UTA's new Minor in Disability Studies will be offering two brand-new classes in the spring semester that may be of interest to Sociology majors. Both are one-time only topics courses and will not be repeated in the near future.
* "Disability & Art" (DS 3321-001 with Janet Morrow, MFA)
* "Gender & Disability (DS 3321-002 with Penny Acrey, LMSW)
The minor's website (disabilitystudies.uta.edu<http://disabilitystudies.uta.edu/>) also lists other disability studies courses available next semester, as well as electives that count towards the minor. For the full schedule of courses and additional course descriptions, please see http://www.uta.edu/history/disabilitystudies/current_students.html.
If you would like to learn more about the minor, please contact Director Dr. Sarah Rose at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.
Best wishes,
Sarah Rose
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DS 3321-001 DISABILITY & ART with Janet Morrow
TR 5:30-6:50 pm
Have you ever wondered why people with disabilities are so often portrayed in the arts as either noble heroes (ala RoboCop or The Six Million Dollar Man) or despicable villains (such as Caliban in The Tempest or The Penguin in Batman Returns)? What drives these extreme portrayals and how do they affect perceptions of disability and people with disabilities? We will analyze these and many other connections between disability and art. We will look at artists with disabilities utilizing making use of their art as a means to interpret and express their own lived experience, as well to as medical professionals viewing regarding art as simply helpful therapy for the disabled. We will think about "the gaze" as it relates to disability art. What makes us look? Why do we stare? Are there contexts in which staring is acceptable or even invited? And who gets to decide these questions; who has a right to speak for people with disabilities?
Since the 1970s, as the disability rights movement has gained momentum, disability art has also emerged as an effective tool for initiating discourse about disability and advocating for understanding and social change. In order to fully explore the multi-faceted relationship between disability and art, we will first establish a framework for analyzing and discussing works of art and then examine the foundational principles of disability studies. We will investigate the numerous ways in which art can be related to disability and the manner in which different media may be used to interpret disability and shape perceptions of disability.
This course will be taught as a seminar-style course with limited lectures. We will spend most of our time in class discussing the readings and related works of art. We will offer opportunities for guided museum tours for students to experience some of the works we discuss firsthand. Artists with disabilities will be invited to visit the class and discuss their practices. This course is offered as part of the new Minor in Disability Studies. Requirements: active participation in discussion, participation in class blog, two short papers, take-home midterm, take-home final or research paper, and small collaborative art project. This course requires no previous experience in art. If you have questions, please e-mail Ms. Morrow at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.
DS 3321-002 GENDER AND DISABILITY with Penny Acrey
MW 5:30-6:50 pm
(also offered as WOMS 3300-002)
About twenty percent of people have some type of disability; however, the experiences of these individuals can vary greatly depending upon many factors, including gender, race, and class. This course will focus on the intersection of disability and gender. How are gender roles altered for people with disabilities? Traditionally, young girls have been given dolls and other toys associated with motherhood and the domestic sphere. How might those expectations be different for a young girl with a disability? How might individual choices, such as deciding to not have children or pursue higher education instead of a family, be assumed to be "defaults" for people with disabilities? These questions, and more, will be explored in this seminar course. Topics of discussion will include body image, education, employment, sexuality, parenthood, and social integration. We will examine identity formation, cultural stereotypes and gender roles, as well as laws and policies that often shape the lives of individuals with disabilities. The class content will be inclusive of all disability types, including physical, chronic health, sensory, psychiatric, and learning. Emphasis will be placed on examination of societal norms and expectations as they intersect with disability.
Requirements: reading assigned materials, active participation in discussion, two response papers, take-home midterm, and take-home final or research paper. If you have questions, please e-mail Ms. Acrey at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.
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