SSFA0006: BA2 Spring - Art in the Street, New York and Elsewhere 1975- 22/23

The great problems lie in the streets (Friedrich Nietzsche) This course focuses on a set of issues concerning art in and about urban space. These include: public art commissions and their communities; protest; graffiti; homelessness; collaboration and alternative spaces; gentrification; Boricua identity and culture; and the relationship to the other spaces of the suburb and the net. Through these topics we will explore cross cultural encounters, particularly between racialised ‘street’ culture and high art; meet less-than-well-known artists and critics sparring with the canon; and look at exciting ways in which practice has been – and might be – undertaken. Needless to say, this is an art history that traces and yet substantially reframes established histories of art in the United States in the period after 1975. This ten week course begins with an introductory session, an overview of the weeks and a discussion of course requirements. The final week will be dedicated to essay tutorials. Essay questions will be released on week six.