4.381/4.366 Advanced Visual Design - Give Me Shelter: Conditions of Living in Unstable Times

The objective of this course is to research living conditions in moments of instability and flux. This is caused by situtations of crisis and catastrophe, increasing poverty in the so-called “First World,” and due to labor migration as part of globalization. To reflect on the meaning of shelter not only addresses the need for a minimum of protection for a body in space, but as well the equally important need for protection through a community of shared interest. This brings into mind the nomadic nature of many cultures of the past and in the present. The routes of migration developed along weather conditions and food resources, and even today migration continues to be caused by economical, religious and political powers.

The search for paid work, globalization, changing climates, political, societal and religious intolerance will force even more people into migration in the future. In this course we will try to understand the complexity of this topic, and to imagine ways of living in mobility, including a vision of the formation of communities—and even governance—under such circumstances. Students will focus on researching the diversity of past and existing cultural notions of shelter as they occurred in “reality”, film and fiction, as well as a variety of song lyrics, from the Rolling Stones and Rage Against the Machine, for example. The goal is to develop a variety of “shelters” as models which address the needs of temporal and mobile communities for the future.

This course will be taught in two parts. The Monday Nights@VAP fall 2007 lecture series, “Give me Shelter” is open to the public, but is also considered a lab for this course. It is co-organized by Regina Moeller (course 4.370 Give Me Shelter – Body Wear) and Prof. Ute Meta Bauer. Class meetings on Wednesday are for enrolled students only.

There will be a mid-term and a final review. Research and proposal projects may be either individual or collective. In addition, the development of a shared wiki, in collaboration with 4.370, and a presentation for the public are scheduled.

Students from various disciplines and backgrounds are encouraged to enroll.

Fall 2007
Instructor: Ute Meta Bauer
Meets Wed 2-5
N51-348
Lab Mon 6-9
N51-337
4.381 Graduate Level Subject
Units: 3-3-3
4.366 Undergraduate Level Subject
Units: 3-3-6
Prerequisites: permission of instructor
Class Limit: 10