GRST 222 Global Cultures of Surveillance: Arts, Surveillance, and Disruptions in a Global Context (3)

Surveillance is often understood as ‘watching someone from above’, and has been shown to be one of the most effective expressions of power in political communities since the medieval ages. Metaphors such as “Big Brother” or “Panopticism” have become cultural chiffres for 20th century western societies. Recently, these metaphors have been rediscovered by artists all over the globe in an effort to grapple with contemporary mass surveillance. Centering around questions of individual and collective (artistic) agency, this course explores versatile surveillance cultures ranging from the 19th century up to contemporary surveillance capitalism. Course and readings in English.
Course Frequency: Occasional