Approaches to Education
Mourning as Sustenance: The Art of Grief and Mourning in the Art History Classroom
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Cynthia Colburn
Embodied ritual performances play an important role in addressing the grief of a society suffering from deep loss of a family or community member, offering hope of something beyond the current condition of death and decay. Depictions of such rituals figure large in the canon of art history, especially among the artworks of ancient societies. This paper analyzes the art of grief and mourning through an analysis of three commonly taught artworks from the ancient Mediterranean world that span the Bronze Age through the Classical period. Moving beyond scholarly analyses that focus on form, style, and the role of such artworks in identity construction, especially social status, I focus on the emotional aspects of these works. Specifically, I analyze the sensorial experiences of participants in and viewers of embodied performances of ritual mourning in order to highlight their role in alleviating social distress caused by the loss of a loved one. Given our shared experience with grief, which has been even more pronounced in recent years due to the global pandemic, I argue that more intentional discussions of the ritual and emotional elements of such artworks in the art history classroom that take into account the psychology of grief and mourning could offer sustaining pathways to healing and community connection.
Teaching Toward Community: Social Justice Projects in the Creative Writing Classroom
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Michele Morano
This paper details two social justice projects I have worked with in creative writing and literature courses and illustrates how instructors can develop similar projects foregrounding the impact of the arts on community. The first project involves a Global Learning Exchange (GLE) partnership between DePaul University in Chicago and the American University of Beirut, in which another instructor and I developed a shared course unit on “truth in (non)fiction” that we co-taught virtually. Students read, wrote, shared, and discussed literature that revealed and challenged dominant “truths” in their respective cultures, and they explored how issues of social justice intersect with their own lives. This was a wonderful experience in which students learned more from one another than either instructor could have hoped to teach. I share specific, actionable information for anyone interested in developing GLE partnerships. The second project involves a publishing venture at my university in which students in undergraduate and graduate courses develop, edit, and publicize books about social justice issues in the lives of everyday Chicagoans. Topics for our volumes have included gun violence, military service, teen perspectives on relationships, immigration, and stories from the pandemic. I share specific suggestions for developing and incorporating this kind of community-focused project into a curriculum.
Towards a Global History of Architecture : Why and How Did We Change Our Architectural History Sequence?
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Hyun Tae Jung
Architectural history and theory are essential to the training of architectural students. However, the tradition of architecture has been Western-centric. For the last several years, I have worked with colleagues to improve our history and theory courses. As a result, the new sequence furnishes them with a deep understanding of the social, cultural, economic, religious, and political forces influencing the built environment. Students now are expected to learn histories and theories of architecture and urbanism with careful consideration of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students inquire into social, cultural, economic, and political forces and their impact on architectural culture. While examining individual projects, students in each class develop an awareness of the interconnectedness of local, national, and global events. They are also alerted to the ongoing ethical, technological, and ecological problems confronting the architectural profession today.
