TOPICS: ART AND ECOCRITICISM in Summer 2025 (AH2091)

This course intends to examine the intersections of art and ecology through a global and trans-disciplinary lens, with a particular focus on feminist ecologies, oceanic perspectives and materiality. Students will explore how artists have historically engaged with environmental concerns and how contemporary practices challenge dominant narratives of nature, resource extraction and ecological crisis. Topics plan to include landscape representation, ecofeminist art, Indigenous ecological knowledge, oceanic imaginaries and the materiality of artworks in relation to trade routes, colonial histories and sustainability.

Through case studies spanning from early nature studies to contemporary eco-art and site-specific interventions, students will analyze how artistic practices both reflect and shape ecological consciousness. Readings will draw from art history, environmental humanities, feminist theory and decolonial studies, fostering a critical understanding of the politics of ecological representation. Coursework will include visual analysis, research projects and discussions that encourage students to interrogate the relationships between art, ecology and social change.