ART 388 - Feminist Field Studies

An on-site travel course that takes place in and around a 19th century chateau in the Picardie region of rural Northern France. Embedded in the neo-feminist laboratory at the Centre Pompadour, this course is a hands-on, participatory field studies course that examines and builds contemporary feminist theory and pedagogy. Drawing upon the rich history of second wave feminism and French feminist theory, students will engage in contemporary consciousness-raising and community-building activities, using the physical and metaphorical context of the chateau to examine and deconstruct ideas of domesticity, nourishment, care-taking, and community engagement. Using the ‘house’ as a literal and metaphoric context, students will have the opportunity to use the chateau as their studio, and will work through a three-part collaborative workshop series that uses the house as a metaphor for individual and communal learning. Students will develop an individual theory and pedagogy of feminism, and will conclude by developing a creative project that outlines this theory. Letter grade. May be repeated for credit. Fee: TBD. (Offered summer.) 3 credits