This class explores curatorial thinking through the process of compiling a Top Ten, a media staple that invites cultural producers to discuss ten things they like or recommend. Creating a Top Ten, like curating, involves making selections within parameters including (but not limited to) history, context, aesthetics, politics, style and preference. A good Top Ten is a cohesive presentation of a person’s singular point of view, an aggregation of elements that traverse medium and genre yet cohere as a group. Looking particularly at Artforum's monthly "Top Ten" as a model, students begin to formulate their own Top Tens by considering their own interests and what connects them. A sequence of readings, lecture-driven discussions, peer workshops and research-driven writing and presentation assignments leads them to develop and refine their pool of choices as they explore new ideas. Areas of research can range from pop culture to art history, from the College campus to the local thrift store, from fashion and cinema to social media and YouTube. As themes emerge and potential choices multiply, students think critically to eliminate as well as select as they hone perspective to “curate” a personal Top Ten as their final project.
- Teacher: Anne Thompson