Spring 2010

Situationist Media (MH) - LCST 4068 A

Professor(s):  Kenneth Wark 
Day(s):  F
Time(s):  9:00 am - 11:40 am 
CRN:  6576
Credits:  4
Prerequisite(s): 

Course Description
The Situationist International (1957-1972) was the last of the avant garde movements. It was the post war successor to Dada and Surrealism. While it dissolved itself in 1972, it has had a lingering impact on the visual arts, literature, media theory, architecture and film making. We will take a look at all aspects of the movement and explore its key ideas and works across a range of media. Perhaps what is most striking about the Situationists is the extremity and totality with which they rejected existing society and art. Perhaps they had no successors because this proved to be an impossible position to maintain, let alone to live up to. It is not our purpose in this course to imitate the SI, nor to criticize it, but rather to take it as a departure point from which to think the totality of contemporary culture. This course includes a required online and/or out of class component. Satisfies track MH.