New and Updated Course Descriptions

ART 212 - Visual Arts, Identity, and Civic Dialogue

3 Credits

This course explores how visual art reflects and shapes social identity, power, and civic engagement. Students examine historical and contemporary examples of art that address issues of race, gender, sexuality, disability, migration, and the environment, while simultaneously creating their own original work in response to these themes. Studio projects are paired with readings, discussions, and collaborative exercises to foster critical thinking, dialogue, and socially engaged practice. The course culminates in a public exhibition in which students present their artwork and engage audiences in civic discourse, demonstrating how art can contribute to equity, inclusion, and community dialogue.

New SUNY General Education:
SUNY - Civic Discourse Competency
SUNY - Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice

Course Learning Outcomes
1.Examine historical and contemporary factors—including race, class, gender, and other social identities—that have shaped artistic representation and cultural production. (DEISJ)
2.Analyze how social structures and systems of power, privilege, and oppression have influenced access, visibility, and participation in the visual arts. (DEISJ)
3.Apply the principles of rights, access, equity, and inclusion to the creation of original artworks that respond to or challenge social justice issues. (DEISJ)
4.Facilitate respectful and inclusive dialogue with peers and community members about civic and social issues through art, demonstrating effective communication and empathy. (CVDS)
5.Design and present a public art exhibition that engages diverse audiences in civic discourse and fosters deliberation and reflection on issues of identity, equity, and justice. (DEISJ + CVDS)
6.Reflect critically on the role of artists and cultural producers in advancing equity, social awareness, and civic responsibility within local and global communities. (DEISJ + CVDS)

Course Offered Fall, Spring