Art, Migrations, and Museums

The 21st century has witnessed the undeniable prevalence of the refugee, migrant, and politically displaced--categories produced by global capitalism’s uneven distribution of resources. Against this reality, artists and curators engage with representations of the politically and economically dispossessed. In this course we will consider how the art world integrates the figure of the displaced into the space of the museum and consider the possibilities of art to transcend barriers and generate empathy and, possibly solidarity. Topics include contemporary artistic and photographic representations; museum programming; and refugee integration. Students will work closely with works of art at the Middlebury College Museum of Art. This course is part of a collaborative cluster of First Year Seminars focused on home and belonging.