Critical Theory Emphasis

Purpose:  To investigate the question of the situation of culture in an age of increasing planetary exchanges.  By dint of advanced communication and transportation technologies cultural objects are easily disseminated across the globe and cultural differences are increasingly juxtaposed and mixed.  Phenomena such as the EuroDisney theme park, Les Magiciens de la Terre art exhibit, Internet performances of Stellarc and the Rolling Stones concert, world music, television shows like "Dallas" and "I Love Lucy" bespeak an emerging global culture.  What are the political, economic and social conditions that inform these phenomena?  Is there a new aesthetic mixing the imaginary with electronic space/time continuums?  What are the epistemological and theoretical practices that allow the revealing of such art?

Students will prepare a paper of some twenty pages exploring the class readings and discussions.  Where appropriate the paper will engage the student's ongoing research project.