Delights of Ephemera
Course Description
Summary
Delights of Ephemera explores the significance of mass-produced materials in the context of art movements and exhibitions. Contrary to its definition, ephemera can have power and permanence, giving agency to marginal and marginalized groups and providing a record of actions outside institutional structures. A poster for an exhibition can be as important鈥攐r, in terms of its historical presence, more important鈥攁s the exhibition itself. Readings, lectures, field trips, research, and student presentations cover topics including traditional and experimental forms of ephemera; ephemera collections; production and distribution; formal and conceptual relationships; and the dual role of ephemera as historical document and work of art. Over the term, students design and produce ephemera prototypes. Final projects ask students to design ephemera related to their personal interests, further investigating ways that objects of ephemera can embody the content they represent.
Learning Outcomes
- _Understand and think critically about the conceptual relationship between form and content
_Develop ideas through a process of research, creation, presentation and revision
_Think strategically about how to communicate messages to wide audiences, in and outside specialized areas of interest or expertise
_Explore the significance and potential of archival practice and research and archival-inspired production