Art of the MOOC: Art, Culture, and Society

About this course

Welcome to Art of the MOOC - Art, Culture and Society designed by artist and Duke professor Pedro Lasch and co-taught by an exciting cohort of experts in the field. This specialization is for learners of all levels, practicing artists, curators, art professionals, educators, students, and anyone interested in advancing their knowledge of contemporary art in both conventional and non-conventional settings. Covered topics include visual art, public interventions, social theory, sound art, experimental music, pedagogy outside educational contexts, activism, social justice movements, aesthetics, new media, and more. You will explore topics through a vast array of case studies, artworks, and theories from recent decades. Our fast-paced lectures are thoroughly researched but accessible, making them useful for non-academic learners, as well as formal students from high school to PhD and beyond. Also included are guest presentations from key thinkers and practitioners. Whether you are an artist wanting to connect with society at large, a curator seeking new ways to frame your practice, or someone who has no background in art but has always wanted to feel closer to it and understand it better, these courses are a fun and reliable way to get there. The cultural sector has become central to so many of the world's most interesting places and thriving economies. Be it for personal or professional reasons, this specialization will prepare you to engage with it on a solid foundation.

Course objectives

• Build a solid foundation for engaging with the contemporary cultural sector
• Connect artistic practice with broader societal concerns
• Develop critical frameworks for understanding art in social contexts