Esteemed Students,
Welcome to our class’s corner of the web.
For this coming Tuesday’s class I would like you to read some history of the EPA and discuss what possible repercussions HR Bill 861 would have on your life in a blog post.
In addition to the post you create on your Qualtrics project, discuss the relationship between this 60 Minutes story, 1984, and any recent news item which caused you to question the veracity of what you heard, read, or saw.
Be prepared to discuss your findings in class.
Here’s what we will be working on the next weeks:
| week | date | Assignments |
| 1 | 9.05 | Introductions • reason for course • set up websites | Assignment: Study Dr. Hansen page on Green World site | Assignments: web site • Dr. Hansen • Washington Square Park tree photos • watch Merchants of Doubt |
| 2 | 9.12 | Discuss the history of contemporary environmental movement: Dr. Hansen, Naomi Oreskes, Al Gore. Seminal films: Inconvenient Truth, Merchants of Doubt, Truth to Power Assignment: review Qualtrics Surveys watch assigned video |
| 3 | 9.19 | Review Qualtrix Lecture: The Air We Breathe • Qualtrix Training at Bobst | Assignment: create a Qualtrix Survey to at least 20 people, analyze data, create post • read Water For Life and Cholera |
| 4 | 9.26 | Review surveys. Lecture: The Water we Drink | Watch and post on Food Inc interview. |
| 5 | 10.03 | Lecture: The Food We Eat | Assignment: Watch The Story of Stuff and Deadly Persuasion. (log into home.nyu.edu, then following click leading to have your account authorized). Create post on the food you eat now. |
| 6 | 10.10 | Mid-term presentations group 1 Mid-term Lecture: The Things we Buy | Assignment: Read this and choose one article on this search return. |
| 7 | 10.17 | Mid-term presentations group 2 Mid-term Lecture: The Energy We Use | Assignment: Read two articles. |
| 8 | 10.24 | Lecture: The Coming Wave: Displaced populations | Create a post examining the common features between issues discussed during the past five weeks. |
| 9 | 10.31 | Lecture: Technocopia – The Positive Edge of Evolving Technologies | Read |
| 10 | 11.07 | Lecture: Faith, Politics, and Technology | Read the Code Killers |
| 11 | 11.14 | Lecture: Radiation| Explore and read |
| 12 | 11.21 | Lecture: The Art of Surviving the City | work on presentations |
| 13 | 11.28 | Final presentations pt 1 |
| 14 | 12.05 | Final presentations pt 2 |
Syllabus, Fall 2017. Ω
Make certain to have viewed all videos on the Introductory Concepts page by the start of mid-terms.
This class is partly about your thoughts and reactions to a rapidly changing world with respect to environmental issues and the political forces acting upon them. It is also an opportunity to apply some of your time and attention to an issue which you feel strongly about and the challenge to help bring about a change for the better.
I want to expand on the “posts” aspect of your assignments.
Your work on the website serves multiple purposes.
Posts act as a sketchpad/record of your ideas, thoughts, reflections, and a place to vent (if appropriate). They give me a good way to check and see if you are thinking about the reading and issues in class. Your ideas will change over time: if you are doing the work. This is why the assignments are thought of as “process essays.”
If you do not include insights/reflections on the reading, assigned/viewed in-class documentaries, bonus-point pdf listings, and/or insights from presenters in your posts, it will be difficult to tell what you are learning from time in class.
You must cite references in your posts! If you are doing the work and your mid-term or final project is found to be… “struggling,” your process essays will support your ideas and trace their development. This will help me to award a stronger grade. Like a proof in calculus, one effort supports the other.
Rewriting a news/wikipedia story relating to a topic is not enough.
Process Essays must include:
• a consideration of a topical issue and/or something from within the reading, assigned documentaries, materials viewed/discussed in-class, or a speaker presentation.
• a direct reference to a specific section within a primary source (e.g. a federal law, report from WHO, UN, PSR, DOD, etc. )**
• citations to appropriate sections within the assigned reading**
• not contain errors in grammar and/or spelling**
• utilize the power of interactive media and include linking as discussed.**
• be educational, insightful, and ultimately useful to an interested reader.**
As artists you are responsible for the work which you choose to bring into this world.
I cannot stress this highly enough. Not only does work represent the consciousness-soul-spirit of its creator; your work will touch the lives of other people and effect change in others. Think about the change in the world you would like to create and use the power of your decisions to change your world.
I expect each of you to be considering a final project which challenges the boundaries of your knowledge and skill sets. Your lives, now and into the future, are part of an on-going battle for your minds and money by an entirely new level of predatory corporate consciousness — in addition to the effects from a changing climate, terrorism, and rapidly shifting cultural and social structure.
This would be a good time to introduce The Corporation.
It is long and it is packed with information. Watch it in chapters. Some sections will resonate with you more than others which will be useful in your essays.
If you have WordPress (WP) or any other computer problems, you can get free computer help from the IT center on Astor Place by phone and in person. Take advantage of this resource and ask a lot of questions!
If this semester is like any which have gone before, many of you will have ambitious, interesting final projects. Let me know if you have any special needs so that I may help you best realize your vision.
If any of your projects include recording video, please make certain to read the production page (reprinted verbatim from the Open Arts office)and follow the guidelines.
I have office hours which are available to all, but I am also available outside those hours. If you are having issues with material, please get in touch. I am happy to meet for coffee when on campus, Skype, or speak by phone when off site.
Last, please refer back to this page from time to time as this is where I will post announcements.
See you in class!
Peter Terezakis
Art is the catalyst which changes our world.