Week 1 mini lecture

Summary

In this first lecture of K552 'Art as Activism,' Professor Karina Olson introduces the course, focusing on the intersection of art, geography, decolonization, and climate change in Nordic countries and Canada. She highlights how art reflects these regions' challenges and asks whether it can change public perceptions. Professor Olson shares her background, course structure, and flexibility with deadlines. The course will explore modern visual art from both settler and Indigenous perspectives, with an emphasis on geography and culture. Students are encouraged to engage, attend classes, and reflect honestly on their learning journey.

Takeaways

• 📅 The course K 552 Art as Activism is taught by Professor Karina Olson and meets weekly, but not during the Labor Day week.
• 🇸🇪 Professor Olson is Swedish and will incorporate some Swedish language into the course, starting with the greeting 'hey'.
• 🎨 The course explores the intersection of art, geography, decolonization, and climate change through modern visual art from Nordic countries and Canada.
• 🌍 The course focuses on how geography shapes culture and how colonization and climate change have impacted the North.
• 👩‍🎨 Artists from the North will be studied to understand how they address these issues through their art.
• 💡 The class will discuss whether art has the power to change public perception of current issues.
• 👩‍🏫 Professor Olson has a BA in Art History and an MA from Sweden, with a focus on adult learning through social activism.
• 🏡 Olson is a settler immigrant in Canada and a fifth-generation settler in Sweden, with a personal connection to the region.
• 📚 The course is hybrid, with a mix of in-person lectures and online activities, emphasizing class attendance and participation.
• 📅 Assignments are typically due on Sundays following the module opening on Fridays, with flexibility offered for due dates.
• 🌐 The course will cover the political and cultural similarities and differences between Canada and Nordic countries, including their approaches to social safety nets and multiculturalism.

Q & A

What is the course code for the class mentioned in the transcript?

The course code is K 552.

What is the name of the professor teaching the K 552 course?

The professor's name is Karina Olson.

Why is there no class meeting during the first week of the course?

There is no class meeting during the first week because of Labor Day.

What language does Professor Olson mention as part of the course content?

Professor Olson mentions that they will be teaching a little bit of Swedish in the course.

What is the focus of the K 552 art course?

The focus of the course is the intersection of art, geography, decolonization, and climate change, with an emphasis on modern visual art from the Nordic countries and Canada.

Which countries are considered part of the 'North' in the context of this course?

The countries considered part of the 'North' in this course are Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Canada.

What is the educational background of Professor Olson?

Professor Olson has a BA in Art History from the University of Toronto and an MA from the University of Linköping in Sweden.

What is the term for the indigenous people of the Arctic region discussed in the transcript?

The term for the indigenous people of the Arctic region discussed in the transcript is 'Inuit'.

What is the significance of the number 8,500 mentioned in the transcript?

The number 8,500 refers to the approximate number of years the Inuit have been living in the Arctic.

What is the term for the indigenous people of Northern Europe mentioned in the transcript?

The term for the indigenous people of Northern Europe mentioned in the transcript is 'Sami'.

What is the main task for students in the first week of the course?

The main task for students in the first week is to read the items in the module, listen to the lecture, and write their first reflection.

Why does Professor Olson discourage the use of AI for writing reflections?

Professor Olson discourages the use of AI for writing reflections because she is interested in the students' authentic thoughts and opinions, and AI-generated content can lack authenticity and may contain inappropriate content such as racism, sexism, or homophobia.