism projects exist that might be inspiring or helpful for your own project. READ, search online, talk to friends and colleagues Think hard and thoughtfully so you can propose a project that you actually want to make! There are many exciting ideas in the group! Now go figure out what kick-ass projects you can make with these ideas and go make them! Research, read, look, talk, ask, visit until you find the inspiring piece - go go go!

WHAT THE PROPOSAL SHOULD INCLUDE:

A project topic proposal (~800 words) and a bibliography and/or research sources list must be handed in AND posted on to the blog with images. Please present what you plan to make for your project clearly and show the research you have done so far.

Address the following:

What is the main topic of your project? Why you have chosen this topic?

What is your message for the audience? How will you reach an audience (ie "publish" the project)? How can an audience engage with the project?

How does this project fit into your professional aspirations and your portfolio?

What artists have influenced or inspired your project? Please research and choose 5 artists that connect with your project/topic. What other projects have you found that also address this issue and speak to your audience?

Your project should be informed by research. Please dive into the subject of your work and also other projects that may be inspirational and in dialogue with your project. Please list 10+ resources that will inform your project in a resource list at the end of your proposal.

PRESENTATION in class: You must present the goals for your semester project in class in a short 3 minute presentation (maximum). Think of this as a “pitch” to a group of peers or investors. This proposal and your in-class presentation will be graded as your midterm grade.

**You will use your proposal post to present in class. Be sure to include images and links as appropriate. *You can also make a short slideshow/presentation (like powerpoint) but please be sure that you upload the presentation to the web or make it using a web application like Prezi and link this from your post. You can bring a USB drive only as a backup solution. You will not be able to plug in a USB drive for presentations unless it is a last resort.

*****COMPLAINT****

EXTRA part to include in your proposal to frame/develop your project for midterm: Think about the activism of the Guerrilla Girls. Now frame your semester project as a "complaint" or as a protest. Frame your semester project topic as a "complaint" in a short piece of writing. Then begin to craft a way of addressing this with a solution - this should help your project. Include these responses in your proposal.

Good luck!!

No new readings due

two tweets #actsofresistanceAIP

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Due Wednesday 3/4

Gallery Response

After visiting both exhibitions, Ibou Ndoye's Neighbors Near and Far and Adebunmi Gbadebo's Uprooted, please write a response of ~750 words addressing the following questions.

What is the subject of the works in each exhibition?

What medium(media) do the artists use? What themes and histories are portrayed in the works? How does research play a role in the work? What narratives do you see being conveyed? Do the works address the artists' own histories and identities? How would you explain the works as activist? Do the exhibitions address social issues, identity and activism? If so, how?

~750 words, 3+ quotes/citations from the class readings, 'works cited' at the bottom of the post, 3+ images from the exhibitions.

+Portrait project Create a portrait (self portrait) that explores these issues of identity and history inspired by the exhibitions. Include an image of this portrait at the bottom of your museum response with a title and a brief description.

READINGS:

Chapter 1 Nomads pgs. 25-60 Interventionists

Confessions of the Guerrilla Girls pgs 7-95 (the whole book)

two tweets #actsofresistanceAIP

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Wednesday 2/29

++We will be visiting the VA Gallery to see another show to compare for your gallery response

READINGS: Chapter 1 Nomads pgs. 25-60 Interventionists

2 quotes

Review: Chapter 1 and 2 pg 3-54

Seeing Power

2 quotes

Chapter 4 The Experimental University pg 111-132

Interventionists

2 quotes

Experimental University

Critical Art Ensemble

Democracy Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqHbr-qsRlI

Steve Kurtz at Armory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gsQyaKPhNg

SubRosa

http://cyberfeminism.net/about/manifesto/

Tana Hargest

http://www.hargestart.com/newnegrotopia

two tweets #actsofresistanceAIP

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Due Wednesday 2/19

READINGS:

Chapter 1 and 2 pg 3-54

Seeing Power

Chapter 4 The Experimental University pg 111-132

Interventionists

Topic ideas/proposal for semester project

Think about your semester project. Read the project description on our syllabus and note any questions you may have about the assignment. Please write 1 or more ideas you are considering for your project topic. We will be discussing the project assignment in class. You must hand-in your proposed topic or short list of project ideas with short descriptions of why and how you would like to make this project. You can just write these out on a piece of paper or, more preferably, type them and bring them to class. Please remember to include the ways that you plan to share this with an audience. Remember that these projects must exist in the world OUTSIDE of our class. How can you share these and engage an audience to impact their awareness of your topic?

**A longer project topic proposal (~2 pages) and bibliography/research sources list will be due for MIDTERM printed and handed in to me and posted on to the blog. You will be presenting the goals for your project in class in short 2-3 minute presentations. This proposal and presentation will be graded as your midterm. Your completed project is due at the end of the semester and will be presented in class as your final semester project.

Against the Status Quo Artist from bell hooks response - on the blog.

two tweets #actsofresistanceAIP

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Due Wednesday 2/12

READINGS:

Seeing Power, Introduction

and

Interventionists, Anarchy in the Ruins pg 143-146 and Encyclopedia Entries pg 147-154

+2 quotes from each reading

two tweets #actsofresistanceAIP

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Due Wednesday 2/5

GET THE BOOKS!! Next week you will have readings due from both books.

READING ON BLACKBOARD:

bell hooks, Understanding Patriarchy (+2 quotes (or more) from the reading - to be collected)

Response to the bell hooks reading - to be handed in (this can be on the same page as your quotes to be handed in): Define Patriarchy as per the bell hooks reading. Then through online or other research find an artist/art project who addresses and challenges the status quo, patriarchy, and its systemic power and dominance. Write a short description of the art project and bring it to class in addition to your quotes. You can share this project on twitter or on the blog if you wish.

ALSO PREPARE TO HAND-IN THE QUOTES FROM LAST WEEK'S READINGS. I will collect these together in class on 2/5.

two tweets #actsofresistanceAIP

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Due Wednesday 1/29

READINGS

John Berger Ways of Seeing Ch7 on BLACKBOARD

2 quotes + response on sheet of paper in class

Susan Sontag excerpt from On Photography

http://www.susansontag.com/SusanSontag/books/onPhotographyExerpt.shtml

2 quotes + response on sheet of paper in class

Intro on the blog

Who do you think you are?

What is your role in media consumption, critique and/or media making? How much of our common experience involves shared mass media images, events and stories? Use several examples to illustrate your description of your relationship to media.

Can you think of ways that the media covers activists, acts of resistance and protest? How do you feel about this relationship? Use examples to illustrate your answers. Your blog post must be at least 4 paragraphs and you must include at least one link and one image.

GET THE BOOKS!!

Seeing Power: Art and Activism in the 21st Century by Nato Thomson, Melville House Publishing, Brooklyn 2015

The Interventionists: Users’ Manual for the Creative Disruption of Everyday Lives edited by Nato Thomson and Gregory Sholette, MIT Press, Cambridge 2004

Confessions of the Guerrilla Girls by the Guerrilla Girls, HarperCollins, New York 1995

two tweets #actsofresistanceAIP

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Link to the Syllabus

Link to Class screenings

Link to our twitter hashtag: #actsofresistanceAIP

Discussion guidelines

The course material and discussions can often be provocative and challenging. We must therefore be careful to be respectful of each other and of our viewpoints.

We must come to class prepared and ready to discuss the readings. Please keep discussions focused on the readings and class materials and keep examples relevant and appropriate. If you have not done the readings you are not to participate in the discussion.