On November 12, students in Mike Sell’s ENGL 308 Critical Theory course visited Pittsburgh’s Mattress Factory and Andy Warhol museums as part of a unit on Critical Public Humanities.
ENGL 308 introduces students to a variety of critical approaches to literature, including those that focus on the formal qualities of literary texts, cultural studies, gender and sexuality, and ecocriticism. The field trip was part of a unit that focuses on translating critical theory into projects that engage diverse publics about the topics and methods that matter to English Studies.
Building on their previous study of the public humanities and their experiences with the artworks at these two unique museums, students will develop mission statements, project proposals, and presentation posters that describe meaningful, practical interventions into public debates, community storytelling, and cultural preservation.
