This course investigates a series of contemporary artist projects that rely on living beings as crucial material and conceptual foundations, alongside ideas of critical thinkers who consider humans in relationship to other living species. Among questions to be considered: What are some goals and limits of attempting to work creatively with other creatures? In an era of increasing technologically developed possibilities, how have creative thinkers and practitioners worked with diverse “biotechniques,” or applications of technology to biological systems and specimens? How have they used biotechniques to generate provocative outcomes, including interfacing with different machine-based as well as social processes? And how do different biotechniques affect ideas of nature versus culture? Idiosyncratic projects and case histories will include work by diverse artists and thinkers including Marina Abramovic, Joseph Beuys, Stephanie Dinkins, Ana Mendieta, and Annika Yi, among others.Philosophy and Critical Theory (PHCRT) courses focus on developing critical reading and thinking skills, with an emphasis on learning to frame and explore meaningful questions. Students consider multiple perspectives and claims in the process of formulating independent, well-founded opinions.

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