Syllabus

Seduction and Sedition T/Th 6:30-9:20 CFA 310
Andrew Ellis Johnson, Office: CFA 402 aj1j@andrew.cmu.edu
Graduate Assistant: Erin Womack erinfwomack@gmail.com

Don’t Wait For the Draft! …or perpetuate “militainment,” global apartheid, market shock doctrine or internet stagnation through acquiescence. We will analyze “propaganda,” literally “that which is to be spread,” from many sources and create our own in this blended seminar/studio course. In considering alternative tactics of communication and dissemination through encounters with internationally renowned historians, reporters, artists and activists, we will create arts of independence and media pragmatism, working in small cross-disciplinary teams. Heightened public interest in current events will enhance co-production and urgency.

As in any economic model we will take scarce resources (accurate information), turn them into productions/commodities (artwork or aesthetic experience) and distribute these (through a variety of vehicles) to consumers (audience, participants).

Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
• concentrate wealth into fewer and fewer hands
• develop a bottom-line profit orientation
• over rely on government and corporate sources of news
• avoid offending the powerful
• worship religiously the market economy and oppose alternate beliefs

Learning Outcomes (seriously)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• understand and connect social activism, international relations, public policy, communication, tactical media, realpolitik, the digital spectacular or the cultural imaginary in relation to the arts
• work collaboratively through intense multiple-pronged projects of public address
• identify, research, and articulate urgent issues verbally and in writing
• create visual, aural, temporal or performative critical art and discuss that of others

Class Participation: Be on time with readings/materials read or prepared. Participate energetically in discussions and critiques. Your grade will reflect the substance and frequency of your contributions to and participation in the class.

Attendance and Lateness: Consistent attendance is essential. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to ask me or another student as soon as possible about what you missed, will miss, or need to make up. Notify me via email in advance, when possible, of absences. Three or more absences reduce your grade by one full letter. Excused absences do count towards this total. Three late arrivals count as one absence.

Disabilities/Accommodation: Students with a diagnosed/documented disability that affects participation in class and course work should advise the instructor at the beginning of the course in order that alternative arrangements for reasonable accommodation can be made.

READINGS:
Clandestine loaning 24 hour borrowing personal handoffs within groups

A Century Of Media, A Century Of War, Robin Andersen, Preface, xi- xiv; Introduction: The Controlled and Uncontrollable Imagery of War, p. xv- xxxi.

Propaganda, Edward Bernays, Introduction by Mark Crispin Miller p. 9-36, Organizing Chaos, p. 37-46.

Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution, and Profit, Vandana Shiva, Preface p. ix- xv; Introduction: Converting Abundance into Scarcity, p. 1- 18; Water Rights: The State, the Market, the Community, p. 19-38.

Artists In Times Of War, Howard Zinn, Artists in Times of War, p. 7-38; Pamphleteering in America, p. 93-108

The Shock Doctrine: The Rise Of Disaster Capitalism, Naomi Klein, Blank Is Beautiful p. 3-21; Shock Therapy in the U.S.A.: The Homeland Security Bubble p. 283-307; A Corporatist State: Removing the Revolving Door, Putting in an Archway p. 308-322.

The Economics Of Attention, Richard Lanham, Stuff and Fluff p. 1-22; Economics of Attention p. 42-64.

An Ordinary Person’s Guide To Empire, Arundhati Roy, Peace Is War p.1-40; Instant-Mix Imperial Democracy p. 41-68; When the Saints Go Marching Out, p. 69-78; In Memory of Shankar Guha Niyogi p. 79-82; Do Turkeys Enjoy Thanksgiving? p. 83-94; How Deep Shall We Dig? p. 95-118.

Humanitarian Imperialism: Using Human Rights to Sell War, Jean Bricmont, Introduction; Power and Ideology; The Third World and the West p. 7-60.

Multitude: War And Democracy In The Age Of Empire, Michael Hardt, Antonio Negri.

GRAPHIC NOVELS:
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi
Buja’s Diary, Seyeong O
Palestine, Joe Sacco
A People’s History of American Empire (graphic novel), Howard Zinn, Paul Buhl, Mike Konopacki

Schedule subject to change.

T 1/15 1. THE WAY: Signs and Surrogates
Film: Wag the Dog (clip), Barry Levinson

Reading for next class: Propaganda, Edward Bernays, Introduction by Mark Crispin Miller p. 9-36, Organizing Chaos, p. 37-46.

Pitch It Or Ditch It: The DaVinci Effect Due January 31
In groups, make a presentation of no more than 5 minutes (video, powerpoint, performance, lecture, in class performance should be recorded at that time etc.).
Group A makes an “Institutionally Sanctioned” portrait of the Carnegie Mellon student body.
Group B makes an “Unofficial” portrait of the Carnegie Mellon student body.
Group C makes a portrait of the Carnegie Mellon student body as perceived by those who would never be affiliated with the university.¬¬¬¬

This initial project is to sensitize us to various codes and levels of representation, their manipulation and intended constituencies, and possible miscommunication. The materials gathered by any of the groups are to be freely shared should the other groups find them to be of use for their own projects. Anticipated, but not required, elements to include would be location shots, references and/or materials, individuals’ comments, collective attributes, a dominant tone and point of view.

Th 1/17 PROMISED LAND film at Loews, 7:15pm http://www.marcellusprotest.org/
Marcellus ¬Shale: also see display at the Carnegie Natural History Museum

Sat 1/19 GUNS ACROSS AMERICA RALLY (Gun Control = More Deaths)in D.C.

T 1/22 Discuss Edward Bernays Propaganda reading.
Excerpts from Leni Riefenstahl’s film Olympia
For next class: Reading: The Economics Of Attention, Richard Lanham, Stuff and Fluff p. 1- 22; Economics of Attention p. 42-64.

W 1/23 Terrorism and the Media, Cristina Archetti
4:45 – 6:00 pm Steinberg Auditorium, Baker Hall A53

Th 1/24 Discuss Richard Lanham The Economics Of Attention reading.
Excerpts from Leni Riefenstahl’s Triumph of the Will.
Group working session for Pitch It Or Ditch It: The DaVinci Effect.

Fri 1/25 CULTURAL DISTRICT GALLERY CRAWL, 5:30-9pm; Miguel Chevalier at Wood Street Gallery through April 7 http://www.trustarts.org/education/community/crawl/

Sat 1/26 GUN CONTROL RALLY in D.C.

M 1/28 Film and Discussion Night about Ai Weiwei and Human Rights in China, 6:30-8:30 PM @Thomas Merton Center, 5129 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

T 1/29 Film: Barbet Schroeder’s General Idi Amin Dada: A Self- Portrait.
Film: Kevin Macdonald’s The Last King of Scotland (clip).

Th 1/31 Critique of Pitch It Or Ditch It: The DaVinci Effect.
Reading for next class: An Ordinary Person’s Guide To Empire, Arundhati Roy, Peace Is War p.1-40; Instant-Mix Imperial Democracy p. 41-68;

T 2/5
II. MEET AND MEAT or STAKE AND SHAKE DUE FEBRUARY 28
Presentation on Mel Chin Gala project – art insertions into TV soap opera series Melrose Place.

Identify issues where there is too much at stake to let the status quo remain, persuading others of what needs to change.
Research and discuss your chosen subjects or situations with people from three different disciplines. Your persuasiveness may be demonstrated through petitions, polls, publications, contributions or the acknowledgement of those in office, prominent experts or by other means and sources.
With your group, brainstorm ways to make public your findings in a manner that is engaging to all of you. The result may be visual, performative, publishable, activist or all of the above.
Continue to research and divide tasks for each person.
Discuss Arundhati Roy readings
Presentation of 9/11, 9/11, a zine by Mel Chin
Reading for next class: An Ordinary Person’s Guide To Empire, Arundhati Roy; When the Saints Go Marching Out, p. 69-78; In Memory of Shankar Guha Niyogi p. 79-82; Do Turkeys Enjoy Thanksgiving? p. 83-94; How Deep Shall We Dig? p. 95-118.
SOA Lecture Series: Shana Moulton, 5pm, Kresge Theater

Th 2/7 REQUIRED: Leshu Torchin, Too Big to See: The Visual Culture of Economic Rights by author Creating the Witness: Documenting Genocide on Film, Video, and the Internet, 4:30pm, Porter Hall 100
http://www.cmu.edu/hss/humanities-center/center-events/02-07-2013.html
(Shorter class, starting at 6:30) Discuss lecture and further Arundhati Roy readings

T 2/12 Work in groups on Stake & Shake project.
Reading for 2/19: Artists In Times Of War, Howard Zinn, Artists in Times of War, p. 7- 38; Pamphleteering in America, p. 93-108
SOA Lecture Series: Charles Atlas, 5pm, Kresge Theater

Th 2/14 AJ @ CAA in NYC
Work in groups on Stake & Shake project.

M 2/18 Lewis Hyde, The Cultural Commons and Collective Being, 4:30pm, Porter Hall 100

T 2/19 Discuss Howard Zinn reading
Work in groups on Stake & Shake project.
SOA Lecture Series: Tehching Hsieh, 5pm, Kresge Theater

Th 2/21 Film Screening Hearts and Minds
Reading for next class: A Century Of Media, A Century Of War, Robin Andersen, Preface, xi- xiv; Introduction: The Controlled and Uncontrollable Imagery of War, p. xv- xxxi.

T 2/26 Discuss Robin Andersen reading
Work in groups on Stake & Shake project.
SOA Lecture Series: Diana al-Hadid, 5pm, Kresge Theater

Th 2/28 CRITIQUE OF STAKE & SHAKE PROJECT.
Reading FOR NEXT CLASS: The Shock Doctrine: The Rise Of Disaster Capitalism, Naomi Klein, Blank Is Beautiful p. 3- 21.

F 3/31 Option: Bodycast: An Artist Lecture by Suzanne Bocanegra starring Frances McDormand, 7:30pm Carnegie Museum of Art Theater $27 ($22 members)

T 3/5
III. THIS WAY: Procession, Protest and Queues
Remedial Reality Due April 4
Propose concrete steps that could be developed to rectify an intolerable circumstance. Each group’s project should elicit intense engagement for EACH poetic/pragmatic/ reality therapist/fill-in-your-stance member of the class. The project should manifest itself as a performative, object or time-based experience and should utilize the expertise of those outside of your working group, whether in or outside of our class. The group may schedule, create and or fabricate an event, symposium, or exhibition, involve local groups or develop objects, plans, designs, and maquettes to ameliorate a local or global crisis.
Discuss Naomi Klein reading
Film: The Price of Sugar, Bill Haney
Reading for next class: The Shock Doctrine: The Rise Of Disaster Capitalism, Naomi Klein, Shock Therapy in the U.S.A.: The Homeland Security Bubble p. 283- 307; A Corporatist State: Removing the Revolving Door, Putting in an Archway p. 308-322.
Lepper Lecture Series: Otto Piene, 5pm, Kresge Theater

Th 3/7 Discuss Naomi Klein reading
Work in groups on Remedial Reality projects.

SPRING BREAK March 10-17

T 3/19 Film: Punishment Park, Peter Watkins
in groups on Remedial Reality projects.
Reading for next class: Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution, and Profit, Vandana Shiva, Preface p. ix- xv; Introduction: Converting Abundance into Scarcity, p. 1-18; Water Rights: The State, the Market, the Community, p. 19-38. (continued on next page)
Turn in written assessment of individual participation for mid-term grading. Details to be discussed in class.

W 3/20 SOA Lecture Series: Guerilla Girls, 7pm, Carnegie Lecture Hall. Tickets required. Limited free tickets for students available in art office.

Th 3/21 Discuss Vandana Shiva reading
Work in groups on Remedial Reality projects.

SAT 3/21 Conflict Kitchen Fragments of Revolution, Tahrir 3PM

T 3/26 Work in groups on Remedial Reality projects.
SOA Lecture Series: Carrie Mae Weems, 5pm, Kresge Theater

Th 3/28 Work in groups on Remedial Reality projects.

F 3/29 MFA Thesis Exhibit opening at Miller Gallery, 6-8pm, on view through April 21

T 4/2 Work in groups on Remedial Reality projects.
SOA Lecture Series: Pyuupiru, 5pm, Kresge Theater

W 4/3 Tahrir Film, McConomy Auditorium 7PM

Th 4/4 Critique on Remedial Reality projects.

T 4/9
IV. ANY WAY: By any means, methods, message
Breakdowns & Blogs Due May 9
This is a project that employs the dynamics of electronic dissemination. There is a plethora of potential realizations through customary means of socially shared expression, social media, entertainment or other online media, data mining, spam or whatever it takes get the message across.
Reading for next class: Humanitarian Imperialism: Using Human Rights to Sell War, Jean Bricmont, Introduction; Power and Ideology; The Third World and the West p. 7- 60.
Tactical Media Guest Rich Pell
SOA Lecture Series: Alan Sekula, 5pm, Kresge Theater

Th 4/11 Discuss Jean Bricmont reading.
Work on Breakdowns & Blogs project.
Professor Leigh Raiford, Imprisoned in a Luminous Glare: Photography and the African American Freedom Struggle, Place and time TBA

T 4/16 Back to Square film director Petr Lom?
The Yes Men video
Work on Breakdowns & Blogs project.

Th 4/18 CARNIVAL NO CLASS

T 4/23 Tactical Media Guest Paolo Pedercini

Th 4/25
Work on Breakdowns & Blogs project.

F 4/26 Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Gallery Crawl
Gregory Barsamian at Wood Street Gallery through June 16

T 4/30 Work on Breakdowns & Blogs project.

Th 5/2 Work on Breakdowns & Blogs project.

Th 12/4 Senior Open Studio Day
Work on Breakdowns & Blogs project.

Th 5/9 FINAL CRITIQUE / EVENT