Between January and March this year we ( i.e. the Media dept. at Coventry School of Art and Design ) launched our Free and Open Undergraduate class exploring Creative Activism. At the same time we made the class freely available online on an open basis so that anyone could participate in the class, join in the discussions, and even rip and remix our content.
The class explored the potential of creative media activism by encouraging the participants to experiment with creating ‘live’ interventions as well as become involved in a number of crucial cultural, political and social debates. Over the 10 week course we looked at how media activists, creatives and campaigners have used their media knowledge, connections and skills to ask difficult questions, provoke debate and raise awareness of important issues and problems in their local, national and international communities.
We have now put most of the materials from the class up on our website at http://www.creativeactivism.net
You can also download content and participate in the class’ ongoing discussion through iTunes U and the Peer 2 Peer University (P2PU). Please feel free to share.
To date, the class has been supported by a range of reknowned collaborators and guest speakers including:
- Emily James: Director of ‘Just Do It’- A Feature Documentary about Climate Change Activism
- John Jackson, Activist and Co-author of ‘Small Acts of Resistance: How Courage, Tenacity and Ingenuity Can Change the World
- Joey Skaggs, A Prolific New York Based Artist, Culture Jammer and Prankster who uses the Media as his Canvas
- James Cook, A Stand-up Comedian who explores what we can learn from Comedy and Satire as a means of Political and Cultural Activism
- Sam Gregory, Programme Director and Human Rights Advocate at WITNESS, whose work addresses the importance of video and change
- Tessa Houghton, Assistant Professor in Media and Communications, University of Nottingham Malaysia who analyses Hacktivism and the Public Domain
- Matt Mason, Author of Best-seller ‘The Pirate’s Dilemma’ and Executive Director of Marketing at Bittorent
- Chris Jury, Activist, Broadcaster and Lecturer at Bath Spa University who presents a radio show called ‘Agitpop’- exploring the role of music and protest
- Charles Tsai, Campaigner at the Creative Visions Foundation and Social Creatives- Organisations that encourage creative thinking to affect positive change
- Ken Fero, Award Winning Radical Documentary Filmmaker – Whose work explores Power, Inequality and Injustice.
If you would like to find out more about the class, and our plans for developing the project, please contact p.woodbridge (at) coventry.ac.uk
