Degree Requirements

All art is political, but some art is made as a form of protest or to incite an audience to protest. Most often it is both. This course—though far from exhaustive in its coverage—will present a sample of genres (music, plastic arts, theater, dance, installation, photography) in a variety of locations and times to understand how art and artists have engaged in protest. Much of modern art is conceptual, using installations and performances, to communicate. Therefore, we will start the class by first understanding what we mean by protest, which will underpin how we think about artists’ using various media to voice opposition. Then, we turn to T. J. Clark, the preeminent art historian, for his answer to the question, when did modern art begin and how does it relate to protest? This question will lead us to explore the debate on the purpose of art in the 20th century and into the present. Next, we will move to how artists responded to moments of crisis in the early 20th century—world wars, economic depression, and the rise of fascism—because the art that emerged informs much of what we see today. Based on these foundational questions, the class will turn to case studies from around the globe.

Our world is interconnected thanks to the worldwide web, social media, academic institutions, news outlets, ease of international travel, fashion trends, diasporic communities, music…the threads that are woven into the global textile are boundless. However, this textile is torn and frayed. People are–as they have been for centuries–fragmented by war, religion, disasters and crises, poverty, and disparate concentrations of wealth. In this class, we will examine these various fault lines, by addressing issues such as cultural difference, nationalism, populism, and identity politics. By understanding the fissures in our collective humanity, we will have a better understanding of what binds us together.

This course centers around analyzing the political economy and structure of the contemporary world order, its underlying logics, origins and inherently political nature, how it is (and is not) governed, and how power is exercised therein by actors including states, corporations, international institutions, and even individuals. As we will highlight throughout the semester, issues related to global political economy and governance shape the lives of people all over the world, including our own.

Students who have completed undergraduate coursework through (or beyond) the intermediate II level (typically four or more semesters) in a language other than English can fulfill the language requirement by submitting:

• A transcript demonstrating completion of intermediate level II or above, maintaining a B average or above in all courses taken through the intermediate II level. Language classes used to fulfill the requirement must be taken for a letter grade.
• If the course title on the transcript does not indicate course level, students MUST also submit official course description(s) demonstrating that the courses taken are considered intermediate level or above at the institution where the courses were completed.

Students who need to meet the language-other-than-English requirement may take exams regardless of how they developed competence:

• Departmental placement exams: Columbia’s various language departments typically administer these exams in the week before either fall or spring semester classes begin (some exams are fall only). To meet the requirement, students must place into the fourth semester of study/intermediate II level course or beyond. This is CGT’s preferred testing option for students.
• Departmental reading proficiency exams: Administered by Columbia’s various language departments, these exams require students to translate academic texts in the selected language into English.

Alternative exams may be arranged in cases when an exam is not available via Columbia departments. We will work with heritage speakers (those who have learned a language informally through exposure at home rather than through formal instruction in a school setting) to determine appropriate testing methods.

Students cannot take language classes during their MA degree in order to fulfill the language requirement. Students should NOT take any language exams (Columbia or external) prior to admission. More information about acceptable testing methods and timelines will be provided to admitted students.