SYNTHESIS ESSAY
The essay should begin with a basic understanding of the concepts covered thus far in the quarter. What will you remember about the course a year from now? What have you “taken away” from your engagement with course concepts and assignments? What did you learn that applies to other topics your learning in other courses or your own personal experience outside of school (work, family etc)? Be specific as possible, for example, if you recall important topics such as the sublime (historical and contemporary) then make reference to the essay you wrote early in the quarter and/or authors that discussed this concept, such as Bloom & Glasberg (2012).
Here’s a step-by-step process for writing your synthesis essay (if needed):
1_Provide an overview of concepts covered thus far (“take aways”); you may also discuss your artistic/creative practice this quarter.
2_Discuss how art and climate change are related. Provide detailed examples. For example, refer to field trips, films, exhibits, artworks, engaged and experiential activities that you engaged in over the course of the quarter. Consider reviewing the course syllabus to reflect and organize your thoughts.
3_Provide a thoughtful discussion of some of the contemporary ideas related to art and climate change. Again, refer only to those authors and artworks covered in class. For example you might answer the following questions:
Bloom & Glasberg (2012) suggest that the Anglo-American heroes of polar expedition have re-emerged. Why? In answer to this question consider that we spent a considerable amount of time review and discussing imagery from the exhibit Vanishing Ice, Alpine and Polar Landscapes in Art , 1775-2012 curated by B. Matilsky. Is the production of this course (Art and Climate Change) evidence of this trend?
Why is the concept of the sublime problematic? In answer to this question consider the historical and contemporary context of the idea.
How does the concept resilience relate to cultural and ecological understanding of climate change? What cultural and ecological evidence is there of resilience? In answer to your question refer to Staudinger et al 2012, Hammond 2012 and Parmesan 2008 and/or Ehrlich 2004, Nakashima 2012 and Dueck 2012. You might also consider the authors you included in your annotated bibliography.
Select from the following contemporary artists: Isaac Julien (Matilsky page 81), Maria Coryell-Martin and T. Itkonen (Nordic Museum exhibit, Imaging the Arctic and Matilsky page 78), S. Banerjee (Matilsky and Bloom & Glasberg 2012), Annie Pootoogook (Bloom & Glasberg 2012), Roni Horn (Bloom & Glasberg 2012), Aglert (Aglert & Bloom 2014) and Dueck (2012). Discuss how these artists are “reframing” what constitutes as evidence of climate change in the polar regions. In other words, how do these artists engage the collection, production, analysis and/or circulation of climate data? What is the relevance of the “reframing” to our cultural understanding of climate change?
IN-TEXT CITATIONS AND A REFERENCE LIST ARE REQUIRED.
Please only use the sources mentioned above.
