This course will explore the intersection of video, installation, and artwork made with living systems. Whether through small organisms, animals, plants, or humans—we will develop work that investigates our social and ecological environment. In the first half of the semester, students will develop a variety of skills in both 4D media ranging from advanced cinematography techniques, field recording, and performance practice. Alongside, students will be asked to care for a living organism, and develop new work in dialogue with this practice. Artists practices such as Agnes Denes, Lynne Hershman Leeson, Pierre Huyghe, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Robert Irwin, Rosemarie Trockel will be discussed alongside critical writing from thinkers such as Emanuele Coccia, Ted Chiang, and Donna Haraway.

This course will examine paradigms of productivity, health, and care through various 4D media including performance, video, sound, and installation. Given late stage capitalism's increasing wear on minds and bodies, we will use art practice as a method to interrogate and model ways of existing and making. Relying heavily on the work of disability studies and the work of disabled artists, we will examine questions of access, support, success/thriving, value, and power. We will read essays by Susan Sontag, Lauren Berlant, Jonathan Crary, and others. We will study works by Navild Acosta & Fannie Sosa, Sonda Perry, Carolyn Lazard, Yo-Yo Lin, among others.