*Reading and homework assignments should be completed prior to the class session where they are listed. All readings are listed by author’s last name with the exception of government websites which are listed by title. PDFs are available on Blackboard.
Week 1: Course themes and key terms introduced; paying attention; public space
Feb 1 Introduction; public space; Stavrides
Feb 3 Spaces and feelings; paying attention; Citizen Jane (film)
Reading: Gehl; Odell
Week 2: Site Visit #1 MetroTech Commons and Downtown BK; Guest lecture: land use and urbanism history (Jason Montgomery, Architectural Technology Dept); ownership of space
Feb 8 Friday schedule–no class meeting
Feb 10 Guest Lecture / Metrotech & Downtown BK Visit
Reading: New York City’s Privately Owned Public Spaces; “About that Square.”
Viewing: Citizen Jane (finish film)
Week 3: Guest Lecture: sociopolitical dimensions of walking (Anne Leonard, Library Department) / disappearing spaces / spatial rules
Feb 15 Guest lecture; My Brooklyn (film)
Reading: Pujol “Walking Urban Memories”
Feb 17 My Brooklyn, vacant spaces
Reading: Irons; Low
Week 4: Guest lecture: Brooklyn waterfront history (Susan Phillip, Hospitality Dept); zoning; ecology and industry; neighborhood research
Feb 22 Your neighborhood; my neighborhood
Homework: Observational research activity in your neighborhood
Reading: Busá
Viewing: “Gowanus Rezoning: Done Deal or Pipe Dream?”
Feb 24 Guest Lecture; Brooklyn Waterfront
Homework: Site report #1 Due
Reading: Dawson
Week 5: Site Visit #2 part 1: Brooklyn Bridge Park part 2: East River Park (andrea haenggi, Environmental Performance Agency; Emily Johnson, Park Protector); urban development and civic engagement; climate change
March 1 Brooklyn Bridge Park Visit
Reading: Maltby; Comprehensive Waterfront Plan (pg. 39, 91-105)
March 3 East River Park Visit
Reading: Kimmelman; “Making Corlears a Park”
Week 6: Site Visit #3 part 1: Red Hook; Guest lecture: Social Science Research Methods (Maura Smale, Library Department)
March 8 Guest Lecture; research methods; Community District Profiles *BRING A LAPTOP
Homework: Red Hook community survey / questionnaire design based on Community District Profiles
Reading: Montalbano
March 10 Red Hook Visit
Homework: Site Report #2 Due
Reading: Reeves
Week 7: Site Visit #3 part 2: Red Hook Visit (Guest Facilitators: Lindsay Campbell, U.S. Forest Service; Marisa Prefer, Manager of Sustainability and Environmental Systems at Pioneer Works); Guest Lecture: Development (Juan Barahona, SMJ Development)
March 15 Guest Lecture; Research activity based on Enqvist *BRING A LAPTOP
Reading: Enqvist
March 17 Red Hook Visit
Reading: Pujol “Walking & Socially Engaged Practice.”
Week 8: Guest Lecture: spatial subversion, protest and occupation (Ben Shepard, Human Services Dept); asking questions; conducting research
March 22 Break & Enter (film); invisible theater & disruptive interventions *BRING A LAPTOP
Reading Boal; Almeida & Hoyer.
March 24 Guest Lecture; Occupy Sandy; final project introduced
Homework: Site Report #3 Due
Week 9: Site Visit #4: Intervention sites; community and issue research; final projects
March 29 Groups assigned for final projects; community and issue research *BRING A LAPTOP
Homework: community and issue research
Viewing: Climate Changes Reverend Billy (film); Next Epoch Seed Library (film)
March 31 Intervention Site Visits
Homework: intervention planning
Week 10: Research Seminar: Annotated Bibliography; Group Work: intervention planning, site and issue research
April 5 Research seminar; group work *BRING A LAPTOP
Reading / Listening: Boyd & Mitchell; “Social Justice Tours.”
April 7 Group work; intervention planning and research *BRING A LAPTOP
Homework: Final project proposal due
Week 11: Group Work: research and analysis, project development and media making
April 12 Group work: research and project development *BRING A LAPTOP
April 14 Project development and media making
Homework: Annotated bibliography Due
Spring Break April 15-22
Week 12: OpenLab Project Site overview; Group work: project development and media making
April 26 Project development and media making / OpenLab Projects
April 28 [Ecofest]; project development and media making
Week 13: Place based interventions
May 3 Project development and media making
May 5 Group Interventions (off-site)
Week 14: Site Visit # 5: Interference Archive; Group work: documentation
May 10 Group Interventions (off-site)
May 12 Documentation *BRING A LAPTOP
Week 15: Final project presentations & reflections
May 17 Final project presentations & reflections
May 19 Final project presentations & reflections
