California State University, Los Angeles

Arts & Letters / Department of Art / Fashion Fiber and MaterialsART 3110, Social Engagement for FFM, 01, Spring 2018
Instructor: Haydeé Virginia Jiménez   
Office Location: Fine Arts 257   
Telephone: NA
Email: hjimene2@calstatela.edu   / haydeejimenez@gmail.com
Office Hours: Wednesday 2:00-3:00pm  – possibly changing to Monday.
Class Days/Time: Monday Lecture 9-9:50 am / Monday Wednesday Activity Section 1 10-11:40 AM, Section 2 12-1:30  
Final: Date and time TBD   
Classroom: FA 321 (Lecture) / 239 (Lab)
GE Category: GE  UD C (cl)

Course Description Prerequisites: the completion of Blocks A and B4, an additional course from Block B, and at least one course each from Blocks C and D

The course examines socially responsible innovations in fashion, fiber and materials practices, as related to community engagement – on a local, national and global level.  Lecture 1 hour, Activity 4 hours.

The course meets the (cl) criteria in the following manner:

CL/Community Engagement Student Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate understanding of the connection between academic learning/disciplinary knowledge and civic participation.

The design and evaluation of the student projects will be built upon the connection between the academic knowledge of the production systems of fashion, fiber and material and its impact upon various communities.

Demonstrate understanding of their impact on their respective physical, social and cultural environments and how such environments impact them.

As participants in the fashion, fiber and materials systems, whether as consumers, retailers, manufacturers, designers, or importers, students will learn about the inter-relationships between the system and the various environments.  They will demonstrate their understanding of these impacts in the design and evaluation of their projects.

• Demonstrate knowledge of ways to make change in local and global communities
  

The design and evaluation of the projects will be a demonstration of student’s knowledge of ways to make change in the local and global communities of the fashion, fiber and materials community.

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate in order to develop and implement an approach to a civic issue.
  

The students will collaborate in project design (typically a group project) both with peers and with the target community organization.  They will also demonstrate the ability to collaborate in carrying out the project.

Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the variety of methods for negating their participation in Fashion, Fiber and Material systems.
• Demonstrate ability to collaborate with intergenerational participants
• Demonstrate ability to develop and present a proposal to the public.
• Demonstrate ability to share knowledge and skills with the public.
• Demonstrate ability to be good decision makers

Required Texts/Readings  NA

Other equipment / material requirements NA

Classroom Protocol Students are expected to Participate, be Prepared, and be Prompt. Every class day will have an opportunity to participate, that is, join in class discussions. In order to participate, you will need to be prepared by completing the reading and assigned homework, and by bringing all required supplies and materials; and you will need to be prompt, by being on time to class and signing in.

Late assignments are not accepted. Homework posts must be posted on blog or moodle before class starts.  Presentations must be ready at the start of class.

Attendance

Attendance in all classes is mandatory. Because learning is densely packed into class time, four absences will result in a student failing the class. Please notify me by email before class if you are unable to attend.

Students are expected to arrive promptly and stay for the entire class. Three late arrivals and/or early departures are equivalent to one absence. Arriving or leaving class more than one hour is equivalent to missing one half of a class.

•          No absences, half grade upward (B becomes B+)

•          One absence, no repercussions to a student’s grade

•          Two absences, half grade downward (A becomes A-)

•          Three absences, whole grade downward (A becomes B)

•          Four absences will result in a student failing the class.|

Excused Absences- An absence will be excused only in the following cases and only if you notify me beforeclass (except in the case of death/injury/serious illness of a close relation) AND you provide proper documentation. You are responsible for arranging to make up missed assignments, tests, quizzes, and class work insofar as this is possible.

• Death, injury, or serious illness of a close relation
• Religious reasons (California Education Code section 89320)
• Jury duty or government obligation
• University sanctioned or approved activities

Please show respect for your colleagues by completing the reading and the assignments,participating in discussion and attending presentations.

Dropping and Adding  Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes: https://get.calstatela.edu/Registrar.htm.

Assignments and Grading Policy

Class citizenship 25 pts

Assignment #1: 15 pts. Community Service Project:  At the beginning of the semester, students will reach out to groups in their community and offer their services throughout the semester. They will keep a journal posted on their blog of their activities and experiences, volunteering for up to 20 hours.  This could be volunteering in a homeless shelter, scouting, boys and girls club, school, church, museum, community arts space, animal shelters, etc. At the end of the semester please post your service on: http://www.calstatela.edu/engagement/iservela take a screenshot and post on your blog.   

Assignment #2  20 pts Awareness WeaRebel: Student groups will design a fashion accessory and/or wearable technology for a community superhero that helps and promotes the wearer or others in their social environment to achieve higher awareness and positive change in their social environment. Some questions to consider: What qualities does a community leader have? How does being aware feel? What senses guide me to be more aware of my environment? What are the indicators that help me understand the impact I cause in the space I cohabit with others? How does my environment impact my daily decisions and actions? How can fashion activate cultural paradigm shifts? – Theoretical proposals can be analog or digital collages, banners, videos, apparel, action figures and croquis.

Assignment #3: 20 pts Social Justice Plays and Performance

Assignment #4: 20 pts The t-shirt is the problem, upcycling curriculum development

GRADING

If you attend all classes, turn in all assignments on time, participate in class discussions, and do good quality work, you can expect to receive a B in the class. Anything above and beyond—such as exceptional quality work and exceptional effort as judged by the instructor—will enable you to receive higher grade. Multiple absences, late assignments, non- attendance at minimal effort, and/or poor-quality work will earn you a grade lower that a B.

•          25% Citizenship: level of effort, positive attitude, etc. (See handout for specifics)

•          15% Assignment #1

•          20% Assignment  #2

•          20% Assignment #3

•          20% Assignment #4

University Policies

Student Handbook Information on student rights and responsibilities, academic honesty, standards of conduct, etc., can be found in Schedule of Classes (http://www.calstatela.edu/classschedule/) under Policies and Procedures.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Reasonable accommodation will be provided to any student who is registered with the Office of Students with Disabilities and requests needed
accommodation.

Week 1
Wednesday 23 Jan
Introduction, syllabus, Assignment #1 community service

Week 2
Monday 28 Jan
Lecture Listening
Lab deep listening exercise, process pages
Wednesday 30 Jan
Lab Assignment #2 Awareness WeaRebel: Student groups will design a fashion accessory and/or wearable technology for a community superhero that helps and promotes the wearer or others in their social environment to achieve higher awareness and positive change in any given social environment. Some question to consider: What qualities are needed in a community member? How does being aware feel? What senses guide me to be aware of my environment? What are the indicators that help me understand the impact I cause in the space I cohabit with others? How does my environment impact my daily decisions and actions?

Theoretical proposals can be analog or digital collages, banners, videos, apparel, action figures, paper dolls and croquis. Form design groups. QBC method.

Week 3
Monday 4 Feb
Lecture Power & Cultural Space
Lab  direct action visuals
Wednesday 6 Feb
Lab Brainstorm for A#2 Awareness WeaRebel project, peer critique

Week 4
Monday 11 Feb
Lecture “Fashion and Creativity – theory and practical innovation” – guest lecture: Catharina Ruess
Lab Bring: sketches, accessories, videos, hats, headphones, anything you can imagine that will help in the concept development process for Awareness WeaRebel.   You will work in groups to workshop your ideas on Feb. 13.
Wednesday 13 Feb
Lab Name of Design Team due, and project 50-70% completed. Workshop and critique Awareness WeaRebel

Week 5
Monday 18 Feb
Lecture Art+Feminism Wiki edit-a-thon
Lab Optional
Wednesday 20 Feb
Lab

Week 6
Monday 25 Feb Lecture Fashion and surveillance
Lab
Wednesday 27 Feb
Lab Present projects

Week 7
Monday 4 March
Lecture Assignment #3 Performing a Message part 1. Plays, protest, poetry, parades, performance and costumes as tools for communicating social justice
Lab Intro to performance exercises
Wednesday 6
Lab Form Performance Groups, brainstorm, progress page

Week 8
Monday 11 March
Lecture Rebel Artist
Lab Rebel Student Producers Cooperative formation
Wednesday 13 Aloose presentation / Begin Patchwork

Week 9
Monday 18 March Lecture Resist Fast Fashion
Lab Costume/Prop Hacking: develop concept, text, costumes/props and select location (in and outside of art building) for your 15 minute performance action. Create a budget and a production plan. What is needed? How is it going to happen?
Wednesday 20 March
Lab Costume/prop Hacking, Concept development/project plan

Week 10
Monday 25 March Lecture The Living Theatre Guest Lecturers
Lab The Living Theatre workshop
Wednesday 27 March Mariam Oskoui Guest Lab Lecturer
Lab Work day

Week 11 SPRING BREAK

Week 12
Monday 8 April Assignment #3 Performing a Message (Public Space Performances on Campus) Fashion Show Intervention
Wednesday 10 April Assignment #3 Performing a Message (Public Space Performances on Campus) Pop-up clothing and skill swap
Lab Assignment

Week 13
Monday April 15
Lecture Circular Fashion / Assignment #4 Soft Sustainable Borders: Students will work in groups to create instructional videos or zines/pamphlets for upcycled t-shirt ideas and projects.
Lab Upcycle leftover swap items, create groups, brainstorm ideas
Wednesday April 17
Lab knitting, crochet, macrame, collage, sewing, knotting, patchwork

Week 14
Monday April 22
Lecture T-shirt Supply Chain
Lab Upcycling
Wednesday April 24 – professor Haydee out of town.
Lab Work Day

Week 15
Monday April 29
Lecture Creative Conscious Consumption
Lab
Wednesday May 1
Lab Upcycling / Instructional Video and Zines

Week 16
Monday May 6 Lecture TBA –
Lab meetings for project proposal review/feedback
Wednesday May 8
Lab project brief due

Week 17
Monday May 13
Lab upcycled sample, digital zine page and video due
Wednesday May 15
Lab Assignment 4 presentations

Course calendar subject to change.