FSEM 101 - Social Empowerment through the Performing Arts

People around the world use music, dance, theatre and visual art traditions to inspire significant social change at local, national and international levels. Expressive forms have the power to illuminate controversial issues for consideration in profound and provocative ways, with the potential to unite rather than divide people of diverse backgrounds and life experience. We will examine the history of charity, consider the impact of colonialism and missionary outreach on philanthropy, and see how people are questioning conventional charitable paradigms. We will study collaborative projects within the arts where people from a variety of class, ethnic, and national affiliations can learn from and empower one another. Required assignments will include readings on cross-cultural engagement within the empowerment model, research on relevant traditions, and discussions to nurture sensitivity and understanding for work across critical, inherited perspectives. Students will participate in established outreach programs and envision and design an empowerment-based project. Reaching out to connect with and support people here and around the globe is the central premise to this course.

Credits 1