Course 2024-2025 a.y.

The first part of the course will be devoted to the analysis of key essays -both historical and recent - in the field of post-anthropocentric thought, with particular reference to those authors who have most oriented contemporary artistic research: Peter Singer, Bruno Latour, Donna Haraway, Anna Tsing, Timothy Morton. In parallel a presentation of some of the most significant artistic positions of recent years will be provided, with particular reference to those works in which the non-anthropocentric, multi-speciesist trajectory emerges as a transformative element.

The second part of the course will have a laboratory character and will see students directly engaged in the analysis of specific curatorial practices carried out internationally in different institutional contexts (museums, art biennials, festivals…).

• Orienting oneself within post-anthropocentric thinking by relating different perspectives and narration
• Recognize art forms that trace alternative trajectories to the anthropocentric dictate
•  Appreciate different forms of art and non-traditional visual practices and their complexity and openness.

• Adopt different, interconnected perspectives when observing artistic, cultural and social phenomena
• Imagine possible applications of non-anthropocentric thought in different fields of social sciences
• Formulate critical arguments about the traditional idea of humanity and art
• Problematize the role and use of art in cultural politics and within cultural and art institutions

• Lectures
• Individual works / Assignments
• Collaborative Works / Assignments

This course combines traditional frontal teaching (lectures) with seminar-based activities and off-campus visits to exhibitions and cultural institutions when possible. Guest lecturers could be invited to join the class presenting their research and methods in talks, dialogues or film screenings. The course is thus shaped paying attention to the individual experience, evaluation and re-elaboration of the contents proposed in the classroom. Oral presentations (both individual and in group) are assigned through the course for attending students. Students are expected to participate in class discussions.

Attending students will be asked to report both on the topics covered in lectures in the first part of the course (dedicated to the analysis of theoretical contributions and significant artistic figures) and on the curatorial practices and related case studies discussed in class as part of group works. Reference readings will be assigned according to the different stages of the course.

Non-attending students will be asked to report on the assigned bibliography.

 The bibliography for attending students will be communicated at the beginning of the course.

Theoretical references

●      Anna L. Tsing, The Mushroom at the End of the World, Princeton University Press, 2015

●      Donna J. Haraway, Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene, Duke University Press Books

Compendium

●      Maja and Ruben Fowkes, Art and Climate Change, Thames and Hudson, 2022 (Students will be questioned in particular on the parts 3, 4 and 5 )