Utopian or dystopian speculation often champions, or warns of, the potential for current/near future technologies to trigger societal or environmental transformation. Artists and designers have engaged in this work by constructing polemic objects or speculative representations to spur public discourse. As we consider the possibilities of social exchange and environmental transformation within today's technological milieu (open-sourced communities, ubiquitous algorithms, biological simulations, sensor-saturated environments, etc.), what are today's artifacts for utopian/dystopian speculation/critique? Exploring the speculative artifact as a polemical statement, the class will analyze seminar readings and unpack case studies by artists, architects, writers, and scientists that leverage advances in science and technology to posit spatial forms of human interconnectivity and environmental explication. The class will engage with curators and works from two exhibitions on art + design's relationship to science or environmental idealism, BAM's Dimensionism: Modern Art in the Age of Einstein and SFMOMA'S The Sea Ranch, Architecture, Environment, and Idealism, as well as an SFMOMA Collection Study Center session to discuss student-selected works. Using understandings gained from this analytical work, students will develop a speculative artifact addressing a dialogue between technology, environmental, and/or societal exchange. This graduate seminar/studio is designed to include students from all graduate programs, especially those interested in social forms and environment.

Visit Workday to view this information.