Hybrid Worlds: Nano Biotech

PGTE 5565 | Spring 2012

Lecture course surveys the cultural impact of scientific and technological innovations, art and design inspired by science and art | sci collaborative projects. The intent is to show that scientists describe their moments of discovery in similar terms as artists do about their creative breakthroughs and that, fundamentally, both grapple with identical questions of the nature of reality. The class will explore the history of bio and nanotech, the impact on cultural imagery in literature and film as well as social implications of these new sciences. The class will delve deeper into how this scientific advance is mutating our bodies, the food we consume, the animals we breed, and the environment we inhabit. Focus will be to go beyond negative criticism to consider strategies for raising consciousness about dangers and proposals for how these new sciences may be engaged. Every week will be devoted to a particular theme with required reading, viewing of movie clips and the class will frequently be visited by renowned artists, designers and scholars in the arts and sciences. Students will be asked to maintain a blog that incorporates their own ideas in relation to the subject and the midterm and final will consist of a paper and a proposal for an idea or concept. The final grade is based on the midterm, final, attendance and the blog.Open to: