a humanities, (social) science and social justice centric lens to facilitate dis-covering ourselves, our work(s) and our world. 

by providing expansive and inclusive understandings of art and science as not (only) outputs but as methods of knowledge collection, creation and distribution, the course will explore: 

• what is/can be considered “knowledge” in art and/science?
• how do/can ways of learning and knowing impact our (creative) outputs? 
• how can we disconnect knowledge from a cerebral association? and what result could this have on (creative) outputs?
• how can we incorporate ethics into an art of knowing and subsequently art/science practices? (hooks, 2000)

2025-2026 thematic focus:

Otherworldly Memories: from the Stars to the Seas

recommended reading:

- Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred (2021)

- Katherine McKittrick, Dear Science and Other Stories (2021)

- Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Sower (1993)

- Walidah Imarisha & adrienne maree brown (eds.), Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements (2015)

- C. Riley Snorton & other contributors, Queer Times, Black Futures (collection, 2019)

- Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals (2020)

 

in additions to readings and class discussions and debates, the course will encourage students to think as much as possible "outside" of the classroom setting and the programme's guest lecture series, workshops and visits will engage with a range of practitioners and creatives (both based in Vienna and internationally) whose practices subvert the status quo in art/science and knowledge. 

 

*****this year for the first time class students will also take part in COR! one a month as part of the class' prioritisation on pratical learning and making. COR! is a sound-making collective format intiated by the course leader Tonica Hunter. *****

 

links: 

- www.instagram.com/ars_sciendi/

- www.instagram.com/cor_angewandte/ 

 

sources: 

hooks, bell (2000). All about Love: New Visions. New York: William Morrow

Two key criteria are observed throughout each semester:

1. Participation: creating an environment of respectfulness, listening and the volition to contribute to the course will be key, as well as engaging with guests and preparing questions and thoughts for visits and/or assigned readings/research for classes. 
2. Presentation: Students will be responsible for a final presentation due at the end of each semester. This could also take place in the form of a class project.