What makes art revolutionary? Many of our commonplace assumptions about the radical possibilities of art emerge from the social movements and their accompanying creative expressions during the “long 1960s.” During this period, decolonial, 3rd World Left, Feminist, and LGBT movements also developed critical and creative art practices as part of the process of social and political transformation. Redefining the meaning and function of aesthetics served to challenge the status quo and the meaning of resistance itself.

This course examines culture and politics from the “long” 1960s. Reading primary texts from artists, activists, and academics we will gain an understanding of the historical context from which these authors developed their organizing philosophies and creative consciousness. We will also discuss their formal approaches to various genres including poetry, theatre, film, the novel, and essay writing.