Is utopia possible? And if so, what shapes might it take? Together, we’ll explore and study the material culture of real-life attempts at utopia. Students will use primary sources alongside works of art, literature, and social history to examine the impulse towards utopia and the ways in which ideologies take shape in designed objects, spaces, and social systems. The centerpiece of the course is a weekend research residency at the Shaker Museum in Chatham, NY. There, students will use archival materials to explore the Shaker approach to utopia and its ongoing impact on American material culture, urban planning, organizational design, and aesthetics. This course is a hands-on research laboratory, with lots of making, lots of writing, and lots of experimentation.