Frequently Asked Questions
What's the objective of CARE SYLLABUS?
CARE SYLLABUS’s main objective is to put care at the front and center of conversations about building a just and inclusive world in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. To do so, it draws on the expert perspectives of artists, academics, educators, and activists.
CARE SYLLABUS promotes inquiry into what care looks and feels like. It proposes that we revalue practices of self-care and communal care, especially given the precarity of our current moment.
CARE SYLLABUS strengthens partnerships between cultural organizations and institutions of higher learning in Western Massachusetts and beyond, to support critical conversations about care in our workplaces, homes, and community.
Who is the intended audience of CARE SYLLABUS?
CARE SYLLABUS is a project by and for artists, activists, academics and educators. It can serve as a helpful resource in the classroom, for teachers and students alike.
Anyone who loves art, and who wants to learn more about the role of art, creativity, and critique in building robust civic discourse, is encouraged to explore CARE SYLLABUS’ materials and attends its live events.
Why is it called CARE SYLLABUS?
CARE SYLLABUS reimagines the traditional classroom syllabus for a digital public audience.
It is not a typical course, but rather, a multi-modal learning experience about care that is broken up into smaller units, or modules.
What is a CARE SYLLABUS module? Are the different modules related to one another?
Modules are the different thematic units of CARE SYLLABUS. They debut periodically between late 2020 and late 2021, and they are guest-curated by experts in care. Each module includes original published material -- such as texts, interviews, artworks, and music -- as well as live events where you can learn, discuss, and apply new perspectives in real time.
While each module is uniquely guided by different guest curators, the modules share specific strategies and thematic overlaps:
Each module specifically addresses anti-racist, justice-oriented strategies and strands of care in the arts.
Each module is inquiry-based. The guest curator poses central questions to guide their thinking and to inspire the critical engagement of the audience.
How is CARE SYLLABUS different from a symposium or conference?
CARE SYLLABUS is not a digital symposium or conference, in the sense of a series of live events that occur over one or a few days.
However, CARE SYLLABUS is a public education resource that consists of both published materials and live events from late 2020 to late 2021. It offers people interested in care an opportunity to engage with expert perspectives throughout the next year.
What will CARE SYLLABUS look like after 2021?
CARE SYLLABUS is a pilot initiative that may continue beyond 2021. CARE SYLLABUS materials will be archived and available through CARESYLLABUS.org.