LAYERED CITY will take a hands-on, experiential approach to the critical social justice issues facing New York City. The course is organized around four thematic units, INTERSECTIONALITY, GOVERNANCE, ACCESS, & ADAPTATION that will provide a framework for our investigations of the city. Through these themes, we will examine New York's public spaces and monuments, the incarceration system, public transit, and climate change. This course will require you to explore the creative process of experimentation, engage in the act of investigation and self expression through various technologies, and think critically about history and social justice.

Questions, Partnerships, Inspiration... contact:

• Andrew Harrison aharrison@friendsseminary.org
• Remy Mansfield rmansfield@friendsseminary.org

// THE COURSE //

PROJECTS: This is a project-based class. While there will be written/recorded reflections, various short-term exercises, the bulk of what we will do is both hands-on and experiential. This will require you to be open to feedback, maintain curiosity in your approach, and have a willingness to try new things. We will complete a series of approximately 4 PROJECTS this year that will include explorations around thematic units as well a final project of your own design. Projects will be assessed (graded) on: effort, commitment to and documenting of the creative process, and your integration of creative computing and visual arts skills. The details, descriptions, and deadlines for all of your projects will be on this Spark Page and PowerSchool.

Week-By-Week: Below, you will see that the course page is divided by thematic units (as described above) and also by week. Each week, you will move through the framework of Inspiration, Reflection, Action. Some weeks will have activities woven within this framework:

• Inspiration - video, photography, audio, 3D interactive exhibit, etc.; you will be asked to engage with materials related to the current thematic unit.
• Reflection - prompts listed on or linked to from the course Spark Page; you will be asked to respond to these often short-form prompts
• Action - creating, expressing, responding to a specific design challenge or prompt that relates to the current thematic unit; you will utilize various tools (digital and non-digital) and post your work on your Spark Page.

SUBMITTING WORK: You will use the ADOBE SPARK platform (this platform) as the digital space to document your work, works-in-progress, responses to prompts, and all completed projects. Any physical objects you create will be submitted during the Wednesday in-person day. HERE is a link to getting started with Spark. Start setting that page up now, it is yours to craft, edit, and reflect your creativity.

TOOL SHED: HERE is where you will find digital tools that you will use to complete project work for the "Layered City" course. This is an evolving list of digital tools with sign-in instructions, demos, and tutorials. Please check this regularly.